Courses

The art market is infamous for its elitism and opacity. Yet with the right set of tools, anyone can navigate its labyrinth and become a collector or an investor, or start a career in the arts. This course will provide students with a foundation to explore the art market, understand its key players, and decode its business practices. The course will begin with a brief overview of the last century in art history. Students will learn how to identify why a specific artwork represents a breakthrough and why it has become a touchstone for scholars, critics, and art historians. We will then explore the relationship between historical value and current market value. Guest speakers will help us understand the roles of the major art scene “influencers” (including artists, collectors, galleries, advisors, auction houses, and art fairs) in changing these values. While fine-tuning their understanding of art and the art market, students will also learn about the practical and technical aspects of the business of art. By the end of the course, art lovers and those wishing to start or pursue a career in the business of art will be able to pinpoint where a specific artwork fits into an art-historical context and identify the drivers determining a piece’s present and future market values. Novices and experts alike will gain fresh insights into the local, national, and international art scenes, which will allow them to engage with art in new ways and to foster a lifelong personal or professional engagement with the arts.