Women and Gen Z Are Redefining the Art Collecting Paradigm

Art Basel and UBS have published the 2025 Survey of Global Collecting, indicating that female collectors are surpassing their male counterparts in expenditures by 46%.

Art Basel

The 2025 Art Basel & UBS Survey of Global Collecting unequivocally indicates that the Great Wealth Transfer has commenced. The survey analyzes data from 3,100 affluent collectors across 10 international marketplaces, revealing that 76% identify as Gen Z or Millennials, and highlights the prominence of women and young collectors in the future of collecting.

The survey indicated a generational shift and a continued feminization of the market, with women becoming significant influencers in the contemporary art sector. On average, high-net-worth women expended 46% more on fine art, antiques, and collectibles than males. Women from Gen Z and the millennial generation outspent men in nearly all categories.

They are also cultivating a demand for the new and developing vanguard of art. Fifty-five percent of female collectors reported acquiring works by obscure artists, alongside an increased preference for photography and digital art compared to conventional forms such as painting and sculpture.

Dr. Clare McAndrew, the report's author, states, “Female collectors possess a keen awareness of risk and are often more sensitive to it; nevertheless, they are more inclined to take action and embrace opportunities in their collecting endeavors.” “One might assert that they experience fear yet proceed regardless.”

A burgeoning class of Gen Z "omnivore collectors," as characterized by Art Basel, is emerging, allocating an average of 26% of their wealth to their portfolios, the largest proportion across all age demographics. They rank among the most prolific purchasers, not only in fine art but also in collectibles and luxury things, expending approximately five times more than their generational peers on products such as handbags and sneakers. Although painting remains the predominant medium in terms of collection, digital art experienced the most significant rise in expenditure. Over fifty percent of surveyed collectors obtained digital artworks in 2024-2025, elevating the category to third in overall expenditure, roughly equal to sculpture.

The 2025 report analyzes the evolving art market, reevaluating our perceptions of highbrow "taste" and redefining the landscape of cultural wealth. However, beyond the what, the rationale for collecting is where the intrigue lies, as a narrative-driven paradigm supersedes the conventional investment-focused strategy; for many, it transcends mere financial gain, serving instead as a conduit for identification, connection, personal enjoyment, and cultural expression.