Journalist Rebecca Anne Proctor on Frieze and Art Basel’s Expansion into the Middle East
The Middle East has become one of the most ambitious regions in the world when it comes to investing in culture, mirroring its rapid expansion into sports, entertainment, and fashion. Following the announcements that Frieze will launch a new fair in Abu Dhabi in 2026 and Art Basel will debut in Doha in early 2026, questions arise about how these moves will shape the region’s growing art ecosystem. In this week's episode, host Adam Green speaks with Dubai-based journalist Rebecca Anne Proctor to unpack what these developments mean for the art world. They discuss how governments and institutions are driving cultural investment, the evolving collector base in the Middle East, and what success might look like for these new fairs in their first years.
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Cathy Fan of Artnet News on China’s Private Museum Reckoning
In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Cathy Fan, Editor-in-Chief of Artnet News China and co-author of The Asia Pivot, Artnet Pro’s biweekly newsletter on Asia’s art markets. They discuss the rise and recent reckoning of China’s private museum boom. Once symbols of cultural ambition and immense wealth, many of these institutions are now struggling to stay relevant amid shifting economic conditions and changing collector priorities. Cathy explains how China’s private museum sector developed, why it became such a powerful force in the global art market, and what led to its current challenges. She also explores how this slowdown is reshaping the broader Chinese art ecosystem and what the future may hold for these once-dominant institutions.
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Doug Woodham on His New Book Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon
Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of the most important artists of the 20th century and one of the top-selling artists in today’s market, but his career and market trajectory weren’t nearly as smooth as they might seem today. In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Doug Woodham, author of Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon (out October 14, available now for pre-order). They discuss Basquiat’s rise, the dramatic collapse of his market in the 1990s, and the extraordinary comeback that followed, including the crucial role played by a small group of influential collectors. Doug also shares insights on how curators reframed Basquiat’s legacy, the unique way his estate has been managed, the impact of the auction houses, and the most misunderstood aspects of Basquiat’s life, art, and market.
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Inside the Fourth Edition of Frieze Seoul with Andy St Louis
While much of the Western art world was focused on the Armory Show, all eyes in Asia turned to Seoul, where Frieze Seoul returned for its fourth edition. With the caliber of galleries participating, many now see it as a fair that rivals, and perhaps even surpasses, the Armory in importance. To unpack this year’s edition, host Adam Green is joined by Andy St. Louis, a Seoul-based art critic, curator, and the newly appointed director of Frieze House Seoul. We discuss how Frieze Seoul has positioned itself within the Korean art market, how the gallery mix has evolved since its debut, and what the atmosphere was like at this year’s fair. Andy also shares insights on the most noteworthy sales and offers his perspective on what the next chapter could look like for Frieze Seoul as it solidifies its place on the global art calendar.
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Daniel Cassady of ARTnews on the Armory Show and the Market’s Fall Outlook
In this week’s episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Daniel Cassady, art business reporter for ARTnews, about the mood at the Armory Show and what it signals for the fall season. They discuss whether the atmosphere felt more upbeat than the recent headlines of gallery closures, why it’s important to understand the nuances behind those closures, and how this year’s fair offered more thoughtful conversations between collectors and galleries rather than the frenzied sales of past editions. Daniel also shares insight into the types of works drawing the strongest demand, which are proving harder to place, and whether this edition shifted perceptions of the Armory’s polarizing reputation, ultimately offering a snapshot of where the market stands heading into the busy months of auctions and fairs.
The ArtTactic Podcast, the leading podcast on the art market, covers a wide range of topics from art investment to general topics about the global art market industry. Each episode features an in-depth interview with a key art market figure.