Contemporary Art Commons^™

Bridging Culture And Capital: The Financialisation Of Middle-Tier Contemporary Art In Emerging Markets, Ned Carter

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines the rising trend of the financialisation of middle-tier art markets in emerging economies, with a focus on corporate and institutional case studies from the continents of Africa and Asia. The research is driven by a central question: What are the key mechanisms turning middle-tier contemporary art into a financial asset class in these emerging markets? To answer this, the study analyses how financial tools, market intermediaries, and new wealth drivers are transforming art collecting practices in non-Western contexts. A qualitative case-study methodology is employed, comparing multiple institutions, mainly banks, investment funds and insurance firms, that actively engage …

Gender, Feminism, And Market Dynamics: Examining Gender And Feminism In The Art Market Through Two Female Chinese Artists, Hung Liu (劉虹) And Yu Hong (喻红), Amelia Campbell-Breeden

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines the articulation of feminist expression in contemporary Chinese women’s oil painting and its positioning and valuation within the art market. A focus is placed on Yu Hong and Hung Liu, analysing the interaction of gender, race, and censorship within both domestic and global frameworks. The study employs Grounded Theory to integrate qualitative and quantitative evidence from literature, exhibitions, market reports, rankings, and auction data, aiming to develop a theory from under-explored material instead of applying Western feminist beliefs.

Research suggests that recent advancements in female visibility are often driven by positive discrimination and curatorial “translation”, which uses …

Existential Reckonings: Covid-19’S Impact On Women Artists In New York And The Art Market During A Time Of Crisis, Elizabeth Glynn

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the impact of COVID-19 on women artists in New York City, emphasizing the existential challenges they faced and their responses within the art market. Through qualitative interviews, this research reveals how the pandemic catalyzed critical introspection, prompting artists to reevaluate their identities and creative practices. Despite systemic barriers to visibility and recognition, women artists exhibited resilience and adaptability, leveraging digital platforms to foster community engagement and expand their reach. This study dives deeper into the representation and support of women in the art sector, highlighting the interconnectedness of existentialism, creativity, and the evolving art market.

Negotiating Independence And Representation: The Role Of Galleries In Shaping Emerging Artists’ Careers In London, Filippo Fazzini Matteucci

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation analyses the impact of gallery representation on the career progression of emerging artists in the London art ecosystem. The research draws on qualitative data, gathered through the completion of four semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected between two London galleries - Almine Rech and Gallery Rosenfeld - and included two artists and two managers. The study examines four interrelated themes: the negotiation between representation and independence; the role of trust and informality in shaping artist–gallery relationships; the influence of visibility through social media platforms; and the participants’ definitions of success. The research reveals that representation and independence are not …

Entrepreneuring Otherwise: Reimagining Value In Art Business At Ɛdan, The Ano Institute Of Arts And Knowledge, And Nubuke Wa, Chantel Thompson

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines how three Ghanaian women-led art institutions practise what this study terms “entrepreneuring otherwise”: a feminist and decolonial mode of enterprise grounded in care, community, and epistemic sovereignty. Focussing on Ɛdan, ANO Institute of Arts and Knowledge, and Nubuke Wa, the research investigates how they navigate their environments, illustrating the strategies used to respond to both the rich cultural histories of Ghana and the systemic conditions shaped by limited state support, fragmented cultural policy, and predominantly informal economies, which ultimately create fertile ground for reimagining and innovation.

Situated within feminist epistemologies and decolonial thought, the study applies the …

Size Matters: How Physical Scale Is (Or Is Not) Rewarded In A Global, Ultra-Contemporary, Online Art Market, Odd Halvdan Sakse Orstavik

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines how the relationship between the size and price of paintings has evolved throughout the 21st century by analysing an up-to-date dataset of 18,821 works by 103 artists offered at auction between 2000-2025 within 3 distinct segments of the market (Blue-Chip, Contemporary and Ultra-Contemporary). The main finding is that the size elasticity differs in each of these segments. It is highest for the Blue-Chip segment (0.71), lower for the Contemporary segment (0.59) and lowest for the Ultra-Contemporary segment (0.55). Contrary to many previous results, it finds no optimal size within the range of works offered at auction. As …

Changing Art Market Trends And Collector Preferences In India’S Metropolitan Hubs Amid Economic Growth, Gauri Minocha

MA in Art Business Dissertations

The dissertation aims to explore how India’s post-liberalisation economic rise has shaped the structure, buying trends, and consumer behaviour within the urban art market, with the focus being on the country’s two main hubs- Delhi and Mumbai. It investigates the role of economic liberalisation, demographic shifts, globalisation, digitisation, and regulatory frameworks in reshaping the market. A mixed-method approach, combined with site visits, studying existing research, and conducting semi-structured interviews with key market players- gallerists, collectors, advisors, and fair directors, was employed. The findings reveal that the Indian market followed a ‘boom-bust-boom’ cycle post liberalisation, with the pandemic serving as a …

Contemporary Art And Cultural Identity In Post-Soviet Kazakhstan, Dinara Saduakassova

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation explores the development of contemporary Kazakhstani art after 1991, arguing that the independent nation’s international cultural visibility is defined by artists rather than institutions. Operating without state infrastructure, Said Atabekov, the Kyzyl Tractor collective, Almagul Menlibayeva, Saule Suleimenova, and Yerbossyn Meldibekov gained international recognition via biennales, exhibitions, and transnational networks. Their practices challenge state narratives of heroic nationalism and Western expectations. Case studies, interviews, and analysis of Rukhani Zhangyru and new institutions like Tselinny, enable this dissertation to argue that Kazakhstan’s position in global art history is artist driven.

Censorship In The Indian Art Market: Legal, Institutional, And Commercial Implications, Kritika Salhotra

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines censorship of art in an Indian context, focusing on artistic production, exhibition practices, and the commercial viability of dissenting art. Drawing on case studies from institutional controversies, legal judgments, and interviews with practitioners, the study analyses how censorship operates not only through law but also through institutional gatekeeping and market mechanisms. The research finds that while Indian courts, particularly at the higher levels, have shown slow progress towards becoming liberal, the persistence of vague obscenity provisions and inconsistent jurisprudence sustains a climate of legal ambiguity. Extralegal pressures often shape curatorial decisions, leading art organisations to retreat or …

From Visibility To Value: How Can Digital Art Achieve Long-Term Legitimacy In The Contemporary Artworld?, Ziyuan Wang

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation explores the evolving legitimacy of digital art within the contemporary artworld, addressing the central question: How can digital art achieve long-term legitimacy in a cultural landscape increasingly shaped by decentralised networks and technological innovation? Through a qualitative methodology involving interviews with digital artist, curator, collectors, and platform leader, this study aims to discover how value, legitimacy, and aesthetic quality are constructed in digital art markets.

Within the art ecosystem, digital art often emerges from community based, peer-to-peer validation, which generates visibility and drives market activity such as high-profile sales. Yet, participants continue to place value on institutional endorsement …

Milan As A Future Art Capital: Opportunities And Limitations Within The European Art Landscape, Camilla Zoe Nicelli

MA in Art Business Dissertations

Italy is renowned world-wide for its cultural heritage but contemporarily being resistant to innovation, however Milan can be viewed as an exception. it’s a city which combines art, fashion, finance and design, and it has been recognised as a future art capital. Nevertheless, there is a significant absence of scholarly research analysing the Milanese art market in a systematic manner. The aim of this dissertation is to answer the following research question: “What factors will allow Milan to establish itself within the European art landscape, and what are the challenges that might limit its rise as an art capital?”. This …

Artwork Or It-Bag? How Arts-Luxury Collaborations Impact Artist Cultural Visibility, Edwina Keary

MA in Art Business Dissertations

Since Marc Jacobs’ introduction to Louis Vuitton in 1997 and experimentation with artist collaboration, art and luxury collaboration has boomed. Over the years, customer demands have shifted in the wake of postmodern consumer culture, and brands must keep up with them to maintain their competitive advantage. The nature of collaborations has therefore shifted their focus to include experiences as well as products. Different collaboration types have a unique impact on both the brand and the artists involved. This research explores the impact of product versus experience-based collaboration on the cultural visibility of the artists involved through press coverage analysis. This …

Institutional Legitimation And Artistic Value In Portuguese Contemporary Art, Constança Maria Lobo De Castro Afonso

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines the mechanisms of institutional legitimation in the Portuguese art market, with main emphasis on museums, curatorial practices, media mediation and the ever-changing role of public participation. Drawing field theory (Bourdieu), art world sociology (Becker) and recent studies of media and symbolic capital, it positions Portugal as a ‘semi-peripheral’ market in which institutional framing and international infrastructures play a critical role in establishing value and reputation. The literature review shows that legitimacy is collectively produced by a constellation of actors, narratives and conventions, rather than solely by the intrinsic properties of artworks or straightforward market demand.

Through a …

Female Ultra-Contemporary Artists: Rise And Career Trajectories, Alexie Talabard

MA in Art Business Dissertations

Over the past decade, ultra-contemporary women artists, those born after 1974, have gained important visibility and market success. Despite the attention they attract, there has been little academic research on why this rise has happened. This dissertation explores the factors behind their prominence, looking at how the art market, institutions, social movements and digital platforms, have shaped their success.

The study draws on literature, market data, case studies and interviews to situate these artists within both commercial and cultural contexts. It finds that their rise is not just a short-term trend but reflects broader shifts in the art world, including …