What Makes an Artist “Top Performing”
From 2000 to 2025, the global art market has seen booms, corrections, and transformations. Throughout it all, certain artists have consistently ranked at the top of auction performance. To define “top performing,” we need to look at several overlapping metrics:
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Total turnover: How much money changed hands at auction for a given artist in a given year.
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Market breadth: The number of works offered and sold.
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Category resilience: Whether paintings, works on paper, or prints dominate, and how they behave during market contractions.
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Liquidity and repeat sales: The ease with which works can be sold, and how prices compare across time.
This article explores the dominant auction names from 2000 to 2025, explains why they lead, and highlights their strongest categories—especially prints, which have emerged as a key entry point for new buyers and a reliable diversification strategy for seasoned collectors. It also gives concrete examples of works that represent durable, proven acquisitions.
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Why He Leads
Picasso’s auction dominance over the last 25 years is unmatched. His market is vast, spanning oil paintings, drawings, ceramics, and an extraordinary body of prints. Year after year, he generates hundreds of millions of dollars in turnover, thanks to a deep, global collector base and an abundant supply pipeline.
Prints and Multiples
Picasso revolutionized printmaking and produced an extraordinary range of intaglios, linocuts, and lithographs. This corpus gives collectors access across price points, from entry-level works under $10,000 to masterpieces fetching several million.
Robust Acquisitions
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Etchings such as Le repas frugal (1904), which anchor his printmaking story.
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The Vollard Suite (1930–37), particularly plates with mythological figures.
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Color linocuts from the late 1950s and early 1960s, bold and graphic, with strong demand when in excellent condition.
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Madoura ceramics, especially those featuring iconic motifs like owls, faces, and bullfighting scenes.
Andy Warhol (1928–1987)
Why He Leads
Warhol embodies the postwar auction market. His works are visually iconic, culturally resonant, and endlessly repeatable in the marketplace. He regularly tops turnover rankings, driven by both trophy canvases and a liquid prints market.
Prints and Multiples
Warhol’s screenprints are among the most heavily traded editions in the world. The market is codified by catalogues raisonnés, authentication stamps, and detailed edition histories. Collectors appreciate the transparency, comparability, and liquidity.
Robust Acquisitions
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Marilyn Monroe screenprints, especially 1967 examples in pristine condition.
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Campbell’s Soup Cans, the ultimate Pop Art emblem.
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Flowers, Mao, and Skulls, which combine recognizability with robust demand.
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Celebrity portraits such as Mick Jagger and Muhammad Ali, which sit at the intersection of art and pop culture.
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Trial proofs and rare colorways, which command premiums when condition is excellent.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988)
Why He Leads
Basquiat became a phenomenon at auction in the 2000s, culminating in his record-breaking $110 million sale in 2017. He symbolizes the rise of contemporary art as a global asset class.
Prints and Multiples
The Basquiat print market is relatively small but important. Posthumous editions have liquidity, though careful attention to publisher and authentication is essential.
Robust Acquisitions
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Early works on paper from the early 1980s featuring crowns, skeletal heads, and text.
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Prints such as Hollywood Africans, which bridge his painting vocabulary and multiples market.
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Smaller drawings with clear provenance, which remain highly sought after.
- Complete sets including Superheroes, Daros Suite and Leonardo set.
Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929)
Why She Leads
Kusama is one of the most widely recognized living artists, known for her pumpkins, polka dots, and immersive installations. She is consistently one of the highest-grossing living female artists at auction.
Prints and Multiples
Her print and edition market is robust, offering accessible entry points and global appeal, particularly in Asia.
Robust Acquisitions
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Pumpkin prints in bold colorways, always in high demand.
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Infinity Net prints that echo her monumental canvases.
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Small pumpkin sculptures with full documentation, which attract wide collector bases.
David Hockney (b. 1937)
Why He Leads
Hockney’s popularity has surged in the past two decades. His blend of traditional painting and pioneering digital media keeps him relevant across generations.
Prints and Multiples
Hockney has one of the deepest and most diverse print markets of any living artist, spanning lithographs, etchings, and iPad works.
Robust Acquisitions
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Swimming pool lithographs from the 1970s and 1980s.
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The Moving Focus series from the 1980s, which are technically ambitious and visually complex.
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iPad suites such as The Arrival of Spring and The Yosemite Suite, representing his embrace of digital technology.
Banksy (b. c. 1974)
Why He Leads
Banksy is the defining print phenomenon of the 21st century. His market exploded in the mid-2010s and peaked in 2021, but even after correction, his print turnover remains robust.
Prints and Multiples
Banksy’s editions market is highly organized, with Pest Control certificates serving as the gold standard of authentication.
Robust Acquisitions
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Girl with Balloon and Love Is in the Air, the most recognizable images.
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Choose Your Weapon, Soup Can, and NOLA, which remain staples.
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Collectors should always insist on Pest Control COAs to avoid the risk of counterfeit.
Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997)
Why He Leads
Lichtenstein is one of the central figures of American Pop Art, and his market has remained strong from 2000 through 2025. His instantly recognizable comic-book style—Ben-Day dots, bold outlines, and vibrant colors—has made him a consistent auction performer. High-quality paintings command tens of millions, but his robust prints market has given collectors at all levels access to his iconic imagery.
Prints and Multiples
Lichtenstein was a prolific printmaker, producing a wide range of screenprints, lithographs, and woodcuts. His editions are carefully documented, creating a transparent and highly liquid market. This makes his prints especially appealing for collectors seeking both cultural impact and price stability.
Robust Acquisitions
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“Crying Girl” (1963) and other early comic-inspired prints remain cornerstones of his market.
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Still Life series (1970s), blending Pop with art-historical references, offer strong liquidity.
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Landscapes and Water Lilies (1980s–1990s) demonstrate his ability to reinvent within his Pop idiom while appealing to collectors who want something beyond the classic comic style.
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Nudes series (1990s), especially large, clean sheets, are highly sought after and considered modern Lichtenstein classics.
Collectors value prints with fresh colors and intact margins, as Lichtenstein’s imagery relies heavily on sharp, flat tones that can fade if not properly cared for.
Keith Haring (1958–1990)
Why He Leads
Keith Haring, who emerged from New York’s downtown scene in the 1980s, transformed graffiti-inspired art into a global language of bold, simplified forms and vibrant energy. Although his career was tragically short, his auction market has remained active, driven by both institutional exhibitions and strong cultural resonance.
Prints and Multiples
Haring embraced multiples as part of his democratic vision of art. His Pop Shop prints are among the most traded works on the secondary market, making his editions a vital component of the contemporary print category.
Robust Acquisitions
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Pop Shop sets I–IV (1987–1989), which include his most iconic motifs: radiant babies, barking dogs, and dancing figures. Sets with matching edition numbers are particularly prized.
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Individual screenprints such as Untitled (Figures with Heart) or Growing, which showcase his symbolic vocabulary.
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Paintings and drawings on paper, when authenticated and in good condition, remain a secure higher-end option.
For collectors, Haring offers both entry-level accessibility through editions and strong top-end market presence through large works on paper and paintings. His art carries broad cultural appeal, ensuring long-term demand.
Yoshitomo Nara (b. 1959) and KAWS (b. 1974)
Why They Lead
Both artists straddle the boundary between fine art and global pop culture. Their works appeal to younger demographics and Asian markets in particular.
Prints and Multiples
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Nara: Known for childlike, big-eyed figures; prints are highly collectible.
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KAWS: Screenprints of his COMPANION figure and early limited-edition works are staples of the market.
Robust Acquisitions
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Nara prints with classic protagonists, preferably from reputable publishers.
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KAWS early screenprints and complete portfolios with intact provenance.
Why Prints Matter in 2000–2025
Prints have proven to be one of the most resilient segments of the auction market. Even during downturns, they continued to transact in high volume, often outperforming paintings in terms of unit sales.
Advantages of Prints
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Liquidity: Standardized editions provide abundant comparables.
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Accessibility: Lower entry prices than paintings.
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Scalability: A collector can “trade up” within an artist by acquiring rarer proofs or colorways.
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Cross-generational appeal: Prints attract both traditional collectors and younger buyers active in online sales.
Tactics for Collectors
1. Buy the Icons
Focus on imagery that defines the artist’s cultural footprint: Warhol’s Marilyns, Banksy’s balloon, Kusama’s pumpkins, Hockney’s pools, Picasso’s linocuts.
2. Insist on Condition and Documentation
For prints, condition is paramount—untrimmed margins, unfaded colors, intact stamps. Always obtain certificates, especially for Banksy.
3. Balance Entry and Trophy Works
New collectors can start with robust prints ($10k–$150k). Seasoned buyers can upgrade into rarer proofs, unique colorways, or drawings.
4. Monitor Regional Shifts
China’s market has shown both explosive growth and contraction, reminding collectors to be mindful of geographic liquidity.
A Sample Collecting Plan
For New Collectors ($10k–$150k):
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Banksy’s Pest Control-certified prints.
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Warhol mid-tier prints with iconic imagery.
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Hockney iPad editions or lithographs.
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Picasso linocuts or ceramics in excellent condition.
For Seasoned Collectors ($150k–$1m+):
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Warhol Marilyns, Flowers, or trial proofs.
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Picasso master intaglios or Vollard Suite highlights.
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Hockney complete iPad suites or landmark lithographs.
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Kusama pumpkin sculptures with complete paperwork.
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Basquiat complete portfolios (Figures, Leonardo Suite, Superheroes portfolio)
Looking Ahead: The Market in 2025 and Beyond
By 2025, the art market has cooled from its 2021–22 peaks, with high-value trophies underperforming. Yet prints and works priced under $1 million remain resilient, supported by strong global demand and digital accessibility. For collectors, this environment rewards discipline, focus on condition, and a long-term perspective.
In the next decade, the fundamentals are clear:
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Picasso and Warhol will remain central to any serious collection.
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Hockney, Kusama, and Banksy will define contemporary prints.
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Basquiat will lead at the top end when supply surfaces.
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Nara, KAWS, and other 21st-century names will continue to bring younger buyers into the fold.
Between 2000 and 2025, auction markets have proven that certain artists—Picasso, Warhol, Basquiat, Kusama, Hockney, Banksy, Nara and KAWS have enduring, resilient markets. For collectors, prints are the linchpin: they offer accessibility, liquidity, and long-term stability.
Whether you’re just starting or refining a mature collection, the lesson is the same: focus on iconic imagery, pristine condition, and documented provenance. If you do, the works you buy today will remain robust acquisitions for decades to come.
