Investors are impressed by the fact that during a decade (2015-2025) filled with economic turbulence, sociopolitical tensions, and global power conflicts, three top names in the art market remain unmoved at the top. Picasso, Warhol and Chagall maintain their leading positions in investor preferences, confirming two critical elements: first, they record timeless demand in the art market and second, they constitute the safest haven for long-term investment with a 7-15 year horizon.
Which are the art market stocks that never fall
According to the latest Artnet measurements, the top three positions of names that recorded the most internet searches in 2025 are Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Marc Chagall, who comprised the exact same top 3 in 2015. In fourth place comes David Hockney, “stealing the spotlight” from Joan Miro who now falls to 7th position. Interesting is the fact that Gerhard Richter, who was in 5th place in 2015, is replaced by the disruptive Yayoi Kusama. Salvador Dali disappears entirely from the golden ten, confirming that investor audience trends revolve mainly around Pop and Contemporary Art, with demand for Modern Art representatives declining. The bottom of the ranking remains unchanged, with Jean-Michel Basquiat staying in the same position (10th) where he was in 2015.
New investment trends in the art market that emerged within just one year
Art dealers and art brokers’ attention is drawn to the fact that in 2025, investors searched for seven new contemporary art names that didn’t exist on the “map” the previous year. Li Hei Di, Pol Tabulet, Ivan Picelj, Sasha Gordon, Kathleen Ryon are some of these, with Joseph Yaeger conquering the top. Yaeger gets baptized on Sotheby’s board and investors are fervently seeking him. It’s no coincidence that this spring, the work of the first-time appearing Joseph Yaeger titled “Cinders look back fondly on a house fire” (51x61cm) dated 2021, changed hands through Sotheby’s achieving a sale price of $82,500, more than doubling the initial estimate of $40,000. A few days later, another Yaeger work titled “Loyalty to the nightmare chosen” sold even higher. Dated just 2022, it was estimated at $40,000 and sold for $101,600, completing very strong market making for this particular signature, having received its “baptism” on the secondary market board.
