Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Artprice’s Top 20 Artists of 2018 (So Far)

August 8, 2018 by Marion Maneker

Artprice has released its regular report on the first half of 2018’s sales. They’ve tallied $8.45bn in total auction sales with Christie’s and Sotheby’s making $5.2bn or 61.5% of those sales.

How does 2018 stack up against recent years’ performance? Artprice says it’s an 18% rise in dollar volume against a 2.5% rise in lot volume which reached 262,000 lots worldwide.

These overall numbers suggest a strong year for 2018. The H1 total puts 2018 fourth among the last 11 years Artprice is charting (see below.)

Artprice also charts the top 20 artists by sales volume. (We’ve added average price for each artist to the chart.) Picasso, Monet and Warhol are hardly strangers to the top spots. The market is increasingly familiar with Jean-Michel Basquiat’s position of value.

The $154m for Zao Wou-ki is worth noting because of Zao’s international appeal. Other Chinese artists on the list like Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian have strong positions without straddling collectors in both hemispheres.

Gerhard Richter remains on the list despite a substantial drop in sales volume, especially for his more recognizable works. David Hockney has risen to a position just below him. Their average prices are remarkably close for two living octogenarian artists.

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Met Reaches 6.3m Attendance Record, Admission Fee Shrinks to ‘$10 and Change’Met Reaches 6.3m Attendance Record, Admission Fee Shrinks to ‘$10 and Change’
  • Art & Ponzi Schemes, The Irresistible PullArt & Ponzi Schemes, The Irresistible Pull
  • Christie’s Unveils £30m Hockney Double Portrait for MarchChristie’s Unveils £30m Hockney Double Portrait for March
  • Kees QuartetKees Quartet
  • Father/Son Gallery SplitFather/Son Gallery Split
  • ArtList’s 3 Must See Shows: New Jeff Koons, Camille Henrot Solo ShowsArtList’s 3 Must See Shows: New Jeff Koons, Camille Henrot Solo Shows

Filed Under: Economic Trends

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor
 

Loading Comments...