The Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2025

23 Oct 2025 | 4 min read

Market Rebound: Why Collectors Are Ready to Spend Again

Let’s be honest, it’s been a pretty cautious year again. But it feels like confidence is quietly returning to the global art market. Sales and enquiries at the gallery are certainly on the up with both new and existing collectors looking to add to their collections or seeking advice on starting one. The newly published Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2025 reinforces this sentiment: collectors, it seems, are coming back in buying mode.

According to the report, over 60% of high-net-worth collectors plan to increase their art spending this year, with the majority focusing on works in the £5,000–£500,000 range. This so called “mid-tier” segment is where many of Hang-Up’s artists sit comfortably: blue chip, established, but still, according to the report, accessible.

Confidence, Not Caution

Last year’s headlines were pretty glum, full of market hesitations, geopolitical uncertainty, economic jitters, and a slowdown in top-tier auction results. But the 2025 findings show that collectors are no longer pulling back.

Rather than chasing speculative names, they’re focusing on artists with staying power and narrative depth. For us, that’s the sweet spot occupied by figures like Basquiat, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Bridget Riley, Banksy, and Andy Warhol.

And in the editions market, which has always been our speciality, we’re finding that collectors are seeking out the best examples in the artists they collect, with renewed attention to price, rarity, condition, and provenance.

In other words: I think we can say that collectors aren’t buying less, they’re buying better.

London Holds Its Ground

Despite predictions of a post-Brexit fade, London remains a key hub for private and secondary market sales. The report highlights the city’s continued influence in connecting established collectors with independent galleries and edition specialists, which is where we have carved our niche.

Many collectors are also rediscovering the benefits of private sales: discretion, dialogue, and the ability to move quickly when opportunities arise.

The Rise of the Informed Collector

The survey reveals that 75% of collectors now conduct their own research before purchasing, and almost half use Instagram and gallery newsletters as trusted sources.

Collectors are no longer waiting to be told what’s hot; they’re learning, comparing, and forming their own views. For galleries, this reinforces the importance of transparency, storytelling, and education, all things we’ve tried to build into Hang-Up’s editorial voice. Whether it’s a deep dive into Emin’s latest museum show or an inside look at Hirst’s market trajectory, the new collector, according to this report, wants context before committing.

Collecting with Purpose

Another trend running through the report is value alignment. Over half of under-40 collectors now buy from galleries and artists who reflect their beliefs.

This shift away from speculation and toward purpose-driven collecting is shaping a healthier, more thoughtful art world.

For Hang-Up, that’s always been part of the ethos supporting artists with distinctive voices and a sense of authenticity that connects with real people and at genuinely accessible price points.

Alongside our established secondary market program, we’re proud to champion a new generation of artists whose work carries this spirit: Swoon, Tim Fishlock, Rusty, Mark Vessey, Kostas Papakostas and many others.

Each brings something grounded, honest, and deeply human qualities that today’s collectors are seeking more than ever.

Looking Ahead

So, what does the 2025 rebound really mean in practice?

We think it means confidence is creeping back into the market, but it’s not the frenzy of the pandemic boom. It’s a quieter and more deliberate market built on knowledge, relationships, and trust.

For us, that’s the exciting part….Onwards.

Ben Cotton

Founder & Director