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Barnebys report shows female artists are dominating the investment market
By Rose Adams | 6 June 2018 | Culture, Wealth,
Barnebys’ reports reveals art by female artists makes up some of the most popular auction lots
* This painting titled ‘The Girl who had everything’ by British female artist Cecily Brown, sold for £1.2m at auction – cementing Barnebys findings that there is a surge in interest in artwork by female artists.
When it comes to investments that go the distance we may soon be calling time on watches, jewellery and motors and looking to the world of art instead, as a new report by auction search engine Barnebys suggests that female artists are dominating the investment market. The company has released the results from its 2018 online report, revealing that vintage posters, prints and photography by female artists are particular areas of growth in the art market.
The report, titled ‘Tomorrow – the view from today’, collects data from more than 65million lots sold at auction by 3000 auction houses globally, as well as almost 16.4million user sessions relating to nearly 5million items coming up for sale. After observing significant growth in auction sales within certain price ranges combined with demographic profiles of the search engine’s users, Barnebys’ co-founder and head of content Pontus Silfverstolpe, says the findings point to new audiences joining what has largely been an art, antiques and collectibles market until now.
“History offered fewer opportunities for women to dedicate their lives to careers in art and design, so there is simply less art by recognised female talent around, with the result that the market for art by women has traditionally been far less developed than that by men,” Silfverstolpe said.
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* Barnebys’ co-founder and head of content Pontus Silfverstolpe, says the findings point to new audiences joining what has largely been an art, antiques and collectibles market until now.
“Not only is that now changing, but much more focus is now rightly being given to talent that has either been unsung or overshadowed for political and social reasons in the past. Just look at the profile now being given to the likes of Frida Kahlo in London and Mary Cassatt in Paris in major retrospectives, this attention will filter through to the market and sales online will flourish as buyers try to snap up the best art by women before prices rocket.”
So which artists are the ones to watch in terms of winning investments? Silfverstolpe advises buyers to seek vintage posters, modern prints and photography by artists such as Jenny Saville, Cecily Brown, Georgia O’Keeffe, Joan Mitchell, Petra Cortright, Cady Noland, Agnes Martin and Barbara Kreuger to name a few.
“Visually, these types of collectibles have instant appeal and also crossover appeal, attracting everyone from home decorators to those with an interest in graphic design, history, as well as specialist areas like entertainment and travel. We see that many people want art from names such as Picasso, Koons and Banksy, three of the most common keywords in Barnebys’ search engine. These are artists whom they know and whose art they have seen.”