Art World

These Were the Most Bankable Artists of 2023

Find out which artists' work made the best investments.

Auctioneer Georgina Hilton selling the top lot, Jean-Michel Basquiat's El Gran Espactaculo (The Nile) (1983) at Christie's evening sale of 21st Century Art in New York on May 15. Image courtesy Christie's. — Auctioneer Georgina Hilton selling the top lot, Jean-Michel Basquiat's El Gran Espactaculo (The Nile) (1983) at Christie's evening sale of 21st century art in New York on May 15. Image courtesy Christie's.

Artnet News March 18, 2024 ShareShare This Article

This article is part of the Artnet Intelligence Report Year Ahead 2024. Through in-depth analysis of last year’s market performance, the new edition paints a data-driven picture of the art world today, from the latest auction results to the artists and artworks leading the conversation.

European Old Masters

<em>Saint Sebastian Tended by Two Angels</em> (1602–09) by Peter Paul Rubens, the highest-priced artist at auction in the European Old Masters category. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Saint Sebastian Tended by Two Angels (1602–09) by Peter Paul Rubens, the highest-priced artist at auction in the European Old Masters category. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Impressionist and Modern

<em>Femme à la montre</em> (1932) by Pablo Picasso, the highest-priced artist at auction in the Impressionist and Modern category. © 2024 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Femme à la montre (1932) by Pablo Picasso, the highest-priced artist at auction in the Impressionist and Modern category. © 2024 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Postwar

<em>Untitled</em> (ca. 1959) by Joan Mitchell, the fifth highest-priced artist at auction in the postwar category. © Estate of Joan Mitchell.

Untitled (ca. 1959) by Joan Mitchell, the fifth highest-priced artist at auction in the postwar category. © Estate of Joan Mitchell.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Contemporary

<em>Lookin’ for a Treasure</em> (1995) by Yoshitomo Nara, the second highest-priced artist at auction in the contemporary category. Courtesy of Phillips.

Lookin’ for a Treasure (1995) by Yoshitomo Nara, the second highest-priced artist at auction in the contemporary category. Courtesy of Phillips.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Ultra-Contemporary

<em>Still Life</em> (2015) by Nicolas Party, the highest-priced artist at auction in the ultra-contemporary category. © Nicolas Party / Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024.

Still Life (2015) by Nicolas Party, the highest-priced artist at auction in the ultra-contemporary category. © Nicolas Party / Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

Source: Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics.

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