Top Figurative Painting Sales in Auction Houses

By Sybaris Collection

Since the popularity of the internet and online purchasing, globalism has allowed a strengthened art market to take shape, as artists and works previously found only in regional markets began to dot the landscapes of New York, Paris, and London in record numbers. In the early years of this new era, contemporary and abstract works by international artist were found everywhere, and figurative art seemed only a blip on the screen of art sales.  However, along with the shift in world attention to the conflicts humans have been suffering for thousands of years (with the focus on recent events), so have artists been using the human experience in a more basic form of expression: Figurative art. It has it been climbing the ranks of art sales as it grows in popularity by art collectors and has been in a relative boom for the last 10 years. A March 2017 Sotheby’s London sale provided several multimillion dollar sales in Figurative works. With a drastic increase in Figurative art auction sales, one may wonder if this is a lasting development or simply a short-lived fad. Let’s discover some of the reasons why…and proof of…its explosive growth.

Figurative Art’s Long History and Short Comeback

For most of history, figurative art remained popular. It exemplified mankind’s recreation of human experience and proof of important human events from the past. However, it experienced a relatively long period of disinterest as artists explored new avenues of creativity, using color, shapes, and exciting mediums like innovative techniques and emotional expression to showcase their skills, leaving some of the commemorative aspects to photography, which could (obviously) provide precise reality in pictures.

In this most recent trend of figurative art popularity, there is a return to balance between the human shape and personal point of view in figurative art. The artist’s individual opinion of the figure in art is reflected in the interpretation of the human form itself. We see an increase in the interest of buyers to find and purchase more personal pieces, which represent events, situations, and the human form in a manner which art enthusiasts recognize.

Digital Art and Online Access

Growth in online access to art, both in basic availability of works for viewing and of online purchasing options, has opened the world of art in all its forms and styles no matter their location, to collectors found everywhere if they have a computer and a credit card. This has enhanced buyer confidence in making art purchases and provided auction-goers with the boldness to purchase more art based on their taste and less on what’s “popular.” Trends support this in both increased prices paid for art and the variety of works sold.

Leaders in the Rise of Figurative Art

It cannot be denied that when at museums “talk”, (art) people listen. When museums use wars, refugees, and social discourse as fodder for new shows and exhibitions, the resulting styles will shortly appear in galleries, art fairs, and auction houses. Such has been the situation in the last 5-8 years. MoMA curators understood the value of the human figure in its ability to showcase human diversity in a way abstraction never can; thus, figurative art began its quick rise to the top again. Supported by digital art, caricatures and the natural connection between art and fashion (after all, clothing IS artistically designed to be placed on the human figure), figurative art has been welcomed back!

Some Figurate Art Sales at Auction 

Although works by well-known “masters” in any genre are known to bring extremely high prices (Picasso’s painting of Les Femmes d’Alger sold for $179m in 2015 and last year, Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi sold for $450 million), figurative paintings selling for over $1m continue to increase every year, with the growth happening quicker since 2013. In fact, since 2006, it has been a consistent trend outside of recession-caused blips in the chart. The volume of sales has developed even more impressively, with modern figurative artworks in demand as well as those works created pre-abstract times. Some of the most outstanding modern figurative artists with impressive chunks of market share are George Condo ($52m) and Peter Doig ($240m). Doig’s White Canoe brought $11.3 million in 2007.

How Long Can the Figurative Art Market Maintain This Boom

Although typical of the sales of all genres of art, most of the highest sales are for the works of a few leading artists. However, he volume of figurative art works sold continues to grow, which is a positive sign for both figurative artists and collectors. There very will may come a time when it is no longer acceptable in art circles to purchase figurative art, but for the time being, there are a plethora of outstanding works to be had by enthusiasts worldwide.  

Sybaris Collection

The Sybaris team is dedicated to finding unique works of art from locations around the world to share examples of culturally rich heritages to our discriminating members. Let us help you discover figurative art pieces to suit your taste and budget.