The World Has Too Much Art. What Will Happen to It?
In a column published by Artnet News on 5 February 2026, collector and gallerist Adam Lindemann argues that the art world is facing an oversupply problem similar to the wine industry’s glut, with too much art and too little demand. He points to the high costs and uncertain returns of art fairs, estimating that during Miami Basel week in December 2025 roughly 840 galleries across major fairs could have brought about 21,000 works (assuming 25 works per gallery). Lindemann cites advisor Allan Schwartzman’s remark to journalist Judith Benhamou that “the art market is tired” and that museums have become more selective about accepting donations. The piece frames gallery closures and fair dropouts as symptoms of a broader market slowdown and collector saturation.
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This story was covered in Record Sales, Gulf Ambitions, and Museum Reckonings