Decoding the Art Market

�۶��Ƶ and Art Basel launch a five-part film series unpacking how value, emotion and change shape today’s art economy.

The art market can appear opaque, driven by its own codes and conventions. Yet it is also a space of exchange, creativity, and evolving possibilities. Decoding the Art Market is a five-part film series that shines a light on this complex system, with leading art world voices – including gallerists, economists, artists, and journalists – sharing their perspectives. Designed for both new and established collectors, the series traces how value is created, what drives transactions, and how the market continues to evolve in a global and digital era.

Episode 1

Decoding the Art Market | What is the Art Market?

Episode 1 of Decoding the Art Market asks the most fundamental question: ‘What is the art market?’ Global in reach yet guided by its own rules, the market operates across a two-tier structure of primary and secondary sales, with galleries, auction houses, and collectors at its core.

Scarcity and subjectivity make pricing unique; data and expertise matter, but emotion still drives purchases. Featuring Jeffrey Deitch, Noah Horowitz, Paul Donovan, Amy Cappellazzo, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and more, the episode charts the market’s growth from a niche circle of buyers to a worldwide industry – and shows how digital platforms and shifting generational tastes are rewriting the playbook.

Episode 2

Decoding the Art Market | The Role of the Art Gallery

Galleries form the backbone of the art market. They do far more than sell artworks: they nurture talent, support production, and guide artists through the evolution of their careers. From emerging spaces to international blue-chip galleries, dealers act as intermediaries between artists, collectors, and institutions, helping shape both reputations and value.

Episode 2 of Decoding the Art Market examines how galleries operate within this ecosystem, how they represent artists, build markets, and adapt to the challenges of a digital age. Featuring Jeffrey Deitch, Vanessa Carlos, Leiko Ikemura, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and others, the film explores the human relationships and long-term vision that sustain the art world and help ensure that art remains not just a market but a shared public good.

Episode 3

Coming soon: How to Build a Collection

The Art Market Check by Melanie Gerlis

Explore our latest editorial series with art market specialist and writer Melanie Gerlis – art market columnist Financial Times and editor at large, The Art Newspaper. Focusing on various aspects of the art market, her articles will allow additional insights throughout the year’s arts calendar. The most recent article looks at the art market after the New York auctions and Art Basel fair this spring.

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