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- The 2026 Report: Insights from 16 Curators and 12 Collectors mapping the artists, shows, and shifts in the global landscape.
The 2026 Report: Insights from 16 Curators and 12 Collectors mapping the artists, shows, and shifts in the global landscape.
By Maxwell Rabb for Artsy
The Curator-Collector Consensus: Reclaiming the Human Narrative.
Portrait of Aleksandra Artamonovskaja next to work by Jenni Pasanen. Courtesy of Trilitech.
My Thoughts: In our practice, we are constantly negotiating the tension between visibility and the raw labor of the body. Looking through the lens of both curators and collectors for 2026, I see a landscape that is finally beginning to value the "grace" of the hand and the deliberate, physical choreography of form. We are moving away from the static and toward a deep, material honesty. There is a beautiful alignment here: curators are seeking the soul of the work, while collectors are looking for the "messy" truth of the human experience. Together, they are skating toward a more empathetic and structurally aware art world.
Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, The National Gallery London
Facts:
Collectors in 2026 are moving away from "zombie formalism" in favor of emotionally resonant, "messy" figurative painting and contemporary surrealism.
There is a heightened focus on artists who utilize textiles and craft-based labor to comment on identity and domesticity.
The market is increasingly prioritizing "ultra-contemporary" artists from the Global South, creating new pathways for international visibility.
Sustainability and the "long-term health" of an artist's career are becoming primary metrics for savvy collectors over quick auction flips.
16 Leading Curators Predict the Art Trends of 2026 This report highlights an institutional shift toward "slowness" and historical reclamation, prioritizing long-durational projects over the rapid-fire pace of the traditional art calendar. Curators are increasingly focusing on the Global South and indigenous practices, moving away from digital-first aesthetics to embrace the weight of textile-based labor and craft. The primary theme is a desire for "sentient" art—work that acknowledges its own political history while remaining deeply rooted in the physical, human experience.:  Portrait of Roxana Marcoci. Courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art. |  Portrait of Aleksandra Artamonovskaja next to work by Jenni Pasanen. Courtesy of Trilitech. 12 Collectors on the Artists and Trends to Watch in 2026 This survey reveals a market pivot toward "messy" figurative painting and contemporary surrealism as collectors seek work that reflects the emotional precarity of the current moment. There is a notable move away from speculative "flipping" in favor of building long-term relationships with artists who use their practice to witness social migration and identity. The trend emphasizes authenticity and "hand-made" quality, with a specific focus on under-represented voices whose work offers a radical alternative to the slickness of commercial formalism. |
“insiders” by Brendan Fernandes