Art doesn’t sell itself, it has to be sold.
— Jack White
The question of what type of art sells best is complex. It’s nearly impossible to give a definitive answer because the art market is multifaceted. Are we talking about original paintings, sculptures, mixed media, digital art, or reproductions?
The art category greatly influences what’s popular, as do many factors. However, understanding current trends and best-selling styles can be a game-changer for your art marketing efforts. This knowledge can be invaluable, especially if you want to understand what resonates with buyers and how to position your work in the market.
The Impact of Knowing What Kind of Art Sells Best
Understanding what art to create is a crucial element of art marketing. For example, gaining specialized insight into current wholesale home furnishings market trends can give you a significant advantage, particularly if your goal is to have your work featured in high-end retail stores and catalogs. This understanding empowers you, giving you the control and confidence to make informed decisions about your career path. Even if you aren’t pursuing that specific market, understanding the decision-making processes behind design requirements, color palettes, and marketing presentations provides invaluable data. These insights can be priceless.
Cultivating a deep understanding of the broader art market can open doors you never imagined. The knowledge you gain today could lead to unforeseen opportunities tomorrow. If you want to know what kind of art sells best, it pays to be curious about the art business around you. It will make you more innovative and efficient about everything you’re doing to get your work to market.
Florals and Landscapes Remain Popular
In the decades I worked for Decor magazine, an esteemed business publication for art galleries and picture frame shops at the peak of their popularity. It annually surveyed its readers about their best-selling art. Landscapes and florals topped the list time and again.
Even though those surveys were done long ago, these classic themes remain highly appealing and versatile. They fit seamlessly into various decor styles and are generally considered non-controversial. But there are countless other styles, genres, and media to explore.
Being informed is a superpower. Knowing what the top-selling art is is valuable, even if you make steampunk or fantasy art devoid of landscapes and florals.
Success leaves tracks.
There is much worth knowing about a thriving artist’s career and practices that can inspire and educate you. By learning from the paths of successful artists, you can make wise choices on your singular journey through the art market, feeling motivated and hopeful about your own potential for success.
The question then becomes, “How do you use this information?”
Researching available resources is key. While these trends can inform your creative process, use them as inspiration rather than strict guidelines. Absorb the information, let it spark new ideas, and adapt it to your unique creator’s vision.
Researching Online Art Sales Trends
If you’re serious about leveraging this information, there are several valuable resources you can explore:
- Art.com’s Best Sellers: Art.com, a prominent online art retailer, publishes a list of its best-selling prints, paintings, posters, and wall art. This list offers insights into consumer preferences and showcases works by famous artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and contemporary artists. You can explore different styles, from fine art and abstract to photography and botanical prints. Art.com offers various printing options (canvas, wood, metal) and framing services.
- Lieberman’s Best-Selling Wholesale Art Prints: Understanding wholesale trends is crucial for artists and retailers. Lieberman’s, a wholesale art print distributor, lists their best-selling items. This list offers a different perspective, showcasing what’s popular in the wholesale market. Their selection includes works by well-known artists like Da Vinci and Van Gogh, as well as lesser-known artists, spanning a variety of styles and subjects. They also offer filtering options by frame, canvas, print style, and other criteria.
- Etsy: Etsy is a popular platform for independent artists and crafters to sell their work. They regularly update their best-selling art prints, which can give you insights into current trends and popular styles.
- iCanvas: iCanvas offers a wide range of canvas prints and wall art and has a section for best-selling items. These insights can help you see what types of art are popular among consumers.
- Amazon Best Sellers: Best Posters & Prints: Amazon also features a variety of art prints, and you can find best-selling lists for different categories, such as abstract art, landscapes, and more.
Perennial Bestsellers
While specific trends may shift, some art categories consistently perform well:
- Landscapes: Particularly those featuring dramatic lighting or local scenery
- Florals: Both realistic botanical studies and abstract interpretations
- Local Scenes: Capturing recognizable landmarks and community spaces
- Contemporary Abstract Landscapes: Modern interpretations of natural scenery
- Pet Portraits: Custom commissions and archetypal animal artwork
- Figure Studies: Both classical and modern approaches
- Seascapes/Marine Art: Including beach scenes and coastal imagery
- Wildlife: Particularly species with strong emotional connections
- Portraits: Both commissioned and artistic interpretations
- Still Lifes: Traditional and modern compositions
- Impressionism: Both original works and works inspired by the style
- Nudes: Classical and contemporary interpretations
Research, Inspiration, and Your Artistic Vision
These suggestions are starting points. Ultimately, the most important thing is to create art that you are passionate about. Find your ‘Pocket of People’ (POP) – those who connect with your unique style and vision. By creating art that resonates with your unique vision, you can feel inspired and deeply connected to your work, which can be a powerful motivator in your artistic journey.
If you’re unsure of your artistic direction, choose a category from the list that resonates with you and experiment. Your style can evolve and change over time, and that’s perfectly acceptable.
Remember, you don’t need to appeal to everyone. A small group of loyal buyers can form the foundation of a successful art business. Don’t be afraid to be quirky or niche; authenticity can be a powerful asset. These things make you memorable and your work more appealing.
Researching Current Art Market Trends
In addition to traditional research methods, today’s digital platforms offer valuable insights into what kind of art sells best:
Top social platforms provide unique windows into buyer preferences:
Instagram Analysis:
- Study top art gallery and dealer accounts to identify their most popular pieces
- Analyze hashtags like #artforsale and #soldart to spot what’s selling
- Monitor collector accounts to understand their buying preferences
- Track which subjects and styles get the most “Saved” notifications
- Research successful artists’ most engaged posts to identify popular themes
Pinterest Trends:
- Follow major art retailer boards to track bestsellers
- Study interior design boards to see what art is being featured
- Monitor “Most saved” art pins to identify trending styles
- Research seasonal art trends through popular pins
- Analyze art-related search terms for buyer interests
TikTok Market Intelligence:
- Track viral art content to spot emerging styles
- Study collector reaction videos to understand preferences
- Monitor art hashtag trends for popular subjects
- Research geographic art trends through location tags
- Follow gallery accounts to see which pieces get featured
Current Price Points and Market Analysis
Research shows that different types of art have distinct price ranges where they sell best:
Best-Selling Price Categories
- Gallery-Level Original Art ($2,000-10,000)
- Large abstract paintings
- Significant landscapes
- Major sculptural works
- Collector-Favorite Range ($500-2,000)
- Medium-sized paintings
- Limited edition prints
- Small sculptures
- Popular Entry Points ($50-500)
- Small original works
- Open edition prints
- Digital art prints
Market Analysis by Style
- Contemporary abstract work commands the highest prices in urban areas
- Traditional landscapes sell best in the $800-3,000 range
- Pet portraits find sweet spot at $200-800
- Local scenes perform well at $300-1,500
Online Platform Performance
Study successful online galleries to understand what sells best:
Top-Performing Categories on Major Platforms
- Saatchi Art Bestsellers
- Abstract paintings in blue and neutral tones
- Black and white photography
- Minimalist sculptures
- Artfinder Popular Works
- Colorful landscapes
- Modern portraits
- Mixed media pieces
- Etsy Art Bestsellers
- Custom portraits
- Digital downloads
- Small original paintings
Looking Beyond the Art World
Explore catalogs from home décor retailers like Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware for inspiration. These often feature original art and reproductions, giving insights into current design trends. ArtfulHome.com, a juried site, is another excellent resource. You can also stay up-to-date on color trends by checking out resources like Pantone.com or BenjaminMoore.com.
Making Art People Want to Buy
Successfully selling art begins with creating work that buyers find appealing. You also need a plan to reach those buyers and a system to stay in touch with them. That’s the essence of the art business.
Understanding trends can boost sales, but it shouldn’t be the sole driver of your creative process. If you create art purely for self-expression, that’s perfectly valid. However, understanding market dynamics is essential to build a sustainable business.
Creativity and Inspiration
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” — Pablo Picasso
Artists throughout history have drawn inspiration from the world around them and the work of other artists. Sharing and incorporation of influences is a natural part of the creative process. Just as Bob Dylan drew inspiration from an extensive range of musical genres, visual artists are affected and persuaded by their peers and the broader cultural landscape.
Finding Your Balance
It’s healthy to allow the work of others to inspire you. Observing current trends can also be valuable. However, avoid simply copying what’s popular. Strive for a balance between originality and inspiration. Picasso’s incorporation of African mask influences into his work is a prime example of how inspiration can lead to groundbreaking artistic innovation. It might be helpful for you to know how and why he was influenced to move in that direction. Let the insights you glean steer your thinking into new ideas for marking art.
You’re looking for a delicate balance between entirely original ideas and those formed by outside influences. Picasso’s interest in African masks still ripples through the art world a century later. Without that influence, the magnificent untitled sculpture he gifted the city of Chicago would have never been.
Creativity is about making something new out of something old. Success is also about sticking with something long enough to take hold and make a difference in your career.
The Keys to Your Success.
If you make a recognizable body of work from the same hand and it appeals to buyers, you are on track to great success. What’s left at that point are two things:
- Find prospects with an attraction to your art.
- Communicate with your prospects regularly.
Finally, realizing what kind of art sells best is helpful but unimportant. Getting to know your prospects and what they like is much more critical. Selling one’s art directly to buyers is an intimate process. Your art is personal—to you and your buyers. Recognizing and acting on this knowledge is advantageous and often rewarding on a scale beyond art sales. It results in high buyer satisfaction, opens the door to lasting mutually beneficial relationships, and encourages benefactors to come forward.
You don’t need mass appeal. To build a successful career, it would be best to have genuine enthusiasm from a few people for what you are doing. For these reasons, paying more attention to what your buyers are showing interest in is far more significant and profitable than worrying about or wondering what is selling best on a macro scale.
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