Alain Quemin's Study on Art Rankings Reveals Western Dominance and Aging Stars

Sociologist Alain Quemin, professor at Paris VIII, published "Les Stars de l'art contemporain. Notoriété et consécration artistiques dans les arts visuels" with CNRS Éditions. In an interview with art historian Paul Ardenne, Quemin discusses how rankings like Kunstkompass (since 1970) and ArtReview's Power 100 (since 2002) reveal systemic biases. Key findings: the average age of top artists has risen dramatically—Bruce Nauman was 29 in 1970, now stars are in their 60s-80s; women artists face a glass ceiling, peaking at 20-22% of top ranks; the art world remains Western-centric despite claims of globalization; and France continues its decline in international representation, a trend Quemin first documented in his 2002 study "L'Art contemporain international." Rankings show a growing disconnect between market and institutional recognition, with collectors and dealers like Larry Gagosian and François Pinault now dominating the Power 100. Quemin argues rankings serve as a "compass" for institutional and market visibility but also have a performative effect, shaping who is considered a great artist.