Art Market Minute
The Art Market’s Uneven Recovery, Explained
The second half of 2025 saw auction sales rise—will that momentum continue?
Sonia Manalili &
Margaret Carrigan
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Host Margaret Carrigan breaks down findings from Artnet’s Intelligence Report: The Year Ahead 2026, revealing a market that’s recovering—but unevenly. Auction sales rose around 13 percent in 2025, marking the first increase in years, but much of that growth was driven by a handful of ultra-expensive works sold in New York.
Guests attend the Art Basel Miami Beach VIP Preview 2025 at Miami Beach Convention Center on December 5, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. Photo: Arturo Holmes/ Getty Images.
Beneath the headline numbers, a more complicated picture emerges. The U.S. is surging, China continues to decline, and newer markets are gaining ground. At the same time, collectors are shifting their focus—moving away from speculative ultra-contemporary art and doubling down on established names.
So what does that mean for the year ahead? Will the momentum continue, or was 2025 an outlier?
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