Introducing: The Artnet Intelligence Report, Year Ahead 2024 Edition

By in Art World News

Introducing: The Artnet Intelligence Report, Year Ahead 2024 Edition

read the report

How can you tell if the art market is overheated?

One clue may be the way journalists behave during evening sales. Not so long ago, some reporters wouldn’t even look up from their phones until a work crossed the $30 million threshold.

That boom era, however, is over—at least for now. After the remarkable peaks witnessed during 2021 and 2022, the art market fell back down to earth in 2023. The contraction was driven by multiple factors: climbing interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, the crypto crash, a supply squeeze— not to mention a significant number of collectors who gorged on art in recent years and chose to take a breather in 2023.

As times get tougher, it becomes all the more important to keep up appearances. The art market, more than almost any other industry, is shaped by sentiment. We know that marquee evening sales have transformed into the art-world equivalent of Broadway shows, with costumes, spotlights, and a big dose of razzle-dazzle. Less well understood are the ways in which the proceedings—and even final results—can be carefully stage-managed, especially following the repeal of a set of laws governing auction houses in New York City. In her must-read investigation, Artnet News senior reporter Katya Kazakina delves into the legal changes, and what they mean for buyers and sellers.

Elsewhere in this issue, Annie Armstrong talks to a consummate insider— mega-collector and art-fair founder Dean Valentine—about the future of the Los Angeles art scene. Artnet News and Morgan Stanley look beneath the topline auction numbers to explore how artists from various regions navigate the market differently, even in our age of hyper-globalization. And Artnet News contributor Julia Halperin, who edited this edition, delves into industry- wide auction results from 2023 to jettison the spin and deliver takeaways you can trust.

In today’s art market, there’s a whole lot going on behind the curtain. And we are keeping as close an eye on the $300,000 lots as we are the $30 million ones. Allow us to turn up the house lights and give you a better look.

– Naomi Rea, Acting Editor-in-Chief, Artnet News

— TABLE OF CONTENTS —

– Marketplace

  • By the Numbers: Find out exactly how much the art market contracted last year.
  • Zero to Hero: Meet the young artists defying the downturn.
  • Artist Power Ranking: Compare the most-searched artists in 2005 vs. 2023.
  • The Bestseller Lists: Discover the top 10 lots sold in every major category.

– The Greatest Show on Earth
by Katya Kazakina

The auction market has always been theatrical—but now, it’s more stage-managed than ever. Here’s what that means for buyers and sellers.

– 5 Questions for…
by Annie Armstrong, Vivienne Chow, and Katya Kazakina

  • Dean Valentine on Los Angeles’s ascension.
  • Amanda Hon on the future of the Hong Kong market. 
  • Patricia Marshall on how Paris’s art scene can reach the next level.

– Data Dive
by Julia Halperin

  • Which country’s art market was most resilient in 2023?
  • How did online-only sales fare?
  • Who are today’s most bankable artists? 

– Understanding Regional Differences in the Globalized Art Market
by Artnet News and Morgan Stanley

A closer look at the auction market for artists born in different regions shows how they take distinct paths to the hyperconnected art world.

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Seeking beauty in the ordinary: Photographer Anitra Lavanhar’s life inspires her art

By in Photography

Seeking beauty in the ordinary: Photographer Anitra Lavanhar’s life inspires her art

Anitra Lavanhar is a Renaissance woman with a camera. In high school she says she loved the magic of the dark room and felt challenged by photography’s technical and competitive aspects.

“Wanting to be a successful photographer is a little like a guitar player wanting to be famous,” she says. “It’s pretty much a saturated field. And very difficult.”

A self-labeled anthro-photographer, she describes herself as being “fueled by a lifelong curiosity of the world around me, the people in it and their stories. My lens is wide.”

Lavanhar studied anthropology at Sarah Lawrence College and spent a year in India photographing women in a small fishing village. Later she worked in women’s health as a medical assistant and massage therapist. Then in 2015, thanks to the iPhone and walking on a spiritual pilgrimage in Spain, she had an “I can do this” moment. 

A Boston native, Lavanhar — pregnant with her first child — moved to Tulsa in 2000 with husband Marlin Lavanhar as he took the job as pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church.



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“Sky Swinging” by Lavanhar.


Courtesy


“It was a big change and challenge,” she says, crediting her adjustment to photography. “It helped me appreciate where I was instead of missing what I didn’t have.”

In 2006, tragedy struck with the death of the couple’s 3-year-old daughter. “Out of these challenging things came amazing things,” Lavanhar reflects. She became a founder and staff member at Discovery Lab. She created the All Souls Acoustic Coffeehouse at the church. Family members established The Sienna Project, named in memory of her daughter, to build schools in Guatemala. 

“Walking the path, having the past grief, photography has helped me with my mental health. Seeing the beauty wherever I am. Even in the mundane,” she says. 

Lavanhar focuses on fine art and portraiture, and her signature technique is multiple exposures in nature and street scenes. She likes to shoot urban landscapes, street photography and macro nature. She tends to be drawn to that which isn’t traditionally photographed, like the detail and architecture of a parking garage rather than something like the Tulsa skyline. 

“It’s almost like cheating to take a photo of something already beautiful,” she says. 

“Painting adds to canvas; photography is the art of subtraction,” she continues. “What will you include in the frame and what will you leave out?” 

The COVID lockdown inspired two new portraiture concepts: “Doortraits,” which featured families on their front porches, and also exploring documentary family photography. “You’re like a journalist embedded with a family,” she says, “capturing authentic family life.” 

Lavanhar teaches photography through Philbrook Museum of Art’s Stay Gold sessions and will host some afternoon workshops at Oxley Nature Center March 9 and May 4. She is also an instructor of White Crane Silat, an Indonesian martial art. “It’s a practice I’ve been a part of and developed for 36 years,” she says. During a Silat retreat in Indonesia last summer she photographed older women, showcasing how beauty and strength increase with years.

Age and aging drive her now. Her children are 23 and 15. She’s 58. Following success with local shows and having her work in the government and office buildings, she looks ahead. 

“When I look at my goals, I very much want to pursue the fine arts even more,” she says.

Behind the music: Phil Clarkin, photographer

By in Photography

Behind the music: Phil Clarkin, photographer
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Phil Clarkin first developed his love for photography as a kid with a manual advance Kodak film camera, running around in the woods near his family’s farm in the Kansas Flint Hills. What started as a hobby turned into a profession with Phil Clarkin Photography. 

His work has taken him across the country to legendary venues like Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks. He is the lead house photographer (under the name Phil Clarkin Photography) for BOK Center, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa Theater, Osage Casino and Guthrie Green. 

What makes you good at this job? I’m always willing to learn, and I hope to never stop evolving as a creative. I’m musically inclined, which helps with my ability to capture the feeling of a show and to anticipate what is about to happen. I’m also a people person. I love to meet all the wonderful and interesting folks that make this industry happen! 

What is the most challenging part of your work? Finding new clients and building the business side of my brand when all I really want to do is make cool stuff. Being a business owner is the hard part. Being a photographer and director is the rewarding part. 

Any thoughts on the Tulsa music scene? We’re so lucky to live in a place full of musicians who play on the level they do, while all trying to build each other up. This town has a beautiful dynamic you don’t see everywhere else.

The art of engagement: Melbourne Art Fair’s rising prominence

By in Art World News

The art of engagement: Melbourne Art Fair’s rising prominence

Melbourne Art Fair held pride of place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in late February, as it returned for the first time since 2022. From the 22nd to the 25th, attendees could fall in love with the works presented by 60 leading galleries and Indigenous art centres.

Director of marketing and partnerships Erin Hodge described this edition of the long-running event, refreshed with flamboyant red-orange branding and expanded beyond the venue’s confines, as a “curatorially rigorous platform”.

“One that allows collectors and patrons to explore the region’s best contemporary art in one space, and gain a deep understanding of each artist’s practice,” she continued.

In a recent conversation with Marketing Mag, Hodge dove into the fair’s strategies for engaging its various stakeholders.

Marketing Mag: What makes the Melbourne Art Fair unique?

Erin Hodge: Melbourne Art Fair is owned and produced by the non-profit Melbourne Art Foundation. While the fair itself is a commercial event, with the primary objective to provide a platform for Australia’s leading galleries to exhibit and sell contemporary art, the foundation utilises profits to deliver an extensive commissioning and grants program, distinguishing it from conventional art fairs. 

This allows us to complement gallery presentations with a dynamic and multifaceted artistic program – including large-scale installations, a dedicated cinema space showcasing international video art, the fully funded participation of four Indigenous art centres to showcase work by artists living on Country, a series of conversations with international speakers, major commissions, plus satellite events across the city. Since its establishment in 2003, the foundation has distributed more than $1 million in artist and curator fees through the Melbourne Art Fair. It is an incredibly unique model; in fact, it is the only art fair like this in the world. 

MM: How do artists and galleries gain value from participating in such an event?

EH: Art fairs act as unique meeting points, in that they bring together a diverse, arts-interested audience under one roof. Over four days gallerists, artists, curators, institutions, collectors, journalists, and the art-loving public alike all gather to celebrate, learn about, promote, and support the arts. 

From a commercial perspective, art fairs play an important role for galleries and their represented artists to drive sales. However, the value gained goes far beyond financial outcomes. Galleries and their artists gain critical promotion and exposure to a broad, arts-interested audience. Particularly for new artists and young art dealers that are integrated side by side with iconic names, it helps to establish their presence in the market. The event also provides vital opportunities to form new networks that lead to further commercial and curatorial opportunities post-fair. 

Additionally, the context of a fair facilitates conversations between galleries and the next generation of collectors and arts industry professionals. There is a wonderful sense of comradery amongst the galleries and their artists, with the fair allowing them to connect and learn from each other.

art fair

MM: What work has been done to raise the fair’s profile in 2024? 

EH: Melbourne Art Fair has a rich history as Australia’s most established fair, started by a group of galleries in 1988. Today, however, the fair has been re-envisioned as we move to an annual model. With a focus on solo presentations and works of scale and significance, we have been able to differentiate from other fairs in producing a curatorially rigorous platform – one that allows collectors and patrons to explore the region’s best contemporary art in one space, and gain a deep understanding of each artist’s practice. 

Complementing gallery presentations, the 2024 curated program was the fair’s most ambitious to date, including a $100,000 bronze sculpture commissioned from artist Julie Rrap in partnership with Art Gallery of Western Australia, and a major performance commissioned from internationally renowned contemporary dance company, Lucy Guerin Inc.

Additionally, strategic collaborations with brands that align with the fair’s values have helped elevate its profile. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, VICE, Glenfiddich, Alpha60 and Broadsheet are some examples. These collaborations have allowed us to reach a diverse set of demographics, enhancing awareness and raising the fair’s overall profile. 

MM: What digital strategies, including social media campaigns, virtual tours and online previews, were deployed this year to further engagement?

EH: A range of digital strategies were implemented to connect with our audience on various platforms – including social media campaigns, email marketing, influencer collaborations, online viewing rooms and content collaborations with digital media outlets – with a focus on creating accessible and resonant digital content for a broad audience.

We produced a series of artist profile videos, offering behind-the-scenes glimpses at artists developing works in their studios and also worked with fair ambassadors, spanning various creative fields, to conduct interviews and produce content with digital media outlets like Ocula and Broadsheet, focused on what they were most excited to see at the fair.  

This approach played an important role in not only educating audiences on contemporary art, but also fostering engagement by allowing audiences to connect with an individual – making the art world feel more approachable. 

Melbourne Art Fair also produces online viewing rooms, MAF Virtual, which runs alongside and for two weeks post-event. The online iteration increases accessibility for those unable to physically attend and provides a digital platform to connect galleries with a global network of collectors and art enthusiasts. 

art fair

MM: How do you measure engagement, both online and in-person, and what strategies are in place to improve these metrics year on year?

EH: We look at a variety of metrics combined with anecdotal evidence to measure engagement both online and in-person. As a small non-profit organisation, social media is an important platform for us, where our audience regularly communicate. Beyond the views and likes, we pay particular attention to comments, shares and tags. Our audience often comments on posts of artworks they like, or tag friends to attend the event, which helps create a sense of community online. Email is another important platform for us. We utilise email marketing throughout the year, tailoring content and language tone for our VIPs and visitor audience, which allows us to maintain an average open rate of more than 45 percent.

In-person engagement is gauged through event attendance numbers and dwell time, offering a tangible understanding of the audience’s involvement. Additionally, attendee surveys and anecdotal evidence from galleries at the art fair and reporting on visitor interactions, adds a qualitative dimension.

MM: How will the fair build upon this year’s success in the run to 2025?

EH: Moving to an annual model allows Melbourne Art Fair to maintain momentum and a year-round presence in the market. We’re keen to work even closer with our galleries and corporate partners to activate mini events and co-produce content, engaging audiences throughout the year. This continuous engagement strategy aims to keep the event top of mind, ensuring sustained success leading up to 2025. 

Next, check out the winner of JCDecaux’s Programmatic Campaign of the Year award.

Images credited to Melbourne Art Fair. Photography by Griffin Sim.

Hear from the photographer behind the viral skyline picture

By in Photography

Hear from the photographer behind the viral skyline picture

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A local photographer’s picture is revealing just how far Nashville has come in the past decade.

You may have seen that viral photo comparing Nashville’s skyline today to what it looked like nearly a decade ago.

It was Penny Adams behind the lens of that shot. We show you the two photographs in the video above.

“The one thing that’s resonating in the comments is the passion for the city, they desire days gone by and wish things were different, or they’re happy for the growth and along for the ride,” Adams said.

But for all that’s now different, Adams says she hopes Nashville holds on to what no picture can ever show, something that has always made us Nashville.

“How I look at it is, the heart of the city is the people,” Adams said. “And I hope that doesn’t change, the sense of goodwill with each other.”

You can look at more of Adams’ photography here.

Carrie recommends:

Arizona journalist explains voucher outcomes before Tennessee considers the same

I have two boys in elementary school, so as the school voucher debate takes center stage again – I wanted to really understand this issue. Arizona started its school voucher program 13 years ago and is the first state in the nation to offer universal school vouchers. That’s what Governor Lee is proposing in two years. I leaned on the expertise of an investigative reporter in Arizona – and she came through with facts, figures and plenty of insight. This reporting gave me a lot to think about as a mom and a taxpayer. I think it will for you too.

-Carrie Sharp

Entries for the 2024 OnePlus Photography Awards are now open, calling on photography enthusiasts worldwide to ‘Make the Moment’ with smartphone cameras

By in Photography

Entries for the 2024 OnePlus Photography Awards are now open, calling on photography enthusiasts worldwide to ‘Make the Moment’ with smartphone cameras

This is the fourth consecutive year that OnePlus and IPA have collaborated to host the OPA

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 February 2024 – Global tech brand OnePlus today launched the 2024 OnePlus Photography Awards (OPA) in partnership with the International Photography Awards (IPA) — the global platform that encourages photographers to discover and share artistic creations — together bringing premium smartphone imaging experiences to more photography enthusiasts worldwide.

To provide an even more open platform for all mobile photography enthusiasts, Hasselblad ambassadors and Hasselblad masters will join the professional judges of OPA 2024 alongside OnePlus imaging product experts and the professional IPA jury team. This year, OnePlus is introducing even more exciting rewards including prize money of up to US$10,000 plus a complimentary OnePlus device for the winner of the Photo of the Year award to encourage photography enthusiasts around the globe to participate in OPA 2024.

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“OnePlus believes that photography is more than simply passively documenting what exists in front of the lens; it must actively seek to create and capture moments that leave a lasting impact. Our goal is to empower users to transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary experiences through the art of photography,” said Emily Dai, Head of Global Brand and Marketing at OnePlus. “Building on our long-term collaboration with IPA, we are looking forward to working even more closely together to explore the future of professional photography on mobile phones. By co-hosting photography contests, we aim to enable more photography enthusiasts around the world to amplify their distinctive tone and unique emotion and elevate moments into unforgettable masterpieces on their mobile phones.”

“We are delighted to once again be partnering with OnePlus in 2024. Our collaboration has helped drive huge leaps in mobile photography over the past three years, and we are thrilled to continue working alongside an organization that puts creativity and quality so clearly at the forefront. OnePlus’ continued role as the Official Smartphone of IPA reinforces our shared passion for advancing the craft of photography through innovation,” said Hossein Farmani, President and Founder of the International Photography Awards. “OnePlus consistently pushes boundaries to reach for the impossible in mobile photography. Through its cutting-edge technology and commitment to providing its global community with the best possible products, OnePlus provides users with a platform for unlimited creative expression, and we look forward to taking this collaboration to new heights in 2024!”

As the Official Smartphone of IPA 2024, the OnePlus 12 is a photography master with a professional-grade camera system built on flagship hardware and advanced image processing algorithms developed in collaboration with Hasselblad. Featuring the 4th Gen Hasselblad Camera for Mobile, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with an industry-first Sony LYT-808 wide angle sensor, 64MP 3x periscope telephoto camera, 114° field of view 48MP ultra-wide camera, the latest RAW HDR algorithm, and the newly upgraded Hasselblad portrait mode. Together, these features deliver an effortless pro-level camera that forms the foundation for the best ever mobile photography experience.

For further details about OnePlus’s partnership with IPA in 2024 and OPA 2024, please visit the official OnePlus website.

Hashtag: #oneplus

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About IPA

The International Photography Awards™ conducts an annual competition for professional, amateur, and student photographers on a global scale, creating one of the most ambitious and comprehensive competitions in the photography world today.

For more information, please visit www.photoawards.com.

About OnePlus

OnePlus is a global mobile technology brand that challenges conventional concepts of technology. Founded on the “Never Settle” mantra, OnePlus creates exquisitely designed devices with premium build quality and high-performance hardware. OnePlus thrives on cultivating strong bonds and growing alongside its community of users and fans.

For more information, please visit OnePlus.com or follow us on:
Instagram – imagehttps://instagram.com/oneplus
Facebook – imagehttps://facebook.com/oneplus
Twitter – imagehttps://twitter.com/oneplus
LinkedIn – imagehttps://linkedin.com/company/oneplus
YouTube – imagehttps://youtube.com/@oneplustech
TikTok – imagehttps://tiktok.com/@oneplus

Picturing Longmont: Museum Event Highlights City’s Past Through Ph…

By in Photography

Picturing Longmont: Museum Event Highlights City’s Past Through Ph…
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On Thursday, February 29, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Longmont Museum will host ‘Picturing Longmont,’ an event offering a unique journey through the city’s history via a curated selection of photographs. Museum Director Erik Mason and Curator of History Elizabeth Beaudoin will guide attendees through a visual exploration of Longmont’s evolution, focusing on Main Street, outdoor recreation, and the growth of local businesses. This special showcase is part of the museum’s ongoing exhibition, ‘Picturing the West: Masterworks of American Landscape Photography.’

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Unveiling Longmont’s Legacy

The ‘Picturing Longmont’ event aims to deepen the community’s connection to its history through powerful imagery. By presenting photographs from the museum’s extensive collection, Mason and Beaudoin will highlight significant moments and changes in Longmont’s landscape and society. The themes selected for the showcase are designed to resonate with attendees, showcasing the beauty and transformation of the city and its surrounding areas over time.

Expanding Audience Engagement

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Recognizing the importance of accessibility and inclusivity, the Longmont Museum has made this event free to the public, though reservations are required. In an effort to reach a broader audience, the presentation will also be live-streamed across several platforms, including the museum’s Facebook page, Longmont Public Media’s website, the LPM Roku app, and local Channel 8/880 HD. This multi-platform approach allows individuals who cannot attend in person to participate virtually, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

Reflecting on Broader Themes

Beyond celebrating Longmont’s history, the event ties into broader themes of landscape transformation and environmental impact, as seen in the museum’s current exhibition featuring Fazal Sheikh’s photography. Sheikh’s work on the Colorado Plateau, showcased in the exhibition ‘Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place,’ offers a poignant look at the consequences of extractive industries and climate change. This parallel invites attendees to contemplate not only the past but also the future of landscapes and communities affected by human activity.

Through ‘Picturing Longmont,’ the Longmont Museum fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the city’s heritage, while also encouraging reflection on the environmental and societal shifts shaping our world. By connecting local history with global challenges, the event promises to be an enlightening experience for all who participate, whether in person or online.

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