Understanding the Art Market: Primary & Secondary Art

Interior View of Portland Art Museum- Portland Oregon

When starting out in the gallery, museum, and auction space, there are certain terminologies that can be difficult to fully grasp. One concept that I initially struggled with was the difference between primary and secondary art. In this article, I’ll break down these terms for those who may not be familiar with them.

Why Does It Matter?

Understanding the difference between primary and secondary art is essential not only for recognizing the variations in how art is sold and valued but also for demonstrating professional knowledge within the field. Many auction houses and museums primarily deal with secondary art sales, whereas galleries tend to focus on primary artwork.

What Is Primary Art?

In short, primary art refers to original artwork created by a living artist. This includes work from emerging, mid-career, and even well-established artists—age or reputation is not a determining factor. Primary art can take the form of paintings, sculptures, prints, or other mediums, but it must be sold directly by the artist, their gallery, or an institution representing them. You’ll often find primary artwork in galleries, museums, or even directly from an artist’s studio.

A key factor in defining primary art is ownership: for a piece to be considered primary, it must not have had a previous private owner outside of the artist or the gallery selling it.

What Is Secondary Art?

Secondary art, on the other hand, refers to artwork that has been resold after its initial purchase. Once a piece leaves the artist’s hands and enters the broader art market—whether through a collector, auction house, or gallery resale—it becomes part of the secondary market.

For example, major auction houses like Sotheby’s and Bonhams specialize in selling secondary market works by well-known artists. A recent instance of this occurred during New York’s auction week in November 2024, when a Jean-Michel Basquiat self-portrait, once owned by Johnny Depp, was estimated to sell at Phillips for $10 million to $15 million.

By understanding these distinctions, you’ll gain a stronger grasp of how artwork moves through the art world and how different institutions engage with it.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between primary and secondary art is crucial for anyone navigating the gallery, museum, or auction world. These categories not only define how artwork is sold and valued but also influence how artists, collectors, and institutions interact with the market. Primary art represents the direct connection between an artist and their work, while secondary art reflects an artwork’s ongoing journey through collectors and auctions. By recognizing these differences, you can better appreciate the structure of the art market and engage with it more confidently, whether you're buying, selling, or simply observing.

References:

Freeman, Nate. “Mica’s Magritte, a Train Full of Harings, and Cattelan’s Banana: It’s Auction Week in New York | Vanity Fair.” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 15 Nov. 2024, https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/auction-week-in-new-york?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

Written by: Brooke Olson