In Uncertain Times, Value Prevails: A Guide to Resilient Art Investments

As the U.S. imposes sweeping tariffs on imports from key regions, galleries and collectors have been caught in the crossfire​. Suddenly, moving artworks across borders has become costlier and more complex. “Tariffs would generally raise the cost of doing business”, warns Edouard Gouin, co-founder of art logistics firm Convelio​. He notes that new duties could create “Brexit-like implications” for the art trade, with “more red tape, more bureaucracy, all on a country-by-country basis”​.

In other words, a collector shipping a painting from London to New York might now face the same kind of paperwork and fees that British dealers grappled with post-Brexit. The ripple effects are being felt across the UK, US, and EU art markets. Shipping costs – already sky-high since the pandemic – would climb further under these tariffs​.”

This especially worries small dealers operating on thin margins. Many have already been stretched by inflation and rising overheads, and further trade barriers only add pressure, and frankly less opportunity. In fact, even before these tariffs hit, "With rising costs and slower sales, we are having to cut back," said one gallerist friend recently. "We’re looking for quick ways to ease the financial pressure, but these tariffs aren’t helping at all."

Collectors feel this strain too: uncertainty around export/import logistics and potential taxes makes it harder to plan acquisitions. Who wants to bid on a £20,000 work in New York if you might owe up to an extra 25% tariff to bring it home?

Currency volatility is amplifying the jitters. Political shocks and trade disputes send currencies seesawing, which in turn affects art prices. A strong dollar or weak pound can suddenly make European works much cheaper for American buyers – or, conversely, make overseas consignments less attractive.

In recent memory, a Brexit-induced drop in sterling saw savvy US collectors swoop into UK auctions for bargains. Now we must weigh whether a new tariff can similarly jolt exchange rates mid-transaction. The bottom line: in today’s climate, collectors are navigating a minefield of logistic and financial variables. However, it’s not all chaos – parts of the art market are not just surviving, but quietly thriving. There’s always smart money moving, and smart individuals making it move.

Beneath the headline-grabbing turmoil, one segment of the art market has been remarkably steady: blue-chip prints and other “core value” artworks in the mid-tier price range (generally sub-£80,000). These are the established, historically resilient pieces that often get overlooked in feverish boom times – limited edition prints by household-name artists, works on paper, and other lower-priced gems that form the bedrock of many collections. Recent data shows that this segment has not only held firm over the last five years but, in many cases, outperformed flashier high-end assets.

Even during the pandemic downturn, when global art sales plummeted 22%, the contemporary prints and multiples market began to enjoy growing interest and popularity, growing over 64% from 2019.

That growth continued steadily through the recovery. By mid-2022, sales of many blue chip prints were 352% higher (in value) than they had been pre-pandemic in 2017​. And despite a cooling of the overall art market in 2023–2024, demand for prints has only solidified. In 2023, global sales of Prints & Multiples jumped by 18%​, at the same time that many big-ticket auction metrics were softening. In short, while six- and seven-figure paintings struggled to find buyers, more collectors were snapping up high-quality prints in the £5k–£50k range than ever before.

​This sustained boom in the prints market illustrates the remarkable resilience of lower-priced, core-value artworks through recent economic upheavals.

Why are prints and editions proving so resilient? Fundamentally, they offer collectors a way to invest in blue chip art without betting the farm, which is especially attractive in uncertain times. Rather than chase an overhyped young painter whose prices might double one year and halve the next, value-driven buyers can acquire a Warhol screenprint or a Banksy edition for £10k–£30k and sleep easier at night.

These works tend to have established secondary markets and large buyer pools, making them more liquid. As Joe Syer, one of our co-founders here at MyArtBroker, observed after the pandemic upheaval:

Crucially, this resilience is global. It’s not just UK prints or one region – the trend holds across major markets. The 2025 Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report confirms that lower-priced segments have been the most dynamic worldwide. In 2024, even as total global art sales fell by 12%, the volume of transactions actually grew by 3%, driven largely by activity in works under $50k​.

Clare McAndrew, the economist behind the UBS report, highlighted “the growth of sales at the lower and more affordable prices” as one of the most positive developments, noting that the number of sub-$50k artworks changing hands has expanded significantly, bringing in new buyers and giving the market a “broader and more diversified base for sales.”​

In short, the art market’s foundation is widening. Many collectors who might have sat out the speculative frenzy are now engaged and transacting in this middle segment, which strengthens the overall market ecology.

All this is not to say the entire art market is rosy – rather, it has split into two realities. On one side, the resilient core of value-driven sales (as we’ve seen, prints and other sub £50k works are flourishing). On the other, the ultra-high-end and speculative fringe have hit headwinds. The contrast is striking. In 2022, one couldn’t read the news without seeing yet another record-smashing price or an NFT artwork selling for millions. But by 2023, the frenzy had cooled dramatically. Fine art auction sales overall fell about 13% that year, and the contraction was most pronounced at the highest end of the market. Only six artworks sold for over £50 million in 2023, compared to more than 20 such trophy sales in 2022​.

The once-booming contemporary art sector (aka ultra-contemporary paintings by hot young names) was hit hard, with sales at auction dropping by 36% to $1.4 billion, their lowest level since 2018.​ In effect, the high end had partied in 2021–22, and now the hangover is settling in.

What’s driving this pullback at the top? In a word, or two: risk aversion. Faced with economic uncertainty, collectors have become far more selective about big expenditures. Many are returning to tried-and-tested names instead of speculative bets.

“Several dealers spoke of a lack of curiosity among clients,” McAndrew notes. “They used to fight for works from emerging artists’ studios. Now everyone wants to buy someone they’ve already heard of. The appetite for the unknown isn’t there anymore.”​

This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the shift. Collectors who during the boom might have chased the next big thing are now seeking comfort in the familiar – whether that means a mid-career blue-chip artist or a classic piece by a modern master. It’s a flight to quality and certainty.

This bifurcation of the market – stability at the core, caution at the top – is actually a healthy sign in the long run. It means the market is finding a new equilibrium grounded in fundamentals rather than hype. Instead of only a handful of eye-watering auction results propping up the “art market is strong” narrative, we have broad transaction volume and depth of participation as a truer measure of health. In 2024, for example, auction houses sold 20% less by value but only 4% fewer lots than the previous year – indicating plenty of trading activity, just at lower price points​

Small and mid-tier galleries actually saw growth: those with turnover under $250k had a 17% increase in sales, while the mega-dealers (>$10M turnover) experienced a 9% decline. In other words, the action has shifted to the broader base. Hundreds of $20k–$30k trades can more than make up for a few $10M sales in both value and, importantly, collector sentiment. This democratisation is reassuring for collectors like ours at MyArtBroker: it signals a market driven by genuine demand from a wider audience, not just a few billionaires at the top.

For investors, one clear takeaway emerges: pay attention to transaction volume and breadth, not just headline prices. A healthy art market isn’t one where a single painting fetches $200 million – it’s one where tens of thousands of artworks find buyers at sustainable prices.

External data reinforces this point resoundingly when you consider the below points that underscore the market’s true pulse:

1. In 2024, global art sales by value fell 12% to $57.5 billion, marking the second year of decline​. Yet the number of transactions rose 3% to about 40.5 million deals​. Wealth Briefing
2. More art changed hands than the year prior, despite the lower dollar total – a clear sign of resilience in the middle market driving volume. Indeed, trading activity in works under $50k was greater, buoying overall transaction numbers​ The Art Newspaper
3. Both auction and dealer sectors are seeing a broader base of transactions. Smaller galleries and dealers reported a significant influx of new buyers and higher sales counts in 2024, as noted earlier. Likewise, auction houses saw a shallower dip in volume (−4%) than value (−20%) year-on-year​. The Art Newspaper Such a gap between volume and value implies that interest in art remains high; it’s the pricing and selectivity that have shifted. As UBS’s chief economist Paul Donovan observed, “transactions remain high, with positive signs from the presence of new buyers”, underscoring the market’s “enduring appeal” even in a downturn​. Wealth Briefing

In practical terms, if you’re an investor focusing on the £15k–£50k range, this all means you’re swimming with a strong current at your back. Liquidity – the ability to buy and sell without huge price concessions – is better in this segment now than it was during the height of the top-end frenzy. There's a depth of demand. For example, if you own a sought-after print by Yayoi Kusama or an early-edition David Hockney, chances are there are multiple buyers out there actively hunting for just that piece, even if overall “sales values” on paper are down this year. Volume is the bellwether of market health, and volume is robust. It reflects a broad base of collector confidence that isn’t immediately obvious from the headlines about a “plummeting art market.” In fact, it’s the clearest indication that the market is recalibrating to a more sustainable, transaction-driven footing.

Given this landscape – tariff headwinds, a bifurcated market, and the primacy of volume – how should we proceed? The key is to be strategic not just in what you buy, but in how and where you transact. In today’s climate, when and where you buy or sell can make a difference in both your net returns and your peace of mind.

First, consider the logistical and tax implications before pulling the trigger on a cross-border deal. If there’s murkiness around tariffs on art between the US and Europe, for instance, you might delay importing a piece to the States or use a freeport storage as a temporary solution​.

Or, you might source a work from a seller in the same country as you to avoid potential duties entirely. These are exactly the kinds of strategic decisions that didn’t matter as much in a frictionless trade environment but are essential now. Essentially, the fewer unpredictable variables (tariffs, customs delays, currency swings) you introduce into a transaction, the better.

Secondly – and this is a point often overlooked – choose your selling and buying platforms with care. Not all sales channels are equal, especially under current conditions. Traditional auction houses can be great for certain high-end pieces, but they also fix your sale to a specific date and location, and they come with hefty fees. If the auction happens to coincide with, say, a major economic scare or a sudden tariff announcement, you’re out of luck – timing is out of your control. In contrast, private sales and curated online marketplaces allow for more flexibility. Indeed, in recent years we’ve seen a shift: auction rooms are getting quieter and more galleries turning to online platforms, a trend that suits Prints and Multiples well.

The rise of online art trading means collectors can negotiate sales on their own schedule, compare prices easily, and reach a global audience without committing to the one-shot gamble of an auction. Now is the time to capitalise on that.

We at MyArtBroker, of course, offer a blend of brokerage expertise and an online marketplace, effectively putting collectors in the driver’s seat. If you’re selling, you can list an artwork for sale to a network of vetted buyers, and crucially, you have control over timing – you might test the waters now, and if the right price isn’t achieved, choose to hold the work until conditions improve. As a buyer, you can browse a curated selection of blue-chip prints and editions and make an offer when it suits you, rather than scrambling to bid in a 10-minute window on auction day. The ability to choose when and where you buy and sell means you can align transactions with your strategy: for example, selling a piece just before a new tariff kicks in, or buying when currency rates are in your favour. In a volatile environment, this kind of agility can protect and even enhance what you can collect and what you can return.

Lastly, don’t go it alone if you don’t have to. The art market has always been relationship-driven, and in uncertain times, leveraging expert advice is part of a smart strategy. Seasoned brokers and consultants can alert you to shifting market trends (say, that collectors are piling back into a certain artist’s prints, or that a policy change is looming) and help you position your portfolio accordingly. Think of it like having a financial advisor – only here the assets are works of art. For instance, if you’re eyeing a particular £20,000 print, a specialist might know that its auction performance has been strong in the UK but weaker in the US (perhaps due to those import fees), and advise you to buy from a European source. Or if you need to raise liquidity, a broker could help you target a private sale to an international buyer who’s specifically looking for that work, rather than dumping it in a public auction that isn’t tailor-made for it. In short, strategy and informed brokerage have become essential tools for the collector-investor. They were always important, but the current mix of market bifurcation and trade uncertainty makes them critical.

As we navigate this complex moment in the art market, the overarching message is one of cautious optimism. Yes, there are tariffs to monitor and political winds that can change overnight. Yes, the days of anything-goes speculative frenzy are behind us for now. But for collectors focused on value – on quality artworks in that £15,000+ sweet spot that have proven demand – the opportunities are abundant. The market is showing its true strength not in isolated trophy sales, but in the millions of quieter transactions that signal genuine confidence. By aligning with that resilient core, staying informed, and choosing the right platforms and moments to act, you can not only safeguard your art investments through the current volatility, but potentially reap even greater rewards.

In my 15 years, I’ve seen the art market bend but not break, time and again. Through pandemics and political upheavals, art - and particularly the secondary Print market endures – and so do the passionate collectors who understand its cycles. The current climate is simply another chapter in that story.

After all, when the storm passes, it’s the steady ship with a strong crew that reaches the destination intact. In this evolving market, it’s the steady, informed approach that will see you through. Now more than ever, having a knowledgeable advisor at your side is the key to making the most of opportunities.