When enriching your art collection, it’s crucial to select pieces that deeply resonate with your own tastes and personality. After all, these artworks will adorn your living space and should bring you enduring delight. Yet, for those navigating the art world or seeking to invigorate their current collection, keeping an eye on emerging trends can offer invaluable insight.
For the year ahead, experts forecast a penchant among collectors for embracing more daring choices. Gravitating towards artworks that exude boldness in both character and subject matter. Audra Kiewiet de Jonge, the visionary behind Art/artefact. Suggests that modern collectors are drawn to art that sparks a sense of awe and exploration.
According to Jonge, “More than following trends, people are embracing the excitement and fascination of acquiring unique and remarkable pieces across various styles and eras. It’s akin to the ethos of a Wunderkabinett (cabinet of curiosities), marrying historical charm with a thrillingly fresh perspective.”
With this sentiment in mind, certain artistic styles resonate with this captivating allure and are poised to dominate the art landscape in 2024. Here, experts divulge their insights into the foremost art trends anticipated for the upcoming year.
Tactile Artistry
Artists are increasingly delving into diverse techniques and materials to craft visually captivating and intellectually stimulating works. Keli Hogsett, the mastermind behind CoCollect. Emphasizes the significance of textured artworks in adding depth and dimension to traditional paintings and mixed media creations. This trend also serves as a deliberate departure from the ubiquity of digital and 3D-printed art.
“In our digitally-driven era, textured artworks are set to make waves in 2024. As they inherently convey a distinctive sense of originality and human touch,” remarks Hogsett. “The tactile quality of a one-of-a-kind piece is something that technology can never replicate with perfect fidelity.”
Moreover, textured art offers viewers a multisensory encounter. Enticing them to engage with the artwork by touching its surface and appreciating the craftsmanship involved in its creation.
Traditional Art and Handicrafts
Traditional art, in its myriad forms, serves as the authentic voice of ordinary people, capturing the essence of daily life and cultural heritage. Each community boasts its own distinct style. Utilizing diverse materials and techniques to craft art that authentically portrays local customs with vivid and charming imperfections. These creations garner attention for their intimate narratives and for safeguarding essential craft traditions within societies. Kiewiet de Jonge observes that the growing interest in outsider or traditional art is reshaping conventional perceptions of artistic expression.
Kiewiet de Jonge remarks, “There’s a fascinating resurgence of interest in art forms previously relegated to categories like ‘domestic arts,’ ‘applied arts,’ or ‘craft’. Which were historically set apart from the esteemed realm of academic art, dominated by male practitioners. Many of these domestic and applied mediums were traditionally the domain of women. Often amateurs without formal training, resulting in unrecorded or forgotten makers.”
She highlights a renewed appreciation and shift in attitudes towards these art forms, evident in their increased prominence at international art exhibitions and museum showcases such as Making Her Mark: A History of Women Artists in Europe, 1400-1800, currently featured at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Kiewiet de Jonge concludes, “This marks an exhilarating moment of expansion in defining what constitutes art at its highest caliber.”
Fabric Artistry
Similar to traditional folk art, fabric art seamlessly combines artistic expression with craftsmanship, displaying intricate designs and vibrant hues crafted from simple materials. Practitioners of this art form may create customary pieces such as quilts and woven tapestries, or, like the acclaimed Faith Ringgold with her story quilts, they may intertwine fabrics to depict compelling portraits or narratives.
Kiewiet de Jonge remarks that these creations not only imbue spaces with warmth and personality but also pay homage to the skilled artisans behind their making. She comments, “It seems we’re collectively drawn to art forms where the artist’s hand is evident, and there’s a palpable connection to the creation process for collectors.”
Highlighting sculptor Gabrielle Teschner as a noteworthy talent, Kiewiet de Jonge notes her innovative fusion of ink-painting and textiles. “Teschner’s work serves as a remarkable testament to how textiles can be utilized to convey intricate concepts regarding volume, space, and our interaction with the world.”
Sculpture Artistry
Anticipate a surge in the popularity of sculpture throughout 2024, both in art collections and domestic spaces. These three-dimensional creations inject a dynamic sense of movement and depth into environments, seamlessly complementing surrounding décor and other artworks.
“Take delight in strategically placing sculptural pieces to be appreciated from various perspectives, perhaps in an outdoor courtyard,” shares Hogsett. “It’s remarkable to witness artists seamlessly blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary technology, resulting in visually captivating and intellectually stimulating artworks.”
Contemporary artists are increasingly harnessing cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing and innovative lighting techniques to craft these extraordinary sculptures. Nevertheless, classic materials such as antique marble or postmodern clay retain their allure, promising to enrich collections with timeless value and intrigue in the year ahead.
Portrait Artistry
Portraiture, a timeless art form since the dawn of artistic expression, is experiencing a resurgence in contemporary appreciation. Today’s portraits exhibit a vibrant and luminous aesthetic, presenting subjects from fresh and innovative perspectives. Renowned artist Kehinde Wiley exemplifies this trend by infusing his depictions of modern African American individuals with the opulence of classical European portraiture, distinguished by sumptuous, elaborate backgrounds. While techniques may evolve, the enduring essence of personal expression and emotional impact inherent in portraiture remains unchanged.
“I have a profound appreciation for portraiture and the captivating narratives woven into them through the symbolism of attire and objects (known as attributes) carefully chosen for inclusion,” remarks Kiewiet de Jonge. “Every element is deliberate, contributing to the narrative that the portrait subject (or their family) intends to convey to their audience.”
20th-Century Art
While the art of renowned 20th-century masters has long been prized, there’s been a noticeable surge in interest among emerging enthusiasts in recent times. One such artist experiencing renewed acclaim is Pablo Picasso, particularly admired for his figurative creations that resonate profoundly with contemporary collectors.
In November 2023, Picasso’s “Femme à la Montre” set a staggering record, fetching $139 million at Sotheby’s. Marking the second-highest price ever realized for the artist’s work. Building on this momentum, Findlay Galleries hosted a highly attended exhibition spotlighting Picasso’s ceramic pieces crafted during his tenure at the Madoura Studio in Spain.
Moreover, exhibitions spotlighting the often-overlooked contributions of female artists from the 20th century are capturing significant interest. Notably, Art Basel Miami featured a compelling showcase of Leonor Fini’s oeuvre. Presented by San Francisco’s Weinstein Gallery in collaboration with Paris’ Galerie Minsky. Fini’s surrealist-inspired artworks, renowned for their potent narrative allure, resonate deeply with a younger generation of collectors.
Emerging collectors are increasingly drawn to vintage and antique artworks steeped in rich histories and distinctive originality. And the art of the 20th century aptly satisfies this burgeoning interest.