Global art markets saw modest growth in 2025 after two years of decline — but the recovery is partial and fragile.
The $59.6 billion in sales represented a 4% year-on-year increase, albeit “with an asterisk,” ARTnews reported.
Auctions bounced back strongly, but gallery earnings “barely budged,” and the uptick rested on a few extremely expensive sales: Deals above $10 million went up, while the middle of the market remained stagnant.
Costs of shipping, logistics, and art fairs also rose. Geopolitics, particularly tariff uncertainty, remained a concern for dealers, while the Iran war has disrupted events in Middle Eastern hubs and will likely raise costs and lower luxury spending in the weeks to come.
