With hundreds of attendees and a dynamic live participation that significantly surpassed online bidding, the energy in Sofia’s auction halls was reminiscent of the pre-pandemic era. Back then, in Bucharest, art connoisseurs would flock to auctions – turning them into real “feasts.” The time when these events relied less on today’s efficient online platforms is an experience that many Romanian collectors still remember fondly.

The structure of the domestic market confirms the diversity of collector interests: €7.67 million for fine art (painting, sculpture, graphic art), €1.93 million for decorative art and luxury items, and €1.22 million for books and historical artifacts. The sell-through rate remained stable at 73%.

Another relevant indicator: nearly 53% of lots sold for under €500, while only 5% exceeded €5,000, confirming the accessible nature of the Romanian market.

Contemporary art continues to gain ground. In 2024–2025, Artmark auctions generated €2.9 million in the contemporary segment (37.8% of the total art traded), compared to just 15.5% a decade ago. The list of top-selling contemporary artists is led by Ion Țuculescu (€581,250), Ștefan Câlția (€318,050), and Sabin Bălașa (€234,750).

The report also notes growing interest in female artists: 2025 saw the first sale of a work by a female artist exceeding €20,000, signaling the strengthening of this segment.

In conclusion, the Romanian art market demonstrates resilience and investment appeal even amidst a fragile economic climate, confirming its dual role: as a vehicle for financial asset preservation and as a means of cultural enrichment.

diverse decorative arts (ranging from silverware and artisan glassware to ceramics and designer furniture), history (rare books, autographed photographs, collectible manuscripts and maps, military arms and accessories, numismatics, medals, decorations, and antiques), sports memorabilia, and collectible wines and whiskies, as well as charity auctions.

With an annual total of €10.23 million in public auction sales (compared to the €9.39 million total recorded between September 2022 and July 2023), the past year marks an 8.9% increase in public auction art sales despite the recessionary climate; this suggests a positive shift in the perspective of educated Romanians regarding the investment potential—or the role as a savings vehicle and store of value—inherent in purchasing art.

We have observed a trend of renewed interest in Modernism and Impressionism. The year's record belongs to Nicolae Tonitza, whose painting titled "Girl with a Pink Bow" sold for €110,000 at a March auction. New records were also set across all auction categories. 2023 was the year that saw the successful performance of the new branches in Bulgaria and Croatia—opened in Sofia and Zagreb, respectively—as well as the year the first exclusively timed-online auctions were held. Further strides were also made toward internationalization, with auction participants joining from over 30 countries. Additionally, the year featured three charity events: the "Auctions for Good Deeds."

In 2023, Artmark reached its 15th anniversary, with 500 auctions carried out on the Romanian art market this spring. This was also the year that saw a 6% increase in the volume of art objects and collectibles marketed through the auctions held by the House, which was labelled by Art Price to be the leader of the art market in South-Eastern Europe, ranking Artmark second at Eastern European level, in terms of art volumes sold.

In the near future, we anticipate the strengthening of major, museum-quality names—with a widening price gap emerging between them and the next tier of artists—as well as growing and diversifying interest in Romanian contemporary art and the consolidation and professionalization of niche markets such as significant religious art, numismatics, collector cars, and traditional Romanian art; we also expect a gradual evolution and restructuring of the Romanian art market towards online platforms, greater transparency regarding transactions and guarantees, and integrated services.