Ultra-contemporary and young contemporary

What are ultra-contemporary and young contemporary?

Ultra-contemporary (the youngest floor of the market) denotes artists born from roughly 1975 onwards, while young contemporary means makers somewhat older. These are the youngest living artists, whose careers are only being written. Put simply, this is the market's fresh blood, where it is still becoming clear who will remain in history.

How does it work?

A wave of demand often rises around a young name, and prices can shoot up within a single auction. Collectors are betting that they have found the next star before everyone else, and are willing to pay for it. It is precisely this dynamic that makes the youngest floor the most exciting — and the most nervous — part of the market.

Why does it matter to a collector or investor?

Because this is where works can be bought before a name becomes expensive, and where the potential gain tends to be greatest. Anyone who backs the right artist in time can watch their value rise quickly. At the same time this is the floor where it is decided which of today's hopes will become tomorrow's classics.

What should you watch out for?

With the greatest potential comes the greatest risk of a bubble; rocketing prices can deflate just as fast once the fashion passes. With the youngest artists, the tested continuity that established names offer is simply missing. Buying on this floor therefore means accepting that today's star may not appear on the market at all in a few years.

— Anna Pulkertová, founder of Art Part Club