A unique approach to art advisory
What Sets Charting Transcendence Apart
Most people who seek the transcendent feeling that comes from encountering truly great art never will…
…not necessarily because they don’t know where to look for it, but…
…because museums and galleries are absolutely flooded with art!
Most people will never even try to acquire a real artwork…
…not necessarily because they can’t afford it but…
…because they can’t navigate the chaos or distinguish what’s “good” art from so-called “bling” or “hype!”
Most people who acquire fine art today will never see a return on their investment…
…not necessarily because art has no investment potential, but…
because they don’t know how to see through the opaque and unregulated market that trades in it!
Who we are (and why we see differently)
I’m Matthew Blong, founder of Charting Transcendence. I came to art not through a single narrow lane, but through a wide life: trained as an artist and photographer, shaped by global experience, and grounded by rigorous study of contemporary art.
I’ve lived across cultures, worked in international affairs and global business, and completed master’s-level studies in contemporary art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City.
That range matters because art is not just an object. It’s time, place, sensation, history, and the private meaning you bring to it.
The Outsider-Insider Advantage
I’m proud to be an insider to the art world who retains the perspective of an outsider.
That distance gives me a clearer view of:
how “importance” gets constructed
how narratives get amplified
how scarcity and demand shape prices
and how people get steered—often without realizing it
But my focus isn’t to win the insider game.
My focus is to help you find art that moves you every time you encounter it.
Charting Transcendence doesn’t separate meaning from market—because art is both a source of wonder and an object that moves through an attention economy.
So the advisory process uses two compasses at once.
Our Difference:
Two Compasses, One North Star
Compass #1: Meaning
The point of the journey. Everything begins with relationship.
Charting Transcendence helps clients slow down, look longer, and name what they’re actually responding to.
This work is both emotional and intellectual:
learning how to “read” form, material, and composition
placing a work inside larger histories and living conversations
noticing recurring attractions and hidden themes over time
translating instinct into language—and language into confident choice
Out of this, a personal map emerges: what you love, why you love it, and what it changes in you.
Compass #2: Market
Stewardship, not worship. Market awareness matters—but it is never the master.
When clients want investment potential, the lens stays grounded and pragmatic:
context within the artist’s practice
career momentum and visibility
pricing logic and avoidable risk
long-term resilience over short-term heat
Knowledge of “hype,” commercial appeal, and how narrative, scarcity, and access can move prices, is used as protection and strategy, not as a substitute for meaning.
What you get when you work with Charting Transcendence
A clearer eye (less overwhelm, more discernment)
A personal map (how you see, what you love, why it matters)
Strategic guidance in an opaque market
A collection you can stand behind — emotionally, intellectually, and over time
Experiences of art that feel alive (not academic, not performative)
Art that feels inevitable (not merely impressive)
Charting Transcendence exists for people who want to learn deeply, see clearly, and surround themselves with work they genuinely love.
If that’s you, reach out and tell us where you are in your journey.