The Brigham Galleries - Art Tips: Art Market Summary

The Art Fair Craze

No matter your tastes, there is an Art Fair for you. Fairs are popular with dealers, collectors, and art enthusiasts. Included in the most publicized fairs are The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) and Palm Beach(primarily Old Master paintings & antiquities), Miami Art Basel (contemporary) and the new Gulf Art Fair in Dubai (contemporary, but
censored for nudity/religion).

Attendance is high for the following reasons: Fairs are an event, and people like events. They provide an efficient way to view a significant quantity of art at once. Roughly 70% of the Old Masters on the market are shown at TEFAF. People buy with confidence due to
the rigorous vetting process (i.e., TEFAF is the Gold Standard, with 24 committees of 142 international experts examining each artwork).

Record breaking auction prices are generating more interest in investing in art. New riches in Russia, China, India and the Middle East bring an international crowd into the art market.

Viewing the artwork first-hand is ideal, but working with a dealer has advantages if you do not have time. Dealers have relationships with other dealers and can often secure a better price for their client.


The Art Fair Craze No matter your tastes, there is an Art Fair for you. Fairs are popular with dealers, collectors, and art enthusiasts. Included in the most publicized fairs are The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) and Palm Beach(primarily Old Master paintings & antiquities), Miami Art Basel (contemporary) and the new Gulf Art Fair in Dubai (contemporary, but censored for nudity/religion). Attendance is high for the following reasons: Fairs are an event, and people like events. They provide an efficient way to view a significant quantity of art at once. Roughly 70% of the Old Masters on the market are shown at TEFAF. People buy with confidence due to the rigorous vetting process (i.e., TEFAF is the Gold Standard, with 24 committees of 142 international experts examining each artwork). Record breaking auction prices are generating more interest in investing in art. New riches in Russia, China, India and the Middle East bring an international crowd into the art market. Viewing the artwork first-hand is ideal, but working with a dealer has advantages if you do not have time. Dealers have relationships with other dealers and can often secure a better price for their client.