Trade Secrets
Every month, our editor-at-large Melanie Gerlis shares her insights on the art market
How Gagosian's east London Christo show proved the power of the pop-up exhibition
Who says something eye-catching and short-term can’t also be serious?
'Forget the Brexit blues: for art, London is still where it’s at'
There are plenty of encouraging dynamics in the city this summer
'The baby boomer wealth transfer is upon us—but how long will demand last for their post-war taste?'
Boomers may do well to sell their acquisitions sooner rather than later, as tastes in art are changing
'Are Old Masters having a renaissance? Leaner times breathe new life into a tired market'
Collectors tend towards safety in times of trouble—and current uncertainty is causing a shift in buying habits
'Wealthy collectors should put more money into art schools than auctions to keep the industry alive'
In stark comparison to recent staggering auction-house results, educators are struggling to maintain funding, says our columnist Melanie Gerlis
'Hopes for a slower, more local art trade dashed by a turbocharged market year'
The global art world sprang back to life with a vengeance in 2022
'The downside to art world altruism that no one talks about'
Charity sales, while undoubtedly a positive, tend to skew valuable auction data upwards and muddy an already opaque market
'Will the new UK government support the art market?'
The UK’s new culture secretary—the seventh in six years—has a lot on her plate, so whether the art market gets much of her attention remains to be seen
'Will Christie’s strike gold with its first private fund for tech ventures?'
Crypto might have crashed, but online-only sales and other digital channels are allowing auction houses to deepen their business beyond the thin market for blue-chip art
'Recession is likely—and the art market is not immune'
It might take a little longer in our world for the bad news to feed through, but feed through it will
'Why the sudden deregulation of New York's auction houses could lead to a more transparent art market—and a more opaque one too'
With old codes now dispensed of, my hope is to lobby for new oversights that could enforce stricter and clearer rules
'In a guaranteed market, buyers and sellers crave the unpredictable'
The recent London auctions suggested a market of extremes, with some seeking the safety of guarantees and others speculating on works by young stars on the rise
'Will new code of conduct make collectors more ethical?'
A new code aims to introduce more transparency to the business of buying
'How canny auction houses and advisory firms are turning a generation of Amazon shoppers into art collectors'
The middle market, traditionally the art world’s unloved child, offers treats galore
'Art is now accepted as a financial asset, but it is still a questionable investment'
It is now normal to consider art a bankable asset—for the very wealthy at least—but the art market is too volatile and risky for most investors
'Artists wield the power now: why Simone Leigh's departure from Hauser & Wirth (to join Matthew Marks) is indicative of a broader trend'
As the whole art world starts to question traditional norms, the artist said she was "still figuring out what I want from a primary gallery relationship"—time will tell if she has now worked it out
'An art market half-term report: Fairs get an A-plus for enthusiasm while auction houses receive a B for initiative (but a D for digital art)'
The commercial art world came back with a vengeance in September, but issues around sustainability and volatile prices still abound
'Women in the arts are winning the battle for equal employment—but they haven’t yet won the war'
The latest UBS Art Basel report finds that top jobs are finally going to women—even at the mega galleries
'Choose your unicorn: why angel investors are ploughing millions into art startups'
Tech-led art businesses are starting to attract venture capitalist funding, with the NFT platform MakersPlace recently gaining $30m investment
Why the art market must stop trying to predict the unpredictable and enjoy a well deserved #hotgirlsummer
Life is still uncertain but we know the industry can keep functioning against all odds through the pandemic, so enjoy the sun and save the questions for the autumn
'Livestreamed or IRL, gallery weekends or satellite spaces—the art market faces a paradox of choice'
Thanks to the pandemic, we have many alternative ways to buy, sell and enjoy art, and now this genie is out of the bottle, we don’t want to put it back
'Jobs for the boys… why I'm starting to feel old amid the new art world order'
The thrusting land of NFTs and tech nomads favours the young—and has yet to shake off the old ties of nepotism
'In our current dystopian art market, the pervasive and persistent Damien Hirst may well have the last laugh'
The British artist has had a bumpy boom and boost history when it comes to sales, but his ubiquitous brand makes him a safer bet in uncertain times
'The world of art fairs is going to change for good—and only the better-funded fairs will survive'
From hybrid online ventures to new subscription models, mass events in the art world won't look the same post-pandemic
'Pastures new: why some top gallery staff are moving on from longtime jobs'
Without art fairs and hectic travel, the pandemic has transformed the way most of us work—and some are branching out rather than returning to their old lifestyle
'Gatherings are taboo in the Covid-19 world, so where does that leave experiential art?'
New venture Superblue aims to attract younger audiences by selling tickets for immersive events, but its model is at odds with a socially distanced society
'For many in the art world there is no rest for the frazzled'
As galleries and auction houses slowly awaken from lockdown (some of them, at least), this summer will be one of work, not rest
'Who are the art market's virtual winners?'
As digital fatigue sets in, a little editing goes a long way with online viewing rooms—and sometimes a humble PDF with a few human touches makes a welcome break
'How Covid-19 has forced the art market’s speedy digital conversion'
In lockdown, many galleries have had a Damascene moment with online programming
'Patrick van Maris is leaving Tefaf after five years: but has he left the fair in too much flux?'
In an increasingly competitive, mixed-category art fair environment, the president of the Dutch fair group made everyone apply each year