Art Auctions: Spectacle and Value in the 21st Century

by Kathryn Brown

Art auctions are spectacular theatres of the contemporary art world. From glittering black-tie events to the anonymity of the digital realm, auctions stage the creation of value and can make or break artists' careers. They are a strange relics from the 18th century which remain at the heart of the art world in our digital age. And yet they have undergone huge transformation in the past decades, adapting to online formats, encroaching on territory which was once the preserve of galleries, and expanding ruthlessly into new regions and categories. Why are they still relevant, and what does their future hold? This accessible new book offers a fresh view of auctions, exploring their multifaceted role in today' s international art market.

104 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2024

Reviews

[Oliwia Wcislo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and do recommend the read, but it felt more like an introduction rather than an overview. There were some good questions brought up to do with the digitalisation of the art market and whether it had been successful or a fail, touching on questionable ethics of the history of auctions and how they affect art auction houses today, and how auction houses are slowly merging with the public museum sector (gaining more community relevance.) Yet a lot of the points lacked overall depth of analysis/conclusive evaluation.