When Aboudia Outsold Hirst and Hockney Ruled the Auction Block

In 2022, the art market delivered a plot twist: Aboudia, an Ivorian artist known for his energetic canvases, topped the charts for the most artworks sold at auction, surpassing even household names like Damien Hirst. According to the Hiscox Artist Top 100 report, Aboudia saw 75 of his works find new homes, while Hirst and Edgar Plans trailed just behind. Yet, when it came to sheer auction value, British painter David Hockney reigned supreme, with his works raking in $75 million—thanks in part to the standout sale of "Winter Timber" for $23 million. Meanwhile, the once-unshakable Banksy saw his market presence shrink dramatically, with a 73% drop in value and fewer works hitting the block. A surge in "wet paint" sales—art fresh from the studio—hinted at collectors’ appetite for the new and now. In a year of economic uncertainty, the art world’s shifting tides proved that both fresh voices and established masters can command the spotlight, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. #ContemporaryArt #ArtMarket #Aboudia #Culture