In countless college classes across the globe, students are taught the value of “art appreciation.” From line to shape and tone, cubism to impressionism, students gain a crash course in this study without ever gaining true knowledge. Few move into society with any idea how to truly understand art in its many forms, differentiate the eras from which pieces arise, grasp varying styles and techniques or even evaluate a piece of fine art beyond its beauty to the naked eye. The qualities of great art — the qualities that fine arts appreciator Baryn Futa has studied and applied to his professional work — are lost among many.

But individuals such as Futa, who daily moves from appreciator to art benefactor, not only value individual masterpieces — they support the artists who painstakingly craft them. Futa has turned his love for brush strokes, color and imagination into financial support for the artists who bring visions to life and art museums that display fine pieces and exhibits. He has strived to help support those who ensure art appreciation, including its explanation, doesn’t become a lost form of study simply relegated to dusty textbooks and reprinted pictures. Futa, like many, recognizes the struggle of artists and museums to keep the arts alive and thriving, and he welcomes others to join him in learning more about art appreciation, its vital importance and ways to ensure this vibrant piece of society doesn’t disappear.