A once-common sales tactic in the contemporary art market, known as "buy-one, give-one" or "bogo," has significantly declined. Under this arrangement, collectors gained preferential access to in-demand artists' paintings by agreeing to purchase two works and donating one to a museum. The practice peaked from 2021 to 2023, with institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, acquiring works this way.
The contraction of the art market over the past two years has made these deals less economically viable, signaling a shift in power dynamics among collectors, galleries, and museums. The decline is attributed to a less competitive buying environment and rising primary market prices, which have erased the financial and tax benefits for collectors. This change may impact young artists' career trajectories by altering a key pathway for museum acquisition and institutional validation.