The mid-career moment
Why mid-career artists may represent the most compelling balance of risk and durability in today’s art market The art market tends to focus on extremes. At one end, ultra-contemporary artists generate excitement through rapid emergence and visible momentum. At the other end, blue-chip names provide stability, historical validation and established pricing benchmarks. Between those poles […]
The fragmentation of the ultra-contemporary art market
Why the flipping era is fading and what comes next The ultra-contemporary art market, broadly defined as artists under 45 or within the first 10 to 15 years of their career, has experienced extraordinary volatility over the past five years. Between 2020 and 2022, emerging artists saw rapid price acceleration. Auction records were repeatedly broken. […]
The return of connoisseurship
Why serious collectors are moving away from speculative heat Over the past several years, the art market has experienced periods of extraordinary acceleration. Ultra-contemporary artists saw rapid price appreciation. Auction headlines dominated conversation. Social visibility is often translated directly into demand. But markets do not expand indefinitely. What we are now witnessing is not a […]
Abu Dhabi’s influence on modern collecting
How the Emirate is shaping a new era of global patronage Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape has expanded dramatically in the past decade. What began as a bold vision for Saadiyat Island has evolved into a well-defined ecosystem where museums, foundations, private collectors, and global institutions converge. The Emirate is now shaping a new model of […]
Silent collecting is reshaping the market
Why private buyers now influence the art world’s centre of gravity A quiet but decisive shift is underway in the global art market. While headline auctions and museum announcements continue to attract public attention, a growing share of major acquisitions now happens out of sight. Silent collecting is transforming how artworks circulate, how influence is […]
The rise of textile-based abstraction in the global art market
Why collectors are turning to material-led abstraction and the artists redefining the category Textile-based abstraction has moved from the margins of contemporary practice into the centre of global collecting. Once viewed as a secondary or craft-adjacent medium, it now holds a position of authority across museums, biennales and auction rooms. The shift has been gradual […]
Christie’s 21st-Century Sale Signals a Selective but Strengthening Market
A focused evening of postwar and contemporary art delivers steady results, new records and renewed buyer confidence Christie’s 21st-Century Evening Sale achieved $ 123.6 million, delivering a steady but strategically curated result for the season. Compared with the explosive momentum seen earlier in the week, this auction moved with more restraint, yet still reaffirmed collector […]
Private sales drive growth in the Gulf art market
Why collectors in Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh turn to private sales Across the Gulf, the art market has matured rapidly, supported by cultural investment and a growing class of sophisticated collectors. While international headlines often focus on auctions, the real movement in this region increasingly takes place behind closed doors. Private sales have become the […]
Why minimalist abstraction is back in focus for collectors
How minimalist abstraction is redefining what collectors look for In a market often drawn to spectacle, it might seem surprising that some of the most sought-after works today are the quietest. Yet that’s precisely what’s happening. Minimalist abstraction, long appreciated by museums and curators, is gaining fresh relevance as collectors seek depth, restraint, and emotional […]
What a $6.24 million banana reveals about art market supply and demand
What a $6.24 million banana taught us about supply and demand It was a banana, duct-taped to a wall. It sold for $120,000. Then again. And again. Eventually, the story of Comedian by Maurizio Cattelan reached a crescendo at $300,000, or so we thought. In late 2024, one edition resold at auction for over US$6.24 […]