What are the hottest art market trends in 2024? Well, 2023 was an exciting year for the art world. New technologies caused lots of turbulence in the industry, with some artists welcoming them as a boon and others vigorously going against them. While we will see these trends continue throughout the coming year, what other art is expected to be trending in 2024? And what type of art will sell best? Read on to get the lowdown!
2023 has seen lots of changes and uproar in the art world. Why?
Mostly because the first AI image generators launched into the market at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. Since then, more and more artificial image-generating systems have come up—and are still coming up.
Generative AI art has without doubt been one of the hottest art market trends in 2023, even though it was met with a lot of controversy.
I’ve already addressed the topic in several posts, discussing whether AI art can be considered real art and why artists are against AI art.
Whether AI art will be trending in 2024 as well and what the other art trends the coming year is likely to see—well, we’re getting into that right now in this blog post!
These are the hottest art market trends in 2024:
What art is trending in 2024?
2023 has been an eventful year, in particular for the digital art industry. Digital artists suffered a series of setbacks. The animation industry (and along with that the VFX and gaming industries) hit an all-time low with tech companies rolling out massive layoffs.
On top of that, digital and traditional artists alike felt threatened by the growing AI art market, worrying about their creative careers and chances of making money selling their art. Some artists even decided to take legal action against the unauthorized use of their work to train AI models.
Naturally, all these events affect the art market trends in 2024.
And while nobody knows for sure what art will be trending in 2024, one thing is certain: it’s going to be an exciting time for the art world!
So, without further ado, let's dive into the hottest art market trends in 2024.
10 Hottest art market trends in 2024
Art Market Trend #1: AI art will continue to rise.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been shaking the visual arts industry. The emergence of AI-powered image generators made it possible for everyone to “create art.”
Tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, Leonardo AI and Adobe Firefly will continue to evolve throughout 2024 and new generators will be launched in the market.
In 2023, AI has already created as many images as photographers have taken in 150 and the number will only continue to grow.
While AI-generated images will replace many previously human-made designs, illustrations, advertising and marketing visuals, it remains to be seen whether artificially created images will remain among hottest art market trends in the actual art world…
Are you worried about your creative future with all the machine-made imagery swallowing up the market?
Worry not, AI art is not better than human art, and you don’t have to stand back and watch all your hard work get lost in the flood of artificial mass production. You can do something about it. Start now and learn how to promote your art when AI is the end of artists (supposedly)!
Art Market Trend #2: AI art will see a huge backlash.
While generative AI art is here to stay—and to grow, AI image generation will also experience a huge backlash in 2024.
2023 already showed that audiences are not happy seeing artificially generated content in their favorite movies and this trend is likely to continue throughout 2024.
Netflix Japan, for example, was severely panned when it turned out that their backgrounds were AI-generated, and both viewers and artists lashed out at Disney when they found out that the intro to Secret Invasion was AI-made.
At the same time, AI companies will face a number of lawsuits, pressing for legal regulations and compensation of the artists whose work has been used without consent.
Art Market Trend #3: The understanding of art will be redefined.
The question of what is art and what is not has always been the parting of the ways in the art industry. However, with the rise of artificially created imagery, this issue has become more pertinent than ever.
2024 will see a redefinition of what can actually be considered “true art” and what can not. People will increasingly make a difference between illustration and design (for which AI images may be used) and actual art in the proper meaning of the word.
Art collectors and lovers will be deliberately looking out for manmade art, learning to appreciate all the little imperfections and flaws that are innate to human artwork.
That being said, traditional artists, photographers, and digital artists will be everything but a dying breed. We can expect that both human-crafted traditional and digital art will be one of the hottest art market trends in 2024!
Coming back to the image generators that are supposedly here to stay, AI generators will help artists, at the most, not take away from them the entire creative process.
An example of how AI generators can help artists: in ‘Scared Bunny‘, the background is AI-generated using Midjourney. Everything else is handmade digital art, i.e. photo manipulation and digital painting. Face is mine, as always in my Surreal Stories…
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Art Market Trend #4: The 'No CGI' trend will persist and expand.
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) has been a key component in filmmaking for decades. Over time, however, moviemakers have come to rely on CGI to create entire movies.
Besides the rumors that Marvel Studios allegedly overworked their VFX teams, audiences turned out to be tired of CGI-overloaded movies. While “no CGI” actually just means “invisible CGI” (because hardly any modern movie can do without at least some digital effects), critics feel that the overuse of CGI takes away the human element.
Practical effects make scenes feel more real and account for a perceived higher value. “There is no substitute for real human energy and performance,” as the proponents of “No CGI” put it.
This art market trend is likely to spill over to other areas of the visual arts as well, and maybe we are going to see a “no CGI” trend in various image-driven industries in 2024.
Art Market Trend #5: 2D animations will become commonplace.
Conventional 2D animation software has long been unaffordable to the majority of artists, but 2024 is likely going to change that.
While Procreate already provides an inexpensive drawing and painting app for the iPad (available at a one-time payment of only USD12.99), the company recently launched Procreate Dreams. By paying only USD19.99, anyone can now afford a top-quality animation tool for a one-off fee.
As Procreate already revolutionized the digital painting market, we can expect that Procreate Dreams will set off 2024’s biggest 2D animation trend!
Art Market Trend #6: 3D design will become more accessible.
Very much like 2D animation, 3D design will become more accessible to a broader range of artists in 2024.
Adobe and other digital art software developers have simplified the use of 3D design. With Adobe Illustrator’s “3D Inflate” tool, for example, anyone can now easily add 3D effects to typography, patterns, and other objects.
The reason why 3D design wasn’t as popular in the past is simply because there weren’t as many artists who mastered the craft. Why are there now?
Well, guess what, Adobe’s “3D Inflate” tool is powered by AI —who would have thought so? (⚆_⚆) That means you can now as easily and quickly create three-dimensional small elements, just as you can create large, complex objects.
As more and more artists are just about to get into 3D design, this art market trend has long not reached its height and will continue to gain momentum throughout 2024 and beyond!
Art Market Trend #7: Eco-inspired design will be in demand.
Climate change, earthquakes, tsunamis, pollution—we are all getting more conscious of our environment because we just have to.
It’s no different in the art world. Maybe all the natural catastrophes that we have been seeing in recent years have sparked the eco-inspired art market trend in 2024 and reflect a growing commitment to a greener world.
More and more architects and designers draw inspiration from nature and create organic living spaces that incorporate natural textures, earthy colors, and eco-driven themes.
…and who would not want to live in such a place?
AI-generated eco-inspired living spaces by Taher Aarsiwala (left) and Joshua Yebo Ndace (right) on LinkedIn.
Art Market Trend #8: 3D surrealism is becoming increasingly popular.
3D surrealism is one of the hottest art market trends in 2024 because it uses traditional surreal elements to create ultra-contemporary 3D visuals.
The designs can be eye-catching with popping colors and imaginative designs.
3D surrealism will play an essential role in advertising and marketing in 2024, because it has the potential to create attention and enhance viewer engagement.
Another area where 3D surrealism has found its niche is web design and interactive media. With their distinctive designs and ability to create illusionary environments, 3D surreal visuals can create immersive user experiences.
Art Market Trend #9: Barbie Aesthetics & Candy Art will maintain a strong influence.
Candy art was already among the Top 10 art market trends in 2022 and made its way into the hottest art market trends in 2024 as well.
Featuring pink and pastel color palettes, candy art is accompanied by the Barbie aesthetics trend this year, which is obviously inspired by the doll of the same name.
The Barbie trend brings some retro-style elements to the entire art world—not only to dolls and toys visuals, by far. It adds pinks vibes to basically everything, including typography, fashion, interior design, packaging, and even burgers, as the visual from Burger King Brasil below illustrates. ʕᴖᴥᴖʔ
Art Market Trend #10: NFT art is unstoppable.
Last but not least, let’s talk about NFT art. NFT art has been a really huge deal in recent years, with NFT artworks selling for several million of dollars. I only say Beeple and Pak (if you don’t know what I mean, take a look back at the hottest digital art trends in 2022).
NFT art hasn’t lost any of its traction all the way through to 2024 and is unlikely to ebb any time soon. More and more people are jumping on the NFT art bandwagon—not only artists, but also celebrities. Paris Hilton, for example, recently introduced her first NFT in the Tonight Show, and other famous names are likely to follow.
Fortunately, NFT art is accessible to everyone and all artists may try their luck at selling their art as a Non-Fungible Token on the blockchain. I’ve only recently posted a tutorial on how to mint an NFT for free on OpenSea. So if that’s something that interests you, head over there and check it out!
What type of art sells best in 2024?
So much for the TOP 10 hottest art market trends in 2024. But what type of art can we actually expect to sell best in 2024?
Well, as I just mentioned above, NFT art sales will remain to be big in the coming year—and perhaps growing even more.
Despite everything becoming more digital, the demand for physical art prints (both of traditional and digital art) is unlikely to decline. Why not?
Because people will still want to have a tangible item of their favorite artists in their homes. If it includes something special, like the real signature of the artist, even better.
Apart from that, I expect I higher demand for virtual items as well, like downloadable files of artists’ works and printables that people can print out themselves.
If you are up for selling downloads and printables of your artwork, don’t forget to have a good digital image license agreement in place, so buyers only use your file for what you actually allow it to be used!
The best apps to create digital art in a nutshell:
Adobe Photoshop
The go-to app for all digital creators. Photoshop is a great choice for professional artists, budding designers, and novice hobbyists alike. Get Adobe Photoshop on desktop and iPad with a free 7-day trial.
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Illustrator
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is a powerful, low-cost image editor and a serious competitor to Photoshop. You can get Affinity Photo for a one-time payment of US$49.99. Before making your purchase, you can try the software free for 30 days.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is an award-winning vector graphics software for creating concept art, logos, icons, UI designs, and other illustrations. At US$ 54.99, it is an affordable alternative to Adobe Illustrator that also comes with a free 30-day trial.
Corel Painter
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is professional 3D software for creating realistic characters and physically accurate visual effects. Autodesk Maya is used by companies like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. for creating their animation films.
ZBrush
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is sophisticated software for 3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering. It's fast and flexible, but also intuitive and is easy to learn, and therefore a great option for beginners, too.
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This was my take on the hottest art market trends in 2024. In any case, 2024 will be an exciting year for the art world and for each of us artists who are part of it.
What do you think what art is trending in 2024? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
(All images displayed in this post are copyright to their respective owners and solely used for educational purposes.)
Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a high risk decision great post!
Haha great to hear! (;
These trends are exactly what the art world needs in 2024! The emphasis on digital art and NFTs is pushing boundaries and providing new opportunities for artists. Can’t wait to see how these trends reshape the market and empower creatives.
Hi Mike, it definitely remains interesting! Many artists have already started creating NFTs and some are making a pretty good side income with it. So we’ll see where the future takes us… (:
NFTs and AI art are just a bubble waiting to burst. The traditional art market has depth and history, something that AI art lacks.
Let’s not undermine the value of tangible, physical artworks for the sake of fleeting NFT trends!
Hi Darrel! I understand that it might seem too simple that an NFT piece consisting of abstract circles and lines generated by an artificial intelligence sells for several hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of dollars. But when you look at the stats, you’ll see that NFT art is still growing. So I personally believe this trend is going to accompany us in the coming years as well… People are just digging it ´\_(ツ)_/`
Thanks for your insights, Angie! Very interesting to read.
I like that you mentioned AI art twice. It will definitely continue to be a big topic in 2024 ….
I’ve heard some AI companies will be getting sued. do you know more about that?
Hey Mary, thanks for stopping by!
From what I read Shutterstock has started a lawsuit in the UK and there’s also a class action by a number of artists in the US… Remains to be interesting 😆