despite global art market contraction prints are thriving 2621263

The print market is experiencing a significant resurgence, defying the broader contraction seen in the global art market. Recent events like the IFPDA Print Fair in New York reported record-breaking attendance of 21,000 visitors, while auction data shows that over 54,000 print lots were sold in 2024—the highest volume in a decade. While total sales value dipped slightly, the decline was far less severe than the 27 percent drop seen in the general fine art sector.

signed book hov jay z auction 2663301

A signed, limited-edition book titled *The Book of HOV: A Tribute to JAY-Z*, created in collaboration between Jay-Z's Roc Nation, French publisher Assouline, and artist Daniel Arsham, is being auctioned at Christie's. Only five copies exist, and the book is estimated to sell for $100,000 to $150,000, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Brooklyn Public Library. The auction, part of a contemporary editions sale running from July 7 to July 22, follows a 2023 exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library that attracted 600,000 visitors.

ifpda print fair 2023 2386055

The 30th edition of the International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) Print Fair concluded at New York’s Javits Center, featuring 77 international exhibitors. The fair showcased a vast chronological range of works, from $2 million Edvard Munch prints to contemporary editions priced at $200, attracting a diverse crowd of collectors and institutional buyers.

massive 44 foot long david hockney print to headline christies spring prints season in london 1234777342

Christie’s London has announced that David Hockney’s monumental print 'Autour de la maison, été' (2019) will headline its spring prints season. Measuring nearly 40 feet long and printed on a single sheet of paper, the work depicts the artist’s Normandy estate with a high estimate of £300,000 ($400,000). The piece is noted for its cinematic scale and narrative structure, drawing direct inspiration from the medieval Bayeux Tapestry.

artnet auctions contemporary editions jesus rafael soto 2646188

Artnet Auctions is offering five works by Venezuelan kinetic and Op art pioneer Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005) in its Contemporary Editions sale, open for bidding through May 29, 2025. The lots include *Multiple #4 (from Jai Alai)* (1969, est. $8,000–$12,000), *Permutación (from Serie Sintesis)* (1979, est. $6,000–$8,000), and *Tes Azules y Negras (from Serie Sintesis)* (1979, est. $7,000–$10,000), each exemplifying Soto's signature blend of optical illusion, physical layering, and kinetic elements.

'Blame Game' X , 2014

The silkscreen print 'Blame Game X' (2014) by KAWS is currently being highlighted as a significant individual work from the artist's rare portfolio of ten. This brightly colored screenprint, limited to an edition of 100, features the artist's signature aesthetic of subverted cartoon imagery and 'X' motifs. The work exemplifies KAWS's transition from street art and commercial animation into the high-end contemporary art market.

How Banksy’s Stenciled Satire Took the Aughts by Storm

Four screenprints by Banksy from the 2000s are featured in Artnet Auctions’s Contemporary Editions sale, running through August 28, 2025. The lots include 'Bomb Love (Bomb Hugger)' (est. $25,000–$35,000), 'Welcome to Hell (Pink)' (est. $30,000–$50,000), and 'Morons (Sepia)' (est. $25,000–$35,000), tracing the artist’s rise from Bristol street graffiti to international fame. The article highlights key milestones: his 2002 Los Angeles show 'Existencilism,' his counterfeit £10 notes featuring Princess Diana, and the Oscar-nominated documentary 'Exit Through the Gift Shop.'

At the BnF, wonderful maps to imagine new worlds

À la BnF, des merveilles de cartes pour imaginer des mondes nouveaux

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is presenting an exhibition of extraordinary maps that blend imagination with cartography, tracing the evolution of maps from ancient tools of navigation to fantastical creations that fueled exploration and myth. The show features rare works including Renaissance sea monsters, cosmological paintings, and literary maps from Tolkien's Middle-earth and George R.R. Martin's Westeros, alongside contemporary artists like Alighiero Boetti, Sergio Aquindo, and Michael Druks who use maps to express personal and political visions.

David Hockney’s Vibrant Creations Anchor Artnet’s Contemporary Editions Auction

Artnet Auctions is staging its Contemporary Editions sale, now live for bidding through November 19, 2025, featuring three works by David Hockney: an iPad drawing titled *16th February, 2021, More Flowers in a Glass Vase* (est. $40,000–$60,000), a digitally stitched photograph *In the Studio, December 2017* (est. $50,000–$70,000), and a lithograph *Pretty Tulips* (1969) (est. $35,000–$55,000). The sale highlights Hockney’s ongoing experimentation with digital tools and printmaking, offering collectors accessible entry points into his six-decade career.