Art Market Comment 2026
Apologies for being absent a little longer than anticipated, but I have been ten feet deep in the trenches of the art market: building museum collections, selling, guaranteeing... So, what do I have to say that hasn't been said before?
Do not listen to the gloom and doom. Every market has its cycles, and the art market is no exception. In times of global turmoil, war and energy crises, collectors are rightfully taking a slower-paced approach, using the opportunity to reassess their collections with a more critical and curatorial eye. But that does not mean art is tanking or is no longer considered a safe asset. Serious collectors, at every level, are still acquiring and jumping on the right opportunities when they present themselves, as evidenced by the very high percentage of guaranteed lots (often excellent buying opportunities), as well as the depth of bidding (an average of five bidders per lot at the May sales at Sotheby's and Christie's, according to their statements, which is quite healthy).
Neither can I say that the waiting lists for any of the in-demand contemporary artists have become any shorter, to be honest. Good luck scoring a primary Danielle McKinney, Joseph Yaeger or Cecily Brown.
The galleries lamenting shrinking profits have, in many cases, fallen victim to their own greed. Whether it's forcing clients to acquire a host of deadweight artists with no secondary market before granting obedient buyers access to an in-demand work; requesting collectors participate in BOGOs (buy one, gift one to a museum)—the least controversial measure in my eyes, as collectors benefit from it too. Gifting to institutions positions them in a league above mere hoarders; instead, they are seen as patrons. Or merely buying low at auction in the hope of reselling at three times the price at an art fair. The changing asymmetry of information, on which dealers have relied for so long, makes it increasingly unlikely that collectors—now fully aware of what a work previously traded for thanks to the Artnet Price Database and the like—will allow themselves to be taken for a ride. Not at a 3x margin, at least. Everyone craves something fresh, unique and extraordinary. You can't fault people for having high standards.
In terms of upcoming trends, I see Abstract Expressionism breaking another glass ceiling. I couldn't be more excited because I'm an AbEx girl through and through, so consider this:
Pollock and Rothko both set new records at Christie's New York in May 2026.
The biggest European retrospective of Helen Frankenthaler's career took place at Kunstmuseum Basel between April and June 2026, while another major retrospective is set to open at Foundation LV in 2027.
Lee Krasner is the star of the autumn 2026 season, exhibiting alongside her husband at the MET in New York from October, while also having a solo exhibition at Gagosian Paris, in partnership with Olney Gleason, during Art Basel Paris. Major.
Rothko's exhibition in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi is generating enormous buzz and critical acclaim, rivalling the impact of the major Foundation LV retrospective held in 2023 despite being considerably smaller. It focuses on the influence of Italian culture on the artist, and as a result, the photograph of a small Rothko colour-field painting displayed alongside a Fra Angelico icon has become a must-have shot in every artsy girl's Instagram feed.
The cherry on top would be a major Clyfford Still canvas from the Valentino Garavani estate coming to auction at Christie's New York, signalling a resurgence in the artist's market. Whether that happens this November or in May 2027 remains to be seen. So watch this space.
So, in short: ignore the noise. Markets go up, markets go down, but quality has a funny way of surviving every cycle. If anything, moments like these separate collectors from speculators. The best opportunities rarely arrive when everyone is feeling comfortable.
Keep your standards high, buy what truly deserves a place in your collection, and don't get distracted by headlines or short-term sentiment. The art world has seen far worse and somehow always finds its way forward.
If you'd like to discuss the market, build a collection, or simply get a second opinion before making your next acquisition, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to talk art.
