Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted Access (SIA Only)
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Art Business
Abstract
This dissertation investigates the mechanisms through which ultra-contemporary artists, defined as at or under the age of 45 at the time of the auction, have been positioned, marketed, and speculated upon within the post pandemic auction market. Concentrating on the 2021/22 boom in London and New York, it examines how major auction houses construct and communicate value through performance, branding, and spectacle. The dissertation employs a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative analysis of auction catalogs, press coverage, and institutional narratives is combined with quantitative examination of market data from 2019 to 2024. Through detailed case studies of Flora Yukhnovich and Jadé Fadojutimi, the dissertation aims to demonstrate how speculative dynamics and narrative construction converge to transform price into a vessel of prestige, merging artistic and financial value. Ultimately, it argues that the ultra-contemporary market exemplifies a broader shift toward performative and media-driven forms of value production within the global art economy.
Recommended Citation
Ozkan, Semiha, "Value Creation in the 21st Century: The Case of Ultra-Contemporary Art Market Post-2020" (2026). MA in Art Business Dissertations. 45.
https://digitalcommons.sia.edu/ma_art_bus/45