The next generation links collecting with purpose

As wealth changes hands, so do values. The Great Wealth Transfer is reshaping collecting priorities. Younger buyers are motivated by meaning as much as by market value. They are drawn to art that speaks to identity, community, and purpose. For many, collecting is a way to express who they are and what they believe in, rather than simply a measure of wealth.

The Survey of Global Collecting 2025 reveals an art world that is more diverse, more connected, and more curious than ever before. Women are leading spending, younger generations are redefining taste, and digital tools are opening doors to new possibilities. Collecting has become both more personal and more global, driven by curiosity, creativity, and the desire to engage directly with the art and artists shaping our time.

The survey is the 12th in a series conducted in collaboration with Arts Economics and UBS. It now covers 10 markets, with responses from 3,100 HNWIs, including 1,575 women, and remains one of the largest surveys of high-net-worth collectors globally.