Artists’ production sensibilities within the dynamics of an emerging art market

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to understand the characteristics and formation of artists’ production sensibilities and relations with other actors within an emerging hybrid art market structure.Design/methodology/approachTo unravel senses and map out relationships and structures in the context of this study, qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and analysis of secondary data sources, were applied.FindingsThe authors describe three art production sensibilities and market-based relationship logics rooted in the artist and the artwork’s diverse role in the market.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that artistic sensibilities motivate managers working in the hybrid art market to develop a more nuanced positioning of artists and their creative outputs to improve harmony and collaboration.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that the hybrid structure of art markets allows for the harmonious separation and collaboration of non-market (artistic) and market logics. This study uncovers how artists combine their non-market creative position with market needs in the process of marketization and hybridization.