According to The Economic Times, most people buy art for aesthetic reasons. The most important feature of the artwork is how well its colors match the decor of a room.
The Economic Times also reports that some people buy art as a financial investment. They study information to determine the potential of an increase in value, then make a purchase.
A segment of people purchase art as a status symbol. Money is no object to this group of people, so they buy art for the sake of impressing others.
Some people buy art for the sake of building a collection. The individual piece may not be as important to the art collector as a certain feature of it, such as the artist or style of the artwork.
People often connect with a piece of art or it moves them emotionally in a way that compels them to buy it. Often the artist has found a way to express something the purchaser could not express for himself.