Beyond the Brush: Sculptors, Photographers, and Textile Artists Shape the Art Market’s New Wave

Paintings may dominate auction headlines, but a closer look reveals a vibrant undercurrent of non-painters captivating collectors and curators alike. Despite the fact that nine out of the ten priciest artworks ever sold are paintings, recent data shows a growing appetite for sculpture, photography, and textiles. Among the most sought-after artists outside painting, photographers and sculptors take the lead, with textile innovators like Faig Ahmed weaving tradition into contemporary demand. Gender and regional diversity, however, remain works in progress—most top-selling non-painters are still established white men, though the ranks are slowly opening to women and BIPOC creators. Auction records and museum retrospectives have propelled names like Nan Goldin, Anthony James, and Annie Morris into the spotlight, with Morris’s colorful “Stack” sculptures sparking a 675% surge in collector interest. Textile artist Bisa Butler and photographer Zanele Muholi are also redefining what it means to make headlines in the art world. While painting keeps its crown, the market’s pulse is quickening for those who sculpt, stitch, and shoot their way into art history. #ContemporaryArt #ArtMarket #Sculpture #Culture