In this article, we will try to conduct an analysis of the art market as it is closing 2025 in continuity with the trends observed in recent months, characterized by selective demand, a strong polarization on quality, and a structural growth of contemporary.
The consolidated data from the latest global reports — such as the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2024/2025 and the Artprice Global Report — show a sector that is stabilizing after two years of strong fluctuations, with volumes slightly declining but a greater maturity of investors.
Here are the five key elements to know to start the week with a clear view of the market.
The contemporary remains the engine of the market
According to Artprice, the ultra-contemporary segment (artists born after 1975) continues to be the most dynamic, representing a growing share of the auction market in terms of the number of lots.
The dominant characteristics:
- Greater liquidity in the price ranges below 50,000 €
- Strong participation of collectors under 40
- Growth of artists represented by galleries with an international presence
- Stabilization of some stars like Amoako Boafo, Christina Quarles, Jadé Fadojutimi
Performance are not uniform, but the key data is clear: young-mid career artists attract capital because they offer better balances between accessibility and growth potential.
Modern Art: quality dominates, the rest slows down
International reports show that in the Modern era, the demand is still strong for museum-quality works, signed and with impeccable provenance. However:
- the lower or repetitive offer tends to perform below expectations;
- the works on paper see a slower market compared to the canvases from the iconic era;
- the top lots of the big names (Picasso, Miró, Giacometti) remain stable, but without excessive competition.
This polarization is described by UBS as one of the structural trends of the post-pandemic market: investors seek safety more than speculation.
Asian art market: international interest and reorganization of flows 2025
The auction platforms based in Hong Kong continue to record strong international participation, even if the total volumes are lower than the peaks of 2021–2022. The most relevant data:
- Growth of interest towards contemporary Chinese artists and post-2000
- Stable presence of foreign bidders despite the macroeconomic instability of the region
- Increase in private sales in major Asian galleries
The Asian market is experiencing a phase of restructuring, but remains fundamental for the global contemporary.
Art photography: an accessible segment that continues to grow
Photography is one of the most interesting sectors for those who consider art as an accessible investment.
According to Artprice, the range between 1,000 and 10,000 € is one of the most liquid in the auction market. Artists like Andreas Gursky, Nan Goldin, and Nobuyoshi Araki maintain a constant demand. The younger audience sees photography as a natural entry point.
The Art Basel & UBS report indicates that 35% of new collectors start with works on paper, multiples, and photographs, confirming a generational transformation in entering the market.
Fairs and private sales on the rise in the post-2024 model
The year 2024 was a year of consolidation, with a documented increase in the use of private sale, especially for high-end works.
Top-tier galleries (Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace, David Zwirner) report:
- Increased use of private negotiations
- Less exposure to auctions for works sensitive to volatility
- Increase in interest towards artists represented with strong museum support.
In view of the major winter fairs — including Art Basel Miami Beach, which traditionally influences the strategies of the galleries — an intensification of private activity is expected rather than a bull run at the auctions
The art market enters the week with a clear structure:
- Solid and driving contemporary
- Modern selective
- Asia in repositioning but still central
- Photography and accessible works on the rise
- Private sale increasingly decisive
For investors, this is the ideal time to focus on museum-quality and mid-career artists with a long-term perspective and to evaluate works on paper, photography, and multiples as diversification tools.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
