What art sells best in 2022? Art market trends come and go, and if one art style was popular in 2021, it doesn’t have to be trending this year, too. This post has the most popular art styles in 2022 for you to check out. Read on to learn about the contemporary trends in digital art, wall art, pop art, fine art, and more!
2022 is the second year that is marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, global lockdowns, and social distancing. These factors, along with the technological developments, are significantly influencing the art market trends of the current year.
As a result, digital art trends have been on the rise, and there are also a couple of brand-new digitized styles of art that have become incredibly popular over the past months.
Here is what art sells best in 2022:
Art market trends come and go. They are constantly changing and evolving like our tastes in fashion, food, and other things. Artists always seek for new ways of expression, experimenting with new media and reinventing art styles of former times.
This is how the different art movements developed. Influential genres like surrealism, lowbrow, or pop art started out as new forms of creative expression and became the dominant art styles of a period.
As opposed to art movements, art market trends tend to change more often, as they are consumer-driven. There’s always a plethora of art styles that are popular in different parts around the world. Art and culture are closely connected, and every culture has its own tastes and preferences.
Related: Art And Taste: What Does Your Taste In Art Say About You?
Other factors that influence art market trends are the decisions of collectors and curators. Since many collectors took an interest in NFT art during this year, crypto-based digital art became a popular trend in 2022.
However, the most important factor to determine what art sells best in 2022 is without doubt the current global situation. The pandemic has been affecting people around the world and also shaped their artistic choices. As people were forced to stay at home, their interest in home décor and wall art has been growing.
We all love to surround ourselves with beautiful things, so it’s only normal to see a wall art and paintings trend in 2022!
What is the most popular art style in 2022?
That being said, we can note strong digital art trends in 2022. After two years of global pandemonium with lockdowns and social distancing, the most popular art styles in 2022 are built on digitization.
Crypto art and digital art will surely continue to grow in popularity. And while in-person art experiences still tend to be rare, there’s the trend for virtual art events that developed during the past months to make up for the missing hands-on participation.
Here are the TOP 10 Art Market Trends that are set to create a buzz in 2022!
Top 10 Art Market Trends In 2022
Art Market Trend #1: Crypto & NFT Art
Crypto and NFT art has become a popular art style in 2021 and continues to grow in popularity throughout 2022 – and probably beyond, as more and more mainstream artists are adopting the medium.
In 2021, the so far most expensive NFT artwork called ‘The Merge’ sold for almost US$100 million on Nifty Gateway.
As an increasing number of people are discovering the advantages of cryptocurrencies, NFTs – which are non-fungible tokens of artwork created on a blockchain – are only to become more trendy in the future.
The first Museum of Crypto Art opened in 2020 and exhibits its collections in both virtual and physical spaces. Other examples are the Seattle NFT Museum and the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano, the first Latin-American crypto art museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
» Do you want to create NFT art yourself? Your app of choice largely depends on the type of art you want to create. Two all-time favorites are still Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. More affordable alternatives are Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer. A specialized app to create NFT art is The NFT Generator.
Art Market Trend #2: Virtual Art Events
The demand for virtual art events has been growing exponentially during the pandemic. Many galleries and museums now organize virtual exhibitions.
For example, top locations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts have ongoing virtual art shows.
And even art festivals, such as Burning Man, have taken their events to online platforms.
Now that traveling has become increasingly difficult, audiences can join the event via the web from anywhere in the world – without having to leave their homes!
Thanks to the technological evolution, such art events are interactive and sophisticated shows, allowing people to come together in a virtual reality (VR) space.
Art Market Trend #3: Digital Art
As a fully-technology based type of art, digital art was trending in recent years and still belongs to the art that sells best in 2022!
Digital art is a very broad field that encompasses a huge number of different styles (here are 13 different types of digital art you need to know). However, three styles are particularly standing out this year, so let’s take a closer look at those:
#1 Digital Art Trend 2022: 2D & 3D Mash-Ups
The first digital art trend of 2022 includes 2D and 3D mash-ups. Mash-ups are a type of photo manipulation or mixed media creations where the artist combines different elements.
These can be 3D and 2D elements, but also a combination of digital and physical media.
Since these art styles practically offer limitless creative possibilities, they are set to stay and continue to evolve.
» The top software for 2D and 3D mash-ups is undoubtedly Adobe Photoshop. The program is super-powerful and provides you with the most advanced editing features available in the market. The most affordable subscription plan is the Photography Plan for 9.99 US$ per month. But before you commit, you can start with a Free Photoshop Trial here!
#2 Digital Art Trend 2022: Glass & Crystals
In 2021, the gold and silver trend was huge. Everyday items were digitally transformed to look like realistic precious metal.
One year later, the trend has shifted to glass and crystals that come with the same incredible realism in 3D.
This trend also includes transparent frosted glass backgrounds for UI elements.
» While it is absolutely possible to create glass and crystals with Adobe Photoshop (like these glass jars), things like the crystal below are much easier to create in Adobe Illustrator.
#3 Digital Art Trend 2022: Candy Colors
Candy colors were already an art trend in the 1970s when the lowbrow movement started out. Half a century later, candy colors have become a new trend again!
Bright, eye-catching color patterns always make an artwork stand out. Color grabs our attention while we are scrolling down in our social media feeds, and vibrant candy-colored scenes have the power to make us stop and look!
It’s easier to work with a specific color palette, if you are a bit familiar with color theory. To help you get started, you can dive into the nitty-gritty by learning what high-key means in art.
» There are many apps you can use to create candy color artworks. I created the two pieces below using Photoshop. But you can also use Affinity Photo, or – if you are more into digital painting – Corel Painter or Clip Studio Paint.
Want to learn digital art or showcase your creations?
Art Market Trend #4: Street Art
Street art has been a popular art market trend for the past decade, and still is in 2022.
Street artists have always been mirroring the spirit of the moment, and this has been no different during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In fact, the global events have inspired countless street artworks during the past two years. Popular murals pay tribute to healthcare workers, remind people to stay safe at home, or aim to bolster them up.
Street art has always been the most accessible form of art. People inevitably notice it when walking or driving along the street – even during times of the pandemic!
That’s why some street artists also take the opportunity to display moving words in public. One example is street artist Corrie Mattie who created the yellow mural below.
Art Market Trend #5: Neon Art
Neon art has become a new trend for wall art and home décor in people’s interiors. When you hear neon art, you probably think of the huge neon signs that set the streets aglow in the 1960s.
But during the past few years, neon art has made its way into museums and exhibitions. There, collectors have fallen in love with neon, and now neon wall art installations are a popular art trend to decorate living and bedrooms.
Leading artists are Tracey Emin, Glenn Ligon, Jung Lee, Iván Navarro, Keith Sonnier, and Olivia Steele.
» Of course, you can create neon art using physical wires like the above artists do. But you can also make digital neon art! Grab a nice font from Creative Fabrica and you are ready to create some cool neon art in Photoshop. I have a great neon effect for you that you can download free in the Freebie Library and then simply apply to your creations at one click of the mouse!
Some artists also combine neon tubes with traditional media or use neon color palettes across digital art and paintings.
» To create a digital painting like the one below, you can use Corel Painter, Clip Studio Paint, or Procreate on your iPad!
Art Market Trend #6: Nature-Inspired Art
Whereas most of the above mentioned art market trends are technology-based, there is also a counter-movement taking place.
Nature has always been a popular theme in art – since the beginning of time. Now it seems that more and more artists return to nature in order to escape stress and recharge their energy stores.
In fact, reconnecting with nature helps us reconnect with ourselves, whether we do so by taking a walk in the woods or by creating or admiring nature-inspired art.
Some artists and collectors are also likely to have developed an appreciation for nature due to being repeatedly confined indoors over the last two years. Others might use the depiction of nature as a channel to deal with the current climate crisis.
All these factors contribute to the revival of nature-themed art in our homes!
» The nature-inspired artwork you see below is a digital painting that you can create with Corel Painter. Corel Painter comes with some of the best brushes in the industry that are able to perfectly emulate different natural media, including watercolor, acrylic, spray paint, and oil. To see if that’s the right tool for you, you can try Corel Painter free for 30 days here.
Art Market Trend #7: Contemporary African Art
As mentioned above, art and culture are closely related, that’s why art market trends tend to vary in different regions of the world.
Contemporary African art is one of the trends that are seeing a big upsurge in 2022. One reason is digital technology. The internet makes it easy for African artists to reach new audiences all over the globe.
Contemporary African art is often characterized by the socio-political challenges people face in their daily lives. Other subjects include local traditions, such as fashion or jewelry.
Thanks to the virtual art events, contemporary African artworks are showcased at major galleries and museums around the world.
Art Market Trend #8: The Memphis Revival
The Memphis Design is a colorful geometric art style that first came up in the 1980s. Just like the neon trend, it’s making a comeback in modern art.
Originally, the Memphis Design was introduced by Italian designer Ettore Sottsass. 30 years later, it was picked up by designers of multiple disciplines and made its return as the Memphis Revival.
Artists, fashion, interior and graphic designers have been revisiting the typical design patterns, such as bright color blocks, frames, shelves, and emoji-like décor elements. The furniture is colorful, kitschy and exaggerated.
Thanks to dedicated Instagram accounts, in particular Sottsass’ own Instagram page, the Memphis Design experienced its revival in recent times.
Art Market Trend #9: Curvaceous Art
Curvaceous art was a big art market trend in the last year and it continues to be one in 2022. Curvaceous art is characterized by curvy, feminine forms.
The playful curves and shapes have made it into traditional and digital art, as well as into interior design.
You don’t see any sharp and pointed elements. The fluid lines and sinuous shapes are inspired by the Mid-century Modern Design (MCM) movement and are a great way to incorporate bold colors and designs into a room.
The curvaceous elements are intended to make the room feel comfortable and cozy, creating a deeper connection between people and their surroundings and helping them to relax.
This is probably the reason why curvaceous art is among the art that sells best in 2022!
Art Market Trend #10: d2c Art
d2c art stands for direct-to-consumer art, meaning artists sell their work directly to customers, without the need of a middleman. Direct-to-consumer sales have been increasing in popularity in recent years, because more and more artists have started selling their work over online platforms and social media.
Artists have realized the importance of taking control of their art business and discovered the benefits of promoting and selling their art online. On the other hand, customers appreciate to connect with the artist directly.
Many see the d2c model as the way to go, especially with the upsurge of NFTs over the last year and the social restrictions due to the pandemic (closed galleries, canceled art shows, etc.).
d2c is part of the art that sells best in 2022 and it is only to shoot up more in the future, and maybe to revolutionize the art industry – who knows!
How can you sell your art in 2022?
There are plenty of online platforms that allow artists to sell physical and digital copies of their artwork. The most popular online marketplace of all times is definitely Etsy. Other platforms where artists sell their digital offerings include Sellfy, Payhip, and SendOwl. Some of these platforms are even completely free to use!
What’s more, website builders now make it easy for everyone to create their own website and shop, without requiring any coding knowledge.
Two of the best website builders for artists are Squarespace and Pixpa. Why? Because they offer a great choice of beautifully designed templates for visual creatives of all types and make it super-easy for beginners to create a website with shop – no prior experience needed!
WordPress comes with a steeper learning curve than the above mentioned website builders. But if you are willing to invest the time, you’ll be rewarded with the highest flexibility and scalability a website can have!
I built this website on WordPress myself, using the OceanWP theme and the Elementor page builder, along with the Essential Addons for Elementor and Ultimate Addons for Elementor. Those page builder plugins make it easier to design your website, because they come with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.
WordPress does take some time getting used, but once you got the hang of it, the possibilities are endless! You can open your own WooCommerce shop, create an online portfolio, start a blog, offer courses, and much more. If you are interested, I tell you everything I did to make this website step-by-step here.
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If you want to learn more about promoting and selling your art, there are heaps of tutorials on this website that explain how to showcase & sell your art and how to build your own artist website.
Here are some guides for you that are a good starting point:
(All images displayed in this post are copyright to their respective owners and solely used for educational purposes.)
