This international conference examines the historical transformation of global contemporary art markets from the late twentieth century to the present. It aims to analyse the infrastructures, agents and regimes of value through which contemporary art circulates, gains legitimacy and acquires cultural and economic value. Bringing together historical, transnational, sociological, economic and interdisciplinary perspectives, the event invites critical reflection on art fairs, biennials, galleries, auction houses, collecting, digital markets, financialisation, inequalities and the construction of artistic and market value.

Argument

ARTIS – Institute of Art History, School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, will host the international conference Historicizing Global Contemporary Art Markets: Trajectories, Infrastructures, and Regimes of Value in Lisbon on 10 November 2026.

The conference seeks to provide a historically grounded and critical examination of the major transformations that have reshaped contemporary art markets since the late twentieth century, with particular attention to the accelerated developments of the twenty-first century. The globalisation of artistic circuits, the emergence of new collecting and market geographies, the expansion of art fairs and biennials, the role of galleries, auction houses, museums and private collections, and the increasing entanglement of art with finance, technology and luxury industries have significantly transformed the circulation, legitimation and valuation of contemporary art.

The event will examine how artworks, artists and art-world agents enter transnational circuits of cultural and economic recognition. Key questions include the construction of artistic and market value, the relationships between reputation, visibility and investment, and the inequalities that persist within an art world increasingly described as global and diversified.

The conference also invites critical reflection on the growing visibility of artists historically marginalised within dominant art-historical and market narratives, including women artists, Black artists, Indigenous artists, queer artists, diasporic artists and artists from the Global South. To what extent does this increased presence signal structural transformation? To what extent might new forms of inclusion coexist with enduring institutional, economic and symbolic asymmetries?

We welcome contributions on contemporary art markets from historical, transnational, comparative, archival, sociological, economic, digital or interdisciplinary perspectives. Proposed topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Globalisation and regionalisation of contemporary art markets;
• New artistic centres and geographies of collecting;
• Art fairs, biennials, galleries, auction houses and museums;
• Collecting, philanthropy, patronage and private museums;
• Financialisation, speculation, investment and luxury industries;
• Digital markets, online platforms, NFTs and new infrastructures of value;
• Restitution, decolonisation, provenance and institutional critique;
• Labour, precarity and professional networks in the art market;
• Inequalities, visibility and the market recognition of historically marginalised artists;
• Art-historical knowledge, expertise and documentation in the construction of artistic and market value.

Submission guidelines

Applicants are invited to submit:

• A proposed title;
• An abstract of 200–400 words;
• A short academic bio of 150–200 words.

The conference language is English. Proposals must be submitted in English. Abstracts will be reviewed by the organisers and the Scientific Committee.

Submission form: https://forms.gle/j5bJWMzg9tc2LmFk8

Conference website: https://globalartmarkets.wixsite.com/2026

Key dates

31 July 2026 — Deadline for proposal submissions

31 August 2026 — Notification of acceptance

10 November 2026 — Conference date

Organisers

• Luís U. Afonso — University of Lisbon Cristiélen R. Marques — University of Lisbon / University of São Paulo

Scientific Committee

• Adriana Turpin — IESA Arts & Culture, Paris
• Allan Madden — University of GlasgowFilip Vermeylen — Erasmus University Rotterdam

Practical information

Event: Historicizing Global Contemporary Art Markets: Trajectories, Infrastructures, and Regimes of Value Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 Venue: School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal Conference and submission language: English Proposal submission deadline: 31 July 2026

Contacts

• General conference email: globalartmarkets@gmail.com
• Organisers: Luís U. Afonso — luis.afonso@edu.ulisboa.pt Cristiélen R. Marques — cristielen.marques@edu.ulisboa.pt
• Institutional contact: ARTIS – Institute of Art History, School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon — artis@letras.ulisboa.pt

Funding

This work is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under project UID/04189/2025 [ARTIS – IHA/FLUL] | DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/04189/2025.