The Age of Intentional Collecting: Why Slowing Down Is Reshaping the Art Market
In an art world often driven by spectacle and urgency, a quiet shift is taking place. According to the 2025 Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report, high-net-worth collectors are moving more slowly, thinking more deeply, and seeking greater meaning in their acquisitions. At Big Time Arts, we believe this shift isn’t just a trend — it’s a necessary recalibration in the world of art advisory for collectors.
A New Kind of Collector Is Emerging
The report makes it clear: collectors are no longer just chasing blue-chip names or high-yield flips. Many are taking time to reflect before making decisions. In 2024, numerous HNW collectors paused their activity — not because they lacked interest, but because they wanted to reconnect with why they collect in the first place. It’s about alignment, not acceleration.
"Today’s collectors aren’t just looking for a purchase — they’re looking for a point of view."
What the Report Tells Us
Clare McAndrew, who authored the report, notes that buyers were more cautious, more research-driven, and increasingly influenced by emotion and meaning — not just market analytics. While total global sales fell by 12% in 2024, the undercurrent wasn’t disinterest; it was discernment.
This signals a shift from collecting as competition to collecting as conversation. Rather than simply filling walls or chasing scarcity, collectors are asking:
What story does this piece tell?
Where does it belong in my collection — and in my life?
What values does it represent?
Why Slower Doesn’t Mean Smaller
For some, a slowdown in buying might feel like a softening of the market. But from our view at Big Time Arts, it’s an opportunity for refinement. We’re seeing more collectors willing to revisit older works in their collection, let go of pieces that no longer resonate, and be more intentional about what comes next.
This isn’t just philosophical — it’s strategic. Fewer but more meaningful acquisitions tend to hold stronger long-term value, both emotionally and economically.
“Spaces like this remind us that great collections don’t just happen — they’re built over time with purpose and perspective.”
How Advisory Helps Fill the Gap
In a time of reflection, the role of the advisor has never been more important. When buyers are slowing down, it’s not because they’re unsure if they want art — it’s because they want to make sure they’re buying the right art.
At Big Time Arts, we offer personalized art advisory services for collectors to:
Define the direction of a collection
Understand gaps and opportunities
Identify under-recognized or emerging artists with long-term potential
Re-contextualize existing works
Ensure new acquisitions are placed intentionally, not just stored or “hung”
We also help clients stage, rehang, and reimagine their spaces — often discovering that the solution isn’t adding more art, but understanding what’s already there. Through our personalized art advisory services, collectors gain clarity, confidence, and a stronger connection to their collection.
Intentional Collecting in Action
We recently worked with a client who had a deep collection of abstract works but felt disconnected from their space. Rather than sourcing something new immediately, we conducted a full walkthrough of their home, catalogued what they had, and rehung the entire first floor. Only then did we introduce two new pieces that brought fresh energy to the space — each chosen with purpose.
Doug Aitken, Think, 2019, Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs, 28.5 x 105.5 x 7.0 in (72.4 x 268.0 x 17.8 cm)
This is the essence of intentional collecting: less about acquisition, more about clarity.
If 2024 was the year of the pause, 2025 may become the year of the pivot — where collectors recalibrate and refocus. As buying becomes more thoughtful, the value of a trusted guide becomes essential. Someone who doesn’t just open doors, but asks the right questions before you walk through them.
The art market will continue to shift, but intentional collecting offers a clear path forward — one rooted in purpose, connection, and long-term value. For those looking to move with more clarity and confidence, a thoughtful approach makes all the difference.
Want to explore your collection with more clarity and purpose? Get in touch with our art advisory team at Big Time Arts to take the next step.
📥 Download the 2025 UBS Art Market Report
For collectors and art professionals looking to go deeper, the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2025 (PDF) offers essential insights into global collecting trends, market dynamics, and regional shifts. Produced by UBS and Art Basel, this annual report is a trusted benchmark for the state of the art world.
Source: UBS and Art Basel, 2025.