2020 was a year which, due to the pandemic and the consequent health emergency, saw a radical change in the art market. Until last year, transactions took place exclusively through the various market players: auction houses with sales set up and organized in the various locations, art galleries with previews that anticipated the exhibition-sale period of one or more artists, independent dealers and promoters of artists to their collectors or even curators of exhibitions often engaged in trait d'union activities. In short, everything now seems to describe a world that no longer exists and that will have to reorganize itself in order to be able to propose itself to a new collector. Yes, because alongside the restrictive needs that arose due to the Coranavirus and the use of technological tools on the web, we have witnessed the entry of new strategies for the sale of works of art that are creating a different type of demand. So today the real "Market Place” it is the network in which auction houses above all offer more and more online events that require participation exclusively on digital platforms. These instruments are favored by collectors who we could define as the "New Generation”, aged between 40 and 50, who have a certain economic position but above all know the use of new information technologies. Even if there is no shortage of regular collectors who, due to the health emergency, have found themselves having to use the web as a means of knowledge and a tool to search for new works of art. This new online market, in addition to offering an unlimited number of possibilities, if we consider the internationalization of auction houses, allows us to better understand and appreciate the credibility of the proponent - as stated by Attilio Meoli, Sole Director of Art-Rite. And it is from this point of view of operator transparency that the works will increasingly benefit from a greater guarantee of authenticity and quality. We can also say - continues Meoli - that this very period allowed us to offer sales using virtual reality with tours in 3D mode, thus approaching a younger audience, which has begun to pay more attention to contemporary works. Furthermore, there was an increase in the “Private Sale” segment, ie the direct sale conducted by the auction house between the seller and the buyer. A model closer to an Art Dealer operation with a different form of interaction that is not necessarily or exclusively virtual and which mainly concerns collectors who have greater financial possibilities and who are above all interested in the exclusivity of the negotiation. It is now certain that we have entered the digital era also for art and sales only online and live streaming. Sotheby's, Christie's, Phillips, just to mention the most international auction houses, record good online sales performance of works of all kinds, from masterpieces of art to watches, from design to vintage cars, from fine wines to vintage objects . To remember – at Sotheby's – the award of 85 million dollars for the triptych by Francia Bacon, 15 million for a work by Jean Michael Basquiat or the "Still Life" (1951) by the Italian painter Giorgio Morandi, which he made 1.6 million dollars. An interesting award from Phillips was Amoako Boafo's work “Lighter” which, with an initial estimate of 40, was then sold for 325 dollars. Christie's has long been registering records and collection successes in online auctions from New York to Hong Kong. To remember the 100% sold at the London auction dedicated to Bansky where the work Girl with Balloon – Color AP (Purple) was sold for 791,259 Pounds. Apparently, despite the fear of a global recession, the art market is advancing on the web and conquering new markets and different collectors' targets. But as we well know this is only the beginning.
Cover artwork: BANKSY (B. 1974) - Morons (Sepia) Estimate : GBP 20,000 – GBP 30,000 (USD 25,200 – USD 37,800). Realized price GBP 60,000
