«I LIKE MONEY ON THE WALL»

Artnet’s annual auction sales report is out for 2014. Here’s the lowdown: The global auction market ascended to $16.1 billion, making 2014 the third year in a row that the value of fine art has increased. The market grew over 12 percent in 2014, as compared to 2013. The United States, mainland China, and the United Kingdom led the pack, though China experienced a decrease in growth compared to 2013. Unsurprisingly, Sotheby’s and Christie’s New York came out on top for auction houses, accounting for over 40 percent of global fourth quarter sales. Artists who ranked highest in market value were Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, bringing in $1.1 billion. Living artists who performed at the highest value were Gerhard Richter ($294 million), Jeff Koons ($170 million), and Christopher Wool ($100 million). No female artists placed in the top 40 spots of the year-end ranking, though Georgia O’Keeffe ranked 41st. 

-Art Daily.