The Art Market
Welcome to The Art Market!
Christopher Burge, auctioneer at Damien Hirst Sale, Christie's, London, 2008.
This wiki will be used as a project site for ARTH 4696
This course will examine the history of the art market, from the 16th century to the present. We will study
the production, sale and exchange of works of art as well as the patrons, artists and collectors who
participate in this economic, social and political form of taste-making and aesthetic valuation. Students
will learn about noted patrons of the arts, such as the Medici family in Renaissance Italy, our main focus
will be on the creation of a global art market in the twentieth century. Using case studies, sample topics
include: the patterns of transportation, exchange and trade; the interaction of collectors, critics and
curators; the spaces and contexts of display of contemporary collections; auction houses and commercial
galleries; and fakes, forgeries, thefts and scandals. Special attention will be paid to considering the
contemporary art market (post 1980) and the collecting, exchange and valuation of film, photography,
painting, performance and installation art. Global markets for the exchange of art in Asia, Europe, the
Middle East, Africa, North America and South America will be highlighted as well as the exhibitions of
contemporary art such as Art Basel, the Cairo Biennale and the Venice Biennale that fuel these markets.
This course is designed as a distance course allowing students to interact directly with the professor
using this wiki, a virtual meeting/classroom and pre-recorded podcasts and lectures. No special skills
are required. An interest in the arts, other cultures and a zeal for learning are givens. We will be working
with the latest innovative software that allows students to web log and create web pages almost intuitively.
A computer/laptop with a microphone and camera is helpful but not essential. To learn more just click
here: Getting Started: How to use your Wiki
Next...
You're ready for your first Assignment #1. Check into the About Us page, upload your picture, introduce
yourself to the class and tell us why you are doing this course.
Good luck!
Prof. Cheryl Finley
