ArtTactic

In this special end-of-year episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green is joined by Brian Boucher, senior market reporter at ARTnews, to unpack one of the most confounding years the art market has seen in recent memory. Building on Boucher’s recent ARTnews article in which he described the year as “the year the art market stopped making sense,” the conversation explores the sharp contrasts between record-setting auction sales and softer performances elsewhere, the wildly different energy levels across major art fairs and what the wave of gallery closures might signal about deeper structural pressures in the gallery model. They also dig into the rise of increasingly fragmented micro-markets driven by individual artists and career stages, and why this makes it so difficult to draw broad conclusions about the market as a whole. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on how collectors, galleries, and auction houses are feeling as they head into 2026, and whether cautious optimism may finally be taking hold.

In this week’s episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Andrea Crane, cofounder of 291 Agency, about the rise of the artist agent and why this role has become increasingly relevant in today’s art world. Andrea reflects on her early career at Gagosian and her long-standing relationship with Cecily Brown, which led her to become one of the first agents in the contemporary art world at a time when this model was still highly uncommon. The conversation explores the founding of 291 Agency, how artist agencies work alongside galleries, and the broader cultural shift around artist and brand partnerships.

In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Sarah Douglas, editor-in-chief of ARTnews and Art in America, to recap Art Basel Miami and assess where the art market stands at the end of 2025. They discuss the fair’s redesigned floor plan, the renewed momentum that began in London and Paris this fall, and how that energy shaped expectations heading into Miami. Sarah shares her take on how the fair performed from a sales perspective and which artworks and transactions generated the most attention. Adam and Sarah also consider the shifting global fair landscape, including the growing influence of Basel Paris on both Basel Switzerland and Basel Miami. They reflect on how collector travel patterns are evolving, why sentiment can feel different depending on where one is standing, and what Miami might reveal about the year ahead. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the Zero 10 section, including Beeple’s headline grabbing presentation and why this area of the fair sparked mixed reactions among dealers and visitors.

In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with artist Beeple as Art Basel Miami Beach approaches its 2025 edition. Beeple discusses what it was like to experience the explosive rise of NFTs from the inside, how the digital art market has matured since that initial boom, and whether collectors, curators, and institutions are now engaging with the medium in a more thoughtful and sustainable way. The conversation also explores Art Basel’s new Zero 10 section, a long-term commitment to presenting digital art, Beeple’s involvement in shaping its debut, the evolving role of galleries for digital artists, and a preview of the new work he will show in Miami.

In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Lydia Figes, author of Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists, about her wide-ranging conversations with artists and what they reveal about how artists truly live and work today. They discuss why she wrote the book, what surprised her most about how artists navigate the contemporary art world, the changing role of art school, the power of mentorship and peer networks, the tension between solitude and community, and the core questions every aspiring artist should be asking. The episode offers valuable insight not only for artists, but for collectors, curators, gallerists, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the lived experiences shaping today’s art world.