What the Fibonacci sequence shows us about art perception
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
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South Asian Art's Forgery Problem: A Boom Market Under Threat
As South Asian modernism posts record prices and draws a new wave of global collectors, dealers warn that a surge in sophisticated forgeries threatens to destabilise one of the art market's most exciting growth categories.
Art Market AIAugust 24, 20268 min read
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The H1 2026 Auction Rebound: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Christie's hit $4.5B, Sotheby's a record $4.4B, Phillips surged 60%, and Heritage posted its best H1 ever. The auction rebound is real — but its fault lines matter as much as its headlines.
Art Market AI8 min read
The Estate Rush Driving the Art Market's Uneven Recovery
Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips posted a combined $6.77 billion in H1 2026 — nearly 70% above the same period last year. The engine isn't a broad recovery. It's estates. Here's what that means for collectors.
Art Market AI8 min read
The Great Auction Rebound: What H1 2026's $6.77 Billion Tells Collectors
Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips combined for $6.77 billion in H1 2026 sales — nearly 70% above last year. The numbers are real, but the recovery is uneven. Here's what collectors need to know.
Art Market AI9 min read
The $10 Billion Rebound: What H1 2026 Auction Results Mean for Collectors
Christie's hit $4.5B, Sotheby's set an all-time record at $4.4B, and the top auction houses collectively cleared ~$10B in H1 2026. Here's what the data actually signals for serious collectors.
Art Market AI8 min read
The Synchronized Recovery: What the Spring 2026 Auction Data Tells Collectors
The MM Art Indices, released July 17, document something unusual: Chinese, Impressionist, and contemporary art all gained in Spring 2026. The recovery is real — but its distribution is highly uneven, and that unevenness is where the collector opportunity lies.
Art Market AI8 min read
London Reclaims the Auction Stage: What the Lewis Sale Means for Collectors
Sotheby's Lewis sale shattered every UK auction record and drove £393 million in a single European night. We unpack the results, the buyer profile, and the collector playbook for what follows.
Art Market AI9 min read
New Money Floods Old Masters: What London's July Sales Signal
The Hamilton Laocoön sold for £13.6 million — nearly seven times its low estimate — as new collectors poured into London's Old Masters sales. Here's what the results mean for serious collectors.
Art Market AI8 min read
The Lewis Collection Rewrites London's Auction Record Books
Sotheby's London's £296.3 million Lewis Collection sale on June 24, 2026 set a new European single-owner record and offered collectors a clear blueprint: provenance, scarcity, and blue-chip figuration still command extraordinary premiums.
Art Market AI8 min read
From Pollock to Basel: The 2026 Mid-Year Season Draws a New Map
From a $181M Pollock to a $35M Picasso on the Basel floor, the 2026 mid-year season has confirmed which segments of the market are thriving — and what collectors at every price point need to know now.
Art Market AI10 min read
The Lewis Collection: London's Most Valuable Single-Owner Auction Takes Shape
Klimt, Modigliani, Bacon, Freud, Schiele — the Lewis Collection arrives at Sotheby's London on 24 June as the most valuable single-owner sale ever offered in the UK. What the £150–£200M event means for figurative art markets and serious collectors.
Art Market AI8 min read
The Age of the Mega-Collection: What Christie's $1.1 Billion Night and the Lewis Sale Mean for Collectors
Christie's netted $1.1 billion in a single New York night in May, led by a $181.2M Pollock. Now London braces for Joe Lewis's £200M collection at Sotheby's on June 24. What it means for serious collectors.
Art Market AI10 min read
The $2.5 Billion Reckoning: What New York's Spring Sales Really Mean
Christie's shattered records for Pollock, Brâncuși, and Rothko in a single evening. Sotheby's followed with a solid $908.6 million season. But the market's "K-shape" means the trophy tier and everything else are now operating by different rules entirely.
Art Market AI10 min read
The Newhouse Effect: Provenance Drives a $1.1 Billion Spring Season
Christie's $1.1 billion spring week — anchored by the S.I. Newhouse collection — reset benchmarks for Pollock, Brancusi, Miró, and Rothko. What the results reveal about provenance premiums, the K-shaped recovery, and where collectors should focus next.
Art Market AI9 min read
New York's May 2026 Auctions: Trophy Provenance Drives a $2 Billion Market Test
With nearly $2 billion on the block at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips, New York's May 2026 auctions are the art market's clearest stress test yet — and provenance is the decisive variable.
Art Market AI11 min read
New York's Spring Auctions Could Top $2.5bn — What Collectors Need to Know
With cumulative estimates of $1.8bn–$2.6bn, the 2026 New York spring auctions are the art market's clearest stress test yet. Here's where the money is — and what it signals for serious collectors.
Art Market AI10 min read
Venice Is Open for Business: How the Biennale Became a Sales Floor
The 61st Venice Biennale has dropped the polite fiction of being above the market. With Christie's running an invitation-only selling exhibition, Italy's 5% VAT rate sweetening deals, and the May New York sales weeks away, collectors have never been busier in Venice.
Art Market AI11 min read
The Provenance Gap: Why Incomplete Ownership Histories Are Quietly Eroding Collection Value
Incomplete provenance is no longer a background concern — it is an active liability. As due diligence standards harden across the market, collections with gaps in their ownership histories are facing real financial consequences.
8 min read
The Viewer’s Experience: How Museums Promote Well-being and Community Building
Museums are repositories of art, knowledge, and ideologies. But what if they could also promote well-being? The history of museums is long and complex, with the
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Neuroaesthetics: Science confirms what we have always intuited
Neuroaesthetics is a branch of science that explores how visual aesthetics can impact our brains and physiology. While since paleolithic times, human beings hav
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
Top Art Crime (and Scandal) Podcasts to Listen To
The rise of art crime and scandal podcasts demonstrates how increasingly podcasts have made the intersection of crime and culture accessible to a broader, curio
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
Slow Art: "Seeing More, Looking Less"
Every aspect of contemporary life seems rushed. Great ideas, social gatherings, fitness, upcoming trends, visits to blockbuster art exhibitions, and even new ar
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
A Collector’s Guide to Consigning Artwork: Navigating Agreements and Legal Forms
As an art collector, consigning artwork to galleries or through artists presents a strategic opportunity to diversify visibility and sales channels for your col
4 min read
Top 5 Best Performing Auction Lots of March 2024
This month's art auctions have been ablaze with record-breaking sales, showcasing the awe-inspiring talents of artists whose works have soared far beyond their
1 min read
Five of the most popular sculpture materials of all time
Sculpture has been around since Ancient times and it has ranged from monumental stone works and bronze statues to clay and wood artifacts. More recently, steel
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Top 5 Best Performing Auction Lots of January 2024
In the ever-evolving world of fine art auctions, this month has seen an extraordinary surge in record-breaking sales, leaving art enthusiasts and collectors in
3 min read
Top 5 Best Performing Auction Lots of December 2023
In the fast-paced world of art auctions, this month has seen some truly remarkable records being shattered. Let's take a closer look at the top 5 auction record
3 min read
What to expect from the art world in 2024
In 2023 the art world saw its fair share of exciting developments but also scandals, controversies, and slowdowns in the art market. Regardless of this, as alwa
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
The story behind the rise of museum gift stores: How museum stores turned into an influential retail sector.
Once upon a time, museum gift stores were souvenir destinations, but nowadays, they are millionaire businesses involving intricate marketing strategies and an e
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
How much do art appraisals cost?
Determining the value of your artwork through a professional appraiser is a valuable step in safeguarding the value of your artwork. However, it's essential to
3 min read
The story behind some of the most popular painting mediums
Since ancient times the tools and materials used to create art have impacted the course of art history. While some date back to antiquity and others are more re
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Demystifying Giclée Prints: A Guide for Art Enthusiasts
In the world of art, terms like "limited edition" and "original prints" can be confusing. But fear not, art lovers! Today, we're diving into the fascinating rea
2 min read
The Rise of OVRs: Revolutionizing the Art Market with Insights
In today's fast-paced digital world, convenience and accessibility have become fundamental pillars of our society. The rapid expansion of online platforms have
Olyvia Kwok4 min read
Art and Social Media: How Instagram Impacts the art world
As with every aspect of our hyper-connected lives, social media is now an important component of the art world. During the last few years, artists, galleries, a
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
Art as Investment: Diversifying Your Portfolio with Art
In a world where traditional investment options can be volatile and unpredictable, many savvy investors are exploring alternative avenues to diversify their por
4 min read
The Benefits Of Cataloging Your Art Collection Online
Being an art collector is an art of its own. Tracking down each piece, developing your artistic taste, and following your favorite artists all require years of
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés5 min read
Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani: art collectors and advocates of Bangladeshi art
Bangladeshi contemporary art collectors Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani are committed to supporting the work of South Asian artists and the emerging art scene of their
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
The changing landscape of art restitution around the world
Nowadays art restitution is a hotly contested subject in the European world where a big part of the cultural objects from the African region and elsewhere have
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Five female portrait artists redefining the genre
During a good portion of the 20th century, abstraction was favored by experimental artists who viewed figurative manifestations as traditional art forms. Howeve
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés12 min read
Pamela J. Joyner: an activist collector reframing art history
For more than twenty years, San Francisco-based contemporary art collector Pamela J. Joyner has supported and promoted the works of African-American artists and
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
Japanese post-war avant-garde: How a group of Japanese artists redefined what art is and could be
Japanese post-war art is rooted in the rich cultural background of a region that remained largely isolated until the end of the 19th century when the West looke
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Elmyr de Hory: Fiction and facts surrounding the life of a world-famous art forger
Why are we always captivated by the lives of con artists? From popular novels to blockbuster hits and binge worthy Netflix series, con artists of all kinds popu
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
How 8 contemporary artists are exploring the climate change crisis
Since the very origins of art, nature has been a constant source of inspiration. Over the last few decades, due to growing concerns of climate change, artists h
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés11 min read
Dimitris Daskalopoulos: communicating and transforming spaces through art
For more than four decades Greek contemporary art collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos has been an influential figure in the art world. Next to owning an impressive
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
The top six factors that determine the value of an art print
Over the last few years, the market for fine art prints has grown at an exorbitant pace, and for this very reason, art galleries, art advisors, art collectors,
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
The Beltracchis: from expert art forgers to celebrities
Every once in a while a fantasy from a Netflix series or a top-selling mystery book becomes a reality. Such is the case with Wolfgang Beltracchi, a German art f
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés13 min read
What to know about printmaking: major elements and techniques
The tradition of printmaking has been around since at least the first century AD, and was first used on paper in the seventh century. Its popularity grew in the
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
The many forgeries and authentication controversies surrounding Warhol's legacy
Andy Warhol is one of the most influential artists of modern times. The frenzy for all things Warhol reflected in blockbuster exhibitions, books, films, and an
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés11 min read
François Pinault: the enduring legacy of a French collector in Paris ´ heart
During the last few decades, French billionaire and luxury-magnate François Pinault has amassed a contemporary art collection of more than 10,000 artworks spann
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz: collecting art as a way of life
For more than 30 years Florida-based Cuban art collectors Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz have been building an impressive international contemporary art collection.
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Certificates of Authenticity: controversies and latest developments
For years, Certificates of Authenticity (COAs) have been used as trusted sources to prove the provenance of a work of art. They accompany the selling transactio
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
The Franks-Suss Collection: a collaborative approach to art collecting
The Franks-Suss Collection was established in 2002 by British contemporary art collectors Simon Franks and Robert Suss as a means to discover and support emergi
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
What to expect from the NFT art boom
NFTs have taken the international world by storm raising many unanswered questions about the authorship, ownership and distribution channels of artworks, and ab
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
The meteoric rise of Chinese contemporary art
Over the last 20 years, Chinese Contemporary Art has thrived and experienced an astronomical rise in the global art market. This rise has been evidenced by its
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
Women redefining contemporary art museums and organizations
Whether they’re artists, curators, collectors, museum directors, art patrons, gallery owners, or art dealers, women are making their voices heard in a once male
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
Pros and cons of MFAs and the top-ranked options out there
Are you an artist fresh from your BA seeking to expand your practice, or do you want to understand better how MFAs work and what to expect from them? This post
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés11 min read
The history of auction houses: Phillips
This series continues to explore the past, present, and future of the world´s top auction houses. After speaking about Sotheby's , Christie's , and Bonhams , we
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
The African contemporary art scene: challenges and main characters
The African contemporary art scene is thriving and there are countless events, exhibitions, institutions, art fairs, auctions, and galleries devoted to the prom
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
The history of auction houses: Bonhams
This series continues to explore the past, present, and future of the world´s top auction houses. After having covered Sotheby's and Christie's , now we focus o
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Bernard Arnault: at the intersection of art and luxury
French mega-collector Bernard Arnault is the head of the luxury conglomerate LVMH and is one of the richest men in the world, his fortune is listed just behind
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés12 min read
Biennials around the world: present and future
Biennials are one of the most important phenomena of the art world. These international large-scale art exhibitions have ripple effects for the careers of artis
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
Top three recent art restitution controversies
Over the years, many art restitution cases have unfolded across the art world and museum collections. Nonetheless, once in a while new developments emerge raisi
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
Don and Mera Rubell: collectors, tastemakers, and visionaries
Don and Mera Rubell are two of the most recognized and respected collectors of contemporary art in the world. During the last few decades, the Rubells have set
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
The history of auction houses: Christie's
This series tracks the past, present, and future of the world's top auction houses. Now that we've uncovered the story of Sotheby's , we wanted to explore Chris
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
Art Flipping: What can be done to reduce this practice?
While art flipping has been around for decades, awareness of the subject and how it negatively affects the careers of emerging artists is starting to get tracti
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés11 min read
Three rising stars that are reinventing painting: Figgis, Martinez, and Kaphar
Contemporary artists have always been known for new takes on traditional mediums and interpretations of art. As they work to develop and diversify their distinc
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
The top three recent art controversies: Forgeries, out-of-this-world profits, and a missing masterpiece
Every once in a while, the art world is shaken by heated controversies swarming around its top players. At the top, few have access to privileged information an
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés10 min read
Eli Broad: the legacy of LA’s “unreasonably persistent” art collector
"…everything we've done is really different than just supporting the status quo. It's making a difference, creating things that didn't exist, that probably shou
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés6 min read
How to Stay Connected to Art During COVID-19
Over the course of the past several months, the novel COVID-19 disease has swept the world, wreaking havoc and altering how we operate, interact and connect. A
Anna Carolan5 min read
The History of Auction Houses: Sotheby's
Auction houses are one of the main driving forces of the global art market. What was once perceived as a desperate measure of someone selling for death, debt or
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés9 min read
Three Black Artists to Watch in 2020
Hot on the heels of the 1969 cultural revolution, in 1971 scholar Linda Nochlin’s essay “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” was published in ARTNews.
Anna Carolan5 min read
The contemporary story of art collecting: the 20th and 21st centuries
For the last two-hundred years, the practice of collecting art has grown to unimaginable heights. As time has gone by, the art world has gotten more complex. Mo
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
What to expect of an art appraisal: Do's and Don’ts
When owning one or more artworks it’s crucial to, aside from their intrinsic aesthetic, cultural, historical, or even sentimental value, know how much they are
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
The story of art collecting: from Rome to the rise of museums
The story of art collecting can be traced back to ancient civilizations and has unfolded in a continuous, evolving fashion ever since. Importantly, this story i
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés7 min read
The art fair system and the pandemic: What will be the new normal?
Art fairs are a magnetic force that attract an international and almost-nomadic tribe of curators, artists, art lovers, gallerists, and art collectors alike. Ma
Constanza Ontiveros Valdés8 min read
The 15 Most Expensive Paintings and Why
The global art market is currently hovering at an estimated $65 billion in annual sales. Over the last couple of years more than 40 million transactions have ta
15 min read
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