Leading artists worldwide 2021, by auction revenue

Pablo Picasso was the most valuable artist at auction in 2021. That year, the combined revenue of Picasso's works sold at fine art auctions worldwide amounted to roughly 671.5 million U.S. dollars. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol followed behind in 2021, with a total auction revenue of around 439 million and 348 million U.S. dollars, respectively.

Which countries are leading the fine art auction market?

In 2021, China and the United States held the highest market share of the fine art auction revenue worldwide. While the Asian country topped the ranking, accounting for over 34 percent of that segment’s income, the U.S. followed close behind, representing roughly a third of the fine art market. When considering the overall art market, however, the United States led the way, generating more than 40 percent of the global art market value in 2021.

Which sector generates the highest revenue at fine art auctions?

In 2021, Post-War and Contemporary art was the most profitable sector based on fine art auction revenue worldwide. That year, artists born after 1910 made up for over a half of global fine art sales. When looking at the combined auction sales of Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips worldwide, Post-War and Contemporary art generated more than four billion U.S. dollars in 2021.