In a world shaped by geopolitical disruptions and economic volatility, the art market has proven resilient, supported by a younger and more diverse collector community. In 2025, High Net Worth Individuals devoted an average of 20% of their assets to their collections, up from 15% the previous year. In the current context marked by growing inflation and unpredictable interest rates, art is increasingly viewed as an effective tool for portfolio diversification.
These dynamics are explored in the Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2025, which examines the activities and behaviors of collectors across ten major markets, including the US, the UK, Europe and key Asian hubs. Conducted by the independent research firm Arts Economics, the study examines High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) with more than $1 million in assets in 2025, selected from collectors who have remained active in the art market over the past three years.
The research shows that, while paintings remain the most widely collected medium overall, one of the most notable shifts in 2025 was the renewed growth in digital art holdings. Notably, despite the male-dominated reputation of NFT and crypto markets, digital art plays a more prominent role in the collections of women than in those of men.
The last finding is closely linked to the global trend of rising female wealth, a shift reflecting broader progress in workplace equality, education and financial inclusion, alongside a growing transfer of inherited collections. In this context, women’s influence on art market dynamics is becoming increasingly pronounced, with its effects already visible today.
While works by male artists still make up the majority of HNWI collections overall, a closer look reveals a markedly higher share of female artists in collections built by women collectors.
Another key gender-related finding shows that women were more likely than men to report frequently purchasing works by unknown artists (55% versus 44%) and were less likely to say they had never done so (8% compared with 11% of men).
These purchasing behaviors prove to be useful for anticipating future market trends and also for analyzing risk attitudes by gender.
Extensive research across disciplines shows women generally displaying greater risk aversion than men, a factor shaping investment, career and consumption choices. However, the validity of some of these conclusions has been recently put into question. As a matter of fact, a growing body of research suggests that risk-taking is shaped less by gender itself than by context and outcomes.
The findings of the Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2025 portray women as less risk-averse than expected by economic theory and point to a more proactive approach to collecting. What remains interesting to explore is the impact that this attitude may have on the future of the art market. Could female collectors play a leading role in driving investment into digital art and the launch of emerging artists?
