Month 11
Artnet explained simply: what this platform is for in 2026
7 min readBy Dorian Verdier
In 30 seconds
Artnet aggregates global public sales to create rating indicators per artist. Three functions: sales database ($300-3,000/year), Artnet News magazine, gallery marketplace. For emerging artists: little direct interest. For established: track your rating. Distinct from Artprice (more exhaustive, cheaper).
Function 1: Artnet Price Database
- Public sales database since 1985 — global auctions
- Rating indicators per artist with 5 to 30 year charts
- Subscription: $300 to 3,000/year depending on access level
- Useful to justify pricing with collectors and institutions
Function 2: Artnet News
- Art news magazine: fairs, artist profiles, market trends
- Quarterly contemporary art market indices
- Partial free version + premium subscription for in-depth analysis
- Accessible from emergence — good monitoring tool without costly subscription
Function 3: Artnet Marketplace
- Sales platform for recognized galleries and dealers
- Primarily secondary market — resales of already acquired works
- No direct access for individual artists
Artnet vs Artprice: comparison
- Artnet (1989, New York): Anglo-Saxon orientation, 1.3M+ listed sales
- Artprice (1997, France): European orientation, 30M+ listed sales
- Artnet: $300-3,000/year — premium interface, integrated market analysis
- Artprice: $100-500/year — more exhaustive on European sales, cheaper
- You appear automatically after documented public sales (Heffel, Sotheby's, Christie's)
- Emerging on primary market only = not on Artnet — this is normal
When to consult Artnet by phase
- Emerging (0-7 years): free Artnet News to stay informed — no Price Database subscription
- Intermediate (7-15 years): check if first public sales are documented
- Established (15+ years): regular rating tracking, peer comparisons, pricing justification
The 3 Artnet mistakes
- Mistake 1: wanting to "be on it" too early — without public sales, you don't appear and that's normal
- Mistake 2: paying subscription as emerging — $300-3,000/year poorly invested without established rating
- Mistake 3: trying to artificially influence data — vain effort without real documented sales
FAQ
Do you need to be an Artnet member to appear?
No. Automatic appearance if your works are sold publicly.
How much does an Artnet subscription cost?
$300-3,000/year depending on level. Not justified for emerging artists.
Does Artnet sell works directly?
Yes via marketplace, mainly galleries and established collectors.