At last November's evening auctions in New York, eyes were on a $6.2m banana, but overall sales were down 41% on the previous year
Nine bidders competed for the 15th century painting of a Virgin and child at Sotheby's, while Zoffany, Tiepolo and Van Dyck topped auctions at Bonhams and Christie's
The trade is increasingly reliant on an ultra-wealthy international clientele that lives what may be termed a ‘luxury lifestyle’
They might not be hailed by the critics, but the likes of Opera and Halcyon are forging ahead
New moves by Gagosian, Sotheby’s and others aim to boost the art trade via high-end retail
Increasingly unsettled elites are making a struggling market even less predictable
The popularity of the ‘less is more’ look is putting art and antiques dealers under pressure
Slim auctions at Christie's and Sotheby's saw a rediscovered Quentin Metsys and a modestly priced Botticelli come to the block
Reduced value, mixed results dent idea of contemporary art as investable asset
The current focus on biennials obscures a past when artists reset the agenda
Auction house’s bold changes that favour buyers could bolster profits—or they could backfire
Amid threats to freedom, career moves and censorship become hard to tell apart
With contemporary works, fresh initiatives and a shorter runtime, Tefaf hopes to extend its appeal while keeping its special magic alive
A resurgence in top-end spending would only reprise the recent status quo
The category’s extraordinary works sell well, but the middle and lower ends of the market are in need of new ideas
The spotlight tends to fall on big spenders, but what of “professional class” buyers, who often feel intimidated by the art world?
Evening sales at Sotheby's and Christie's drew in £19.4m and £21.3m, respectively
Traditionally reserved for an artist’s greatest works, the term “masterpiece” now appears routinely in auction catalogues, and may just mean a work is good, novel—or expensive
There was a certain degree of sleight of hand at play by the auction house to achieve 100% of lots sold
The debate over Europe’s art capital intensifies as post-Brexit red tape complicates business for UK art sellers and more major galleries set up shop in the French capital
While university arts departments are being dismantled, dealers and auction houses provide learning programmes
Major auction houses have posted steep falls in turnover for the year so far—but some categories, such as luxury goods, are booming
As a show at the Monnaie de Paris explores how money and creativity have been intertwined since the early 19th century, Sotheby’s is set to move into the Whitney’s former home
The auction house made £53.9m (with fees) from 38 lots, and saw a new record established for Fra Angelico
The £39.4m auction was led by a 15th-century painting by the Master of the Baroncelli Portraits at £7.9m, while a new record was set for a work by William Hogarth—albeit sold to a single bid
The art market salary report offers insights into salaried employment but the impact of low wages—and having children—in a time of rapid inflation are missing
The auction house expects to move into the Madison Avenue building in 2025, vacating its current York Avenue headquarters
Donor Advised Funds allow individuals to claim tax relief while they are still alive through making gifts of art and other assets—without obligation to pay out money to charity straight away
The Structurally F–cked survey looked at artists' pay and conditions, and found a "culture of low fees, unpaid labour, and systemic exploitation"
The role of art in a time of crisis was the subject of a three-day discussion between leading cultural figures in Florence last week
