Tribal Art Experts - Are They Dying Out or Changing or Both? Fall 2024

The tribal art market and expertise in the field are undergoing significant changes, with both the expert landscape and market dynamics shifting. Here's an overview of the current situation:

Decline in Curatorial Expertise

There is a growing concern about the diminishing number of curators specializing in African art in American museums. Susan Vogel, a prominent figure in the field, argues that African art is "fading from view" due to a lack of curators needed to maintain historical collections

. This shortage is evidenced by:

• More than 16 recent vacancies for curators of African art

• Only five of these positions being successfully filled

• Some museums reportedly cutting these positions permanently

This decline in curatorial expertise is impacting the maintenance and scholarship of historical African art collections in U.S. institutions.

Recent years have seen changes in how museums approach hiring curators for tribal and African art departments:

• There has been a move away from hiring curators with extensive fieldwork experience in traditional tribal arts

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• Museums are increasingly prioritizing candidates with expertise in contemporary African art and culture rather than traditional or historical tribal art

• Some institutions are seeking curators with broader communication skills and familiarity with contemporary art scenes

Changing Market Dynamics

The tribal art market is experiencing several shifts: Fluctuating Sales

• The total turnover for tribal art auctions in 2023 was estimated at about 30 million euros, down from 42-60 million euros in 2022

• There were fewer "blockbuster" auctions and high-value sales in 2023 compared to previous years.

Mixed Auction Results

• Some auctions, like the Helen Lop collection sale at Sotheby's, showed mixed results with high sell-through rates but failures to sell top lots

1. Only three objects sold for over 1 million euros in 2023, compared to seven in 2022

Shifting Buyer Interests

• There's increased interest in lower-priced objects, attracting new buyers who are in a "discovery mode"

• These new buyers are less focused on protecting investments and more on exploration.

Limited market size:
Despite growth in recent years, the tribal art market remains relatively small compared to other art sectors. In 2014, at its peak, tribal art sales accounted for only 0.68% of the total auction sales volume in art

. This small market size inherently limits its broader appeal and impact.

1. Specialized knowledge requirements:
   Collecting tribal art often requires a high level of intellectual rigor and specialized knowledge

   . This barrier to entry can deter casual collectors or investors, keeping the market more exclusive.

2. Rarity of works:
   The scarcity of high-quality tribal art pieces naturally limits the market's size and growth potential

   . As many of these artifacts are unique or in limited supply, it restricts the volume of transactions.

3. Lower price points compared to other art sectors:
   While some tribal art pieces have achieved multi-million dollar sales, the overall market value is significantly lower than other art categories. For instance, in 2014, tribal art's peak year, sales totaled €92.1 million, compared to €3.68 billion for Modern art in the same period

4. Cultural and ethical considerations:
   The market faces increased scrutiny regarding the acquisition history of tribal art objects and growing calls for repatriation of certain artifacts

   . These ethical concerns can discourage some potential buyers and complicate sales.

5. Limited mainstream appeal:
   Tribal art may not have the same broad appeal as contemporary or modern art, which often receive more media attention and are more familiar to the general public.

6. Lack of speculation:
   The tribal art market has been less subject to speculation compared to other art markets

   . This can result in more stable but potentially slower growth, contributing to its niche status.

7. Polarization of the market:
   The market is becoming increasingly polarized, with high-end pieces attracting significant attention while lower-end pieces struggl

   .This trend can further narrow the market's appeal.

8. Competition from online platforms:
   Traditional dealers are facing increased competition from online auctions and platforms, which can affect the dynamics of the market and potentially limit its growth in certain segments

9. Limited exposure:
   With less media coverage and fewer high-profile exhibitions compared to other art sectors, tribal art may struggle to attract new collectors and maintain broader interest.

1. These factors collectively contribute to the tribal art market's status as a niche segment within the broader art world, appealing primarily to specialized collectors and institutions rather than the wider art market.

Cultural and Ethical Considerations

The market is also being influenced by broader cultural shifts:

• Growing criticism of cultural appropriation and calls for repatriation of certain artifact

• Increased scrutiny of the acquisition history of tribal art objects.

• Debates about who should be allowed to own or even view certain cultural artifact

Future Outlook

The tribal art market appears to be at a crossroads:

• There's potential for major collections, like parts of the Barbier-Mueller collection, to enter the market in 2024, which could revitalize interest

• However, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of interest in ethnographic art if museums and educational institutions don't maintain their focus on these areas

In conclusion, while the expertise in tribal art is facing challenges, particularly in academic and museum settings, the market itself is evolving. It's experiencing a shift in buyer demographics and interests, coupled with broader cultural reconsiderations of ownership and display of tribal artifacts. The future of the field will likely depend on how these various factors balance out in the coming years.

References:

https://africasacountry.com/2023/03/outside-the-field-of-african-art

https://www.arttrak.com/blog-content/2024/3/where-is-the-tribal-art-market-going-winter-2024

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/are-tribal-art-experts-dying-o-ua_Xpip6QnWWMuUMJWen1w

https://hyperallergic.com/702775/what-it-means-to-curate-for-my-native-american-community/