Welcome to a new blog series by our CEO, Ann Priftis, where we pull back the velvet rope on the art market. 

You've probably heard terms like "blue-chip artists," "primary vs. secondary market," or "record-breaking auction sales," but what does it all actually mean? Who decides what’s valuable? And how do you, as a collector, artist, or art lover, navigate this world? The art market is a fascinating, sometimes mysterious ecosystem made up of artists, galleries, auction houses, collectors, curators, and a few power players you may not even know exist. 

In this series, we’re breaking it all down.

Buckle up. It’s time to demystify the art world.

What is the Art Market and How is it Structured? 

You’ve likely read about the ‘Art Market,’ and heard experts in media, finance and retail refer to it but what really is this unique and complex industry and how is it structured? Today, 9 main groups make up the Global Art Market: Artists, Galleries, Auction Houses, Collectors, Curators and Museums, Art Advisors, Art Fairs, Art Dealers and Art Platforms.  Off Piste Fine Arts operates as a group of galleries (both physical and digital) with trusted relationships across a global network of artists, advisors and dealers. Our business is active and influential across the broad range of gallery activations and online art platforms, allowing us to share the best of the market with our amazing artists and collectors. 

Let’s explore the key art market groups: 

Artists: 

Without them, we’d have nothing to sell! Artists of all experience levels, working across all mediums and whose work is priced in a broad range use their unique aesthetic and vision to create artwork that builds the inventory of this special market. 

Galleries: 

Galleries function as the broker between artists and collectors and play an important role in driving awareness of artists and their work to new audiences.  

They provide physical and/or virtual space for exhibiting artworks and work across collector categories including independent collectors, institutions, businesses and public entities to match artwork with buyers.  Galleries curate exhibitions and steward collector relationships. 

Auction Houses: 

Facilitating the sale of art through public and private sales, auction houses provide the data for most of what is reported in the art market statistics shared in the media and industry reports.  

In addition to selling artwork, the auction houses conduct important research on pieces consigned for sale including provenance, occasional authentication and condition reporting. 

Collectors: 

Collectors can be individuals acquiring artwork for themselves or for a public or private institution.  Art market trends are influenced through collector behavior and may work with galleries and auction houses directly or through a trusted advisor. 

Curators and Museums: 

Curators can work for institutions and museums or independently.  They often contribute to art scholarship through research, writing and preservation.  

Curators are responsible for interpreting collections in museums, galleries, libraries and other cultural institutions. Museums exhibit artworks for the public, educating communities about art and are active patrons of living artists and artists’ estates. 

Inclusion in a museum exhibition or permanent collection is a major accomplishment for an artist and typically adds to the perceived or actual value of their artwork. 

Art Advisors: 

Providing expert collecting guidance to individuals and institutions, art advisors offer investment advice, collection management expertise and brokerage on buying and selling art. 

Art Fairs: 

Ranging in size from small regional events to global, large-scale gatherings, art fairs provide a marketing and sales platform for professional art sellers to showcase their work to a wider audience. 

Art Dealers: 

Operating independently or within a gallery or brokerage, dealers often specialize in a specific artist, period or style. 

They work to cultivate collectors and build relationships between the client and the gallery, estate or firm they may work for. 

Art Platforms: 

Typically offering a curated selection of artworks, art platforms aggregate artwork representing a broad range of genres, styles and prices to enable discovery and sale of works.  

These sales may be arranged directly with the artist or they can flow between a gallery or advisor. 

Secure financial transactions and increased price transparency allow for a more democratic approach to buying art. We’ll explore each of these categories in deeper detail through future blog posts.

Ann Priftis

CEO

The art market may seem exclusive, but the more you know, the more you realize it’s a dynamic and evolving space where anyone with passion and curiosity can participate. 

Whether you’re looking to collect, sell, or simply appreciate, understanding these key players will help you navigate the scene with confidence. 

Stay tuned for the next post, where we dive into the fascinating world of galleries—how they shape the market, build artist careers, and why they’re still the heart of the industry despite the rise of online platforms. 

Got questions or thoughts? Message us, make this a conversation.