VOLTA Future Forecast | Top 5 trends of 2025
As we approach 2024, VOLTA shares its Future Forecast and the trends that will continue to shape the direction of the art market next year and beyond.
Celebrating VOLTA's connections within the global art community, our 2025 Future Forecast shares valuable insights from Pauline Loeb, Founder of artfairmag, Heath Lowndes, Founder of Gallery Climate Coalition, Will Ramsay, Founder of Ramsay Fairs, and VOLTA's Artistic Director, Lee Cavaliere.
1.A safe bet vs bold new voices: The art world’s response to 2024
Lee Cavaliere, Artistic Director VOLTA
“While there's a perception galleries are playing it safe in a soft market, there’s this incredible energy in the emerging and mid-career space. Artists and galleries are embracing activism, using their work to tackle the tough questions of our times. That’s where VOLTA thrives. We’re all about amplifying those bold voices that challenge, provoke, and inspire. At our upcoming fair in Basel, you can expect art that doesn’t just reflect the world but engages with it head-on.”
FEROS, Chairs for Friends, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 27.6×31.5 in (70×80 cm). Represented by Art Axcess. Courtesy of the artist and gallery.
2.Paris ascending and Basel anchoring in Europe
Pauline Loeb, Founder of artfairmag
“In 2024, Europe has reaffirmed its central role in the global art market. At the heart of this is the revival in Paris, now firmly established as the cultural capital of the world with the reopening of the Grand Palais that provides Art Basel with a venue worthy of the city’s cultural prestige.
Meanwhile, Basel remains a cornerstone of the European art market, offering a moment of clarity. In contrast to Paris’s bold, year-long energy, Basel provides a time-honoured rhythm that balances tradition with innovation, reinforcing Europe’s enduring vitality in the art world. Art Basel in June, alongside its high-quality satellite fairs such as VOLTA, continues to attract the most discerning collectors and galleries. Together, these events uphold Basel’s reputation for excellence and ensure its relevance on the global stage.”
Alex Baciu, They tried to build something of lasting relevance, 2022. Oil on canvas, 51× 41in (145x105cm). Represented by KULTERRA Gallery. Courtesy of the artist and gallery
3.Ambition into action: Sustainability
Heath Lowndes, Founder of Gallery Climate Coalition
"In 2024, a collective of art fairs took a significant step toward reducing their climate impacts through GCC's Art Fair Environmental Responsibility Initiative. This effort united 18 organisations representing over 40 international art fair events, including VOLTA, Frieze, and Art Basel. By signing the Co-Commitment Statement, these fairs pledged to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and collaborate on systemic change. In 2025, we look forward to advancing this work as art fairs implement tangible climate solutions and transition to low-impact operations."
4.How we experience art fairs in 2025
Will Ramsay, Founder of Ramsay Fairs
“As the founder of Ramsay Fairs, I’ve always believed that art fairs are about the joy of discovering art in person – the buzz! The atmosphere! The connection to a story! That hasn’t changed for collectors. And the numbers back this up – we saw 49% more collectors at VOLTA Basel this year.
This year, VOLTA celebrates its 20th anniversary and, as the fair becomes an institution itself, the question we’re asking is how to embrace and enhance the experiential element that makes fairs so unique.
It’s the perfect moment to reflect on how we evolve to serve our galleries and collectors better. We’re looking forward—not just at what art fairs are today, but what they can become tomorrow to ensure that VOLTA and our other fairs, remain a vital space for discovery, connection, and innovation in the years ahead.”
5.Emerging opportunities
Aurora Pellizzi, Punto de Fuga, 2020. Naturally-dyed wool latch-hooked and woven into an agave fibre structure, 69x69in (27×27cm). Represented by Lagos Gallery. Courtesy the artist and gallery
Lee Cavaliere, Artistic Director VOLTA
“Anna Brady from The Art Newspaper highlighted that while fewer big price works went to auction in 2024, the under $10,000 market is thriving. It’s doubled in volume over the past decade, and the trend is set to keep growing as more collectors look to discover emerging talent at less punchy price points.
This is exactly where VOLTA shines. We’re all about showcasing fresh, exciting work that fuels the emerging and mid-market. As we gear up for 2025 and our 20th anniversary, it’s clear that this space is where the action is - and VOLTA is right at the heart of it!”