Art Market Predictions for 2021: Fairs, Online Auctions, and the Digital Shift

Following the disruptions of 2020, art market experts are forecasting a cautious return for major art fairs in 2021, with predictions shaped by vaccination rollouts and travel restrictions. Tim Schneider, editor of the Gray Market column at Artnet News, anticipates that Frieze New York (May 5), Art Basel Hong Kong (May 21), Frieze Los Angeles (July 26), The Armory Show (September 9), and Art Basel Miami Beach (December) will proceed as scheduled. He expresses reservations about Art Basel in Basel, recently postponed to September 23, and Frieze London / Masters, scheduled for October 13, citing Switzerland's strict event regulations and the UK's phased vaccination plan. Victoria Siddall, director of Frieze's board in New York, expressed confidence in the city's ability to host an international fair due to its local collector base. Gallerists like Marianne Boesky may reduce fair participation by half, citing rising costs and diminishing returns. Schneider also predicts a rise in online auctions for buyers spending "freely, but not recklessly," while viewing rooms may become less sustainable for dealers with modest resources. Art consultant Emily Tsingou asserts that a purely digital format is not the future solution for the art market.