Abstract Expressionism is a postwar American art movement known for gestural brushwork, large-scale canvases, and emotional intensity. It emerged in 1940s New York and marked a major break from European art traditions. → Learn More.

In art, an acquisition refers to the formal act of collecting or purchasing artwork—whether by an institution, gallery, or individual. → Learn more

Adventure photography is a genre focused on capturing outdoor expeditions, remote landscapes, and moments of risk or exploration. → Learn more

Art advisory refers to expert services that guide collectors, estates, or institutions in acquiring, managing, or selling artworks. → Learn more

An appraisal is a certified evaluation of an artwork’s value, used for insurance, estate planning, donation, or resale. → Learn more

An archival pigment print is a museum-quality inkjet print made with long-lasting pigment inks on acid-free paper. → Learn more

An art fair is a commercial exhibition where galleries present and sell artwork to collectors, curators, and institutions. → Learn More.

An art gallery is a space that represents artists and exhibits their work for sale, often supporting career development and collector engagement. → Learn more

Art insurance covers financial loss in case of theft, damage, fire, or loss in transit. It’s essential for collectors, galleries, and institutions. → Learn more

An Artist Proof (abbreviated AP) is a print that falls outside the numbered edition of an artwork, typically reserved for the artist's personal use or approval. → Learn More

Artist Resale Rights grant artists a royalty each time their work is resold on the secondary market. Learn more →

An auction house facilitates the public sale of artwork, often setting market benchmarks for value through competitive bidding. Learn more →

Authenticity refers to whether an artwork is a genuine creation by the artist it’s attributed to, verified through documentation, provenance, or expert opinion. Learn more →

A biennale is a large-scale international art exhibition held every two years, often hosted by cities or cultural institutions. Learn more →

A blue-chip artist is a widely recognized, historically significant figure whose works are consistently in demand and command high prices. Learn more →

A buyer’s premium is an additional fee paid by the winning bidder at auction, calculated as a percentage of the hammer price. Learn more →

A catalogue raisonné is a comprehensive, scholarly inventory of all known artworks by an artist, used for authentication and provenance. Learn more →

A condition report is a written assessment of an artwork’s physical state, used in sales, shipping, and insurance. Learn more →

Conservation refers to the science and practice of preserving artworks, including restoration, cleaning, and environmental protection. Learn more →

Consignment is when an artwork is placed with a gallery or auction house for sale, with the consignor retaining ownership until it’s sold. Learn more →

Contemporary art refers to artwork made by living artists, typically from the 1960s to the present, reflecting current ideas and issues. Learn more →

Deaccession is the formal process by which museums or institutions permanently remove an artwork from their collection. Learn more →

A dealer is a professional who represents artists and sells artworks, often through a gallery or private network. Learn more →

A derivative work is a new creation based on a pre-existing artwork, such as an adaptation, remix, or transformation. Learn more →

Digital art collecting involves acquiring and owning artworks created or distributed digitally, often through NFTs or online platforms. Learn more →

An edition refers to a set number of prints or artworks made from a single original, often signed and numbered by the artist. Learn more →

An emerging artist is a creator in the early stages of their professional career, gaining recognition but not yet widely established. Learn more →

An exhibition is a curated presentation of artworks, often in galleries or museums, designed to showcase an artist’s work or theme. Learn more →

Fine art refers to visual artworks created for aesthetic, intellectual, or cultural value rather than functional purpose. Learn more →

Fine art prints are editioned works on paper created through methods like lithography, screen printing, or intaglio. Learn more →

Flipping is the practice of reselling artwork shortly after purchase, usually for profit, often before the artist’s market stabilizes. Learn more →

Forgery is the creation or sale of artwork falsely attributed to another artist, often to deceive buyers and profit illegitimately. Learn more →

Foxing refers to brownish spots or stains that develop on paper artworks due to age, humidity, or mold. Learn more →

Framed photography refers to photographic prints professionally mounted and presented in frames for sale, exhibition, or collection. Learn more →

Framing is the process of mounting and presenting an artwork using structural materials like wood or metal for display and preservation. Learn more →

Generative art is created using algorithms, code, or autonomous systems that produce visual output based on rule-based inputs. Learn more →

A giclée is a high-resolution inkjet print produced using archival pigments on fine art paper or canvas. Learn more →

Gouache is a water-based paint known for its vibrant color, matte finish, and opacity, used in illustration and fine art. Learn more →

Graffiti art is a form of public, often unauthorized visual expression rooted in street culture, now widely collected and institutionalized. Learn more →

Hammer price is the final bid accepted by the auctioneer before fees, marking the sale price of a lot at auction. Learn more →

Hors Commerce (HC) prints are proofs not intended for sale, often used for collaborators, printers, or archival purposes. Learn more →

Impressionism is a 19th-century art movement known for loose brushwork, light-filled scenes, and everyday subjects. Learn more →

Installation art is a genre of contemporary art that transforms space into an immersive or conceptual experience. Learn more →

Investment art refers to the acquisition of artworks with the intent of long-term financial gain, asset diversification, or portfolio strategy. Learn more →

Japonisme describes the influence of Japanese art and design on Western art, especially during the late 19th century. Learn more →

A limited edition is a fixed number of prints or artworks produced, often signed and numbered by the artist. Learn more →

Limited edition photography consists of signed, numbered prints issued in fixed quantities, adding value and exclusivity. Learn more →

A lithograph is a print made from a flat surface (usually stone or metal) using grease and water to transfer ink. Learn more →

Market value refers to the current price a work of art is likely to fetch in the open market. Learn more →

Metaverse art refers to digital artworks created for or exhibited within virtual worlds, immersive platforms, or blockchain environments. Learn more →

A multiple is a series of identical or near-identical artworks produced in editions, often signed and numbered by the artist. Learn more →

Negative space is the area around or between the subject of an artwork, used to define form and enhance composition. Learn more →

NFTs are blockchain-based tokens that verify ownership of unique digital assets, such as digital artworks and collectibles. Learn more →

An open edition is a print or artwork produced in unlimited quantities without a fixed cap on availability. Learn more →

Outsider art refers to works created by self-taught artists outside the traditional art world or academic systems. Learn more →

Painting is the application of pigment to a surface to create an image or composition, using materials like oil, acrylic, or watercolor. Learn more →

Patina refers to the surface changes that occur over time on artworks or objects, often valued for their aesthetic and historical character. Learn more →

Photography is the practice of creating images using light-sensitive materials or digital sensors, widely used in fine art, journalism, and documentation. Learn more →

Pop Art is a 20th-century movement that used imagery from mass culture, advertising, and consumer goods to challenge traditional fine art. Learn more →

The primary market is where new artworks are sold for the first time directly from artists, galleries, or dealers. Learn more →

Printmaking is the process of creating artworks by transferring ink from a matrix to paper or other surfaces. Learn more →

Prints and multiples are artworks produced in limited editions using techniques like etching, lithography, or screen printing. Learn more →

Provenance is the documented history of an artwork’s ownership, exhibitions, and publications. Learn more →

Reproduction rights refer to the legal ability to reproduce an artwork in print or digital formats. Learn more →

A retrospective is an exhibition that surveys an artist’s body of work over their entire career. Learn more →

Sculpture is a three-dimensional art form made by carving, casting, assembling, or modeling materials. Learn more →

Screen-printing is a printmaking process where ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto paper or canvas using a stencil. Learn more →

The secondary market refers to the resale of artworks after their initial sale, typically through auctions, galleries, or dealers. Learn more →

Street art refers to public, often unauthorized artworks in urban spaces, ranging from graffiti to large-scale murals. Learn more →

Surrealism is a 20th-century art movement focused on dreams, the unconscious, and unexpected juxtapositions. Learn more →

Wall art refers broadly to two-dimensional artworks or decorative prints designed to be displayed on walls. Learn more →