Reality Bites

Art marketanalysis

Does the punishment fit the crime? Art fraudsters face erratic sentencing

Recent high-profile cases, such as those of Daniel Elie Bouaziz and Angela Gulbenkian, demonstrate that lengths of sentences vary widely, with little consistency in judges’ reasoning

'The prestigious places are the worst': low pay still dogs the art industry, despite optimistic salary survey

The art market salary report offers insights into salaried employment but the impact of low wages—and having children—in a time of rapid inflation are missing

Art marketanalysis

Wealthy American art collectors capitalise on tax-efficient gift scheme

Donor Advised Funds allow individuals to claim tax relief while they are still alive through making gifts of art and other assets—without obligation to pay out money to charity straight away

Does the West really care about human rights and art washing?

As the art world continues to do business in authoritarian regions, some question its claim to being a force for universal good

The donating game: How artists like Tracey Emin are driving philanthropy in the art world

The British artist is among those who have donated millions of pounds’ worth of art to charities—perhaps we could all take a leaf out of her book?

Are charity art auctions, not donations, the new model for offsetting taxes?

Paul Allen’s estate has pledged proceeds of its $1.6bn Christie’s sale to unnamed philanthropic causes, while FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried vaguely promised to give away his fortune

Can art actually help improve Saudi Arabia's abject human rights record?

Culture is being used by Saudi Arabia to project an image of a state that “enriches lives, celebrates national identity and builds understanding between people”

All hot air on climate action? Auction houses pledge to cut CO2 while organising global tours for star lots

In our new series Reality Bites, we assess whether the art market's key players are addressing the urgent issues affecting the wider world