Collector as arbiter of representativeness in contemporary art

The piece contends that collectors play a vital role in determining which contemporary artworks encapsulate our era amidst a flood of cultural output. With 83 songs uploaded to Spotify every minute, contemporary art has flourished on platforms such as SaatchiArt and OpenSea. In contrast to music, the singularity of art restricts its spread. Future critics will depend on auction data and prominent exhibitions to grasp influences like Covid and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, typically favoring well-known brands. Collectors now assess representativeness, separating works from the incessant flow of artistic creations. The article mentions figures like Cryptopunk, Damien Hirst, and Banksy, lamenting the decline of critical dialogue and galleries that do not invest in artists. Stefano Monti, the author, is a partner at Monti&Taft.