Artnet’s New Intelligence Report Maps a Rebounding Auction Market and the Hunt for “Whales”
After two years of caution and recalibration, the auction market is showing clearer signs of life — and the trade is adjusting its tactics accordingly. A new Intelligence Report from Artnet frames the moment as a rebound paired with reinvention: as confidence returns, auction houses, advisors, and private-sale specialists are refining how they identify and court the highest-spending collectors, often referred to in the industry as “whales.”
The report is structured as a multi-part snapshot of the market’s current mechanics, combining data analysis with on-the-record perspectives from figures who operate across auctions, private sales, and the fast-expanding collectibles category.
What the report covers
Rather than presenting a single narrative, the Intelligence Report breaks its findings into several sections designed to capture both the macro picture and the granular shifts that can move prices.
One segment, “By the Numbers,” focuses on the auction market’s return to steadier footing. Another, “Zero to Hero,” looks at artists who are suddenly drawing heightened attention from insiders — the kind of momentum that can precede broader market recognition.
The report also tracks search behavior in “The Most-Searched Artists,” highlighting which established names gained traction and which lost ground. A further section, “The Best-Seller List,” examines so-called trophy lots across six categories, with expert commentary on what made those works stand out in a competitive, image-driven marketplace.
Voices from inside the trade
A “Five Questions for…” feature brings in three market veterans whose vantage points reflect how quickly the business is evolving.
David Schrader, described as the former head of private sales at Sotheby’s, discusses the inner workings of the secondary market and a new venture in Manhattan. Advisor Patti Wong addresses the state of play in Asia, the growing prominence of the Gulf, and the changes she has observed in an auction industry known for rapid shifts in strategy and sentiment. Joe Maddalena of Dallas-based Heritage Auctions speaks to the accelerating collectibles market and how his firm positions itself against the traditional auction-house establishment.
A data-driven look at “bankable” artists
The report’s “Data Dive,” by Margaret Carrigan, promises a detailed accounting of last year’s market performance and a closer look at which artists are currently considered the most reliable in market terms — a question that matters not only to collectors, but also to museums, galleries, and estates navigating acquisition and deaccession decisions.
Artnet also notes that the report includes an explanation of how its data was compiled, edited, and analyzed — a methodological transparency that has become increasingly important as market participants lean on analytics to guide buying, selling, and consigning decisions.
A live conversation on April 8
Artnet will host a live discussion about the Intelligence Report’s findings on April 8 at 1 p.m. ET, featuring Katya Kazakina and Naomi Rea. The event is positioned as an opportunity to unpack the report’s key takeaways and respond to audience questions.
As the market’s temperature rises again, the report’s central premise is clear: the rebound is real, but so is the competition — and the next phase may be defined less by spectacle than by precision in how the trade finds, serves, and retains its biggest buyers.
