Posted 12/1/2023, 7:00:00 PM
Works by Women Artists Shatter Auction Records, But Progress Toward Equality Still Slow
- Joan Mitchell paintings set new auction records, selling for over $25 million each, showing rising demand for works by female artists
- Total auction sales for works by women rose 10% to $186 million, but still only accounted for 12% of total sales value
- Wealthy collectors are acquiring more works by women; their 2022 spending share rose from 43% to 55%
- Women artists dominated top price performers at recent auctions, with demand exceeding estimates
- Progress is happening but it will take time to reach gender parity as the art world plays catch-up after decades of imbalance