The Evolution of Contemporary Arts Markets: Aesthetics, Money and Turbulence

The Evolution of Contemporary Arts Markets looks at the historical evolution of the art market from the 15th century to the present day. Art is both an expression of human creativity and an object of economic value and financial refuge at times of economic turbulence. Historically, the art market evolved with the development of capitalism, finance and technical change, and art schools responded to social events such as wars, revolutions and waves of democratization.

The author discusses the main features of modern art markets such as complexity in art valuation, globalism, segmentation, financialization, indivisibility, liquidity and provenance issues. The book studies the impact of wealth inequality and economic cycles and crises on the art market and features a chapter focusing specifically on the art market in China.

This accessible publication is ideal for a broad, interdisciplinary audience including those involved in the economic and financial fields as well as art lovers, art market participants and social and cultural scholars.

Andrés Solimano is founder and Chairman of the International Center for Globalization and Development (CIGLOB). He has held senior positions at the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Latin American School of Social Sciences (FLACSO) and the United Nations.