Trends from 2025 and What to expect from art collectors in 2026….

Trends from 2025 and What to expect from art collectors in 2026….

The Art Basal and UBS Market were down 8.8% YOY. Global Fine Arts was down an estimated 12% YOY. Galleries are reporting in decrease in purchases in 2025. After a trend analysis of 2025, one of the largest causes of the downturn is not inflation, but rather, collectors being more cautious in their purchases. A noticeable trend is that collectors are looking for quality work worth their value. Collectors are putting an increased value on transparency in price, history, quality, artists (Masters and Emerging), and trust in shipping and delivery.

Many collectors are turning to online purchases. Though this may seem exciting for emerging artists who have online stores, online purchases rely on a high level of trust. Something that collectors are expecting more of in their purchases. This pushes collectors to focus their online searches to reputable and familiar galleries for their collections.

55% of galleries report they will be moving their gallery services online. With the increased use of social media, online purchasing, and online searches, galleries are working to improve their YOY percentage by focusing on the increasing use of technology.

What does this mean for the small local and emerging artist?

Emerging artists are on the rise in collector purchases. Yes, this is great, but how do they get their work in front of that collector? Looking at what some artists are doing on social media, they are giving the purchaser or collector the opportunity to build trust and have full transparency. Many successful artists are showing the steps in creating, sharing their story, using quality materials and showing care in their work. This will appeal to most relevant collectors and to the population that are seeking great art.

Economists have broken down the key drive for art purchases moving into 2026:

·    Trust: With all the technology in the world. Building trust can be more simplified. Collectors want to trust that their art is being shipped properly. There are advanced packing materials, tracking, insurance, and even cross seas shipping of art have climate controls to keep the art safe. This is key!! The collector also must trust that you will communicate and give them what they are asking for when communicating and selling.

·    Quality: There has been a downturn in quality of work. Not just with the emerging artist, but with the care of Master pieces. Proper priming, quality materials, proper varnishing, sides of canvas clean, and framed if necessary. A collector wants their piece to last and some even hope that the value will increase as the emerging artist becomes more famous.

·    Transparency: Your story. The paintings story. The materials used. There is an increase in pieces that carry NO story or history. (Why did you paint this? What does this piece mean to you? What influences you? Who are you? Where did you start art? Where did you grow up?)

Collectors want to be able to have a guest over and share the history and story of a piece they purchased. An artist should be able to have a connection with their work that will move the collector.

·    Value: Value can be seen in many different views. Economists see value as a dollar. What makes a piece of art valuable? Is a piece worth the dollar amount that is presented? Value sums up all prior points into one. Is this piece worth what is being asked? Does it carry a history that is worth owning? Is it quality? Etc.

Collectors are also looking at value of uniqueness. Anyone can copy or recreate a similar piece from someone else. This does not make it unique. Collectors value a piece that their neighbor has never seen before and can be envied. This carries a great weight of value.

This is a summary of what the 2025 financial analysis has to offer. I have broken it down and summarized so you don’t have to read hundreds of pages. I hope this has been helpful.