Exploring the Photography Market with Artsy: An Interview with Casey Lesser

Photography has long played a crucial role in the art market, bridging fine art and contemporary culture while attracting a diverse range of collectors. With digital platforms reshaping how art is discovered, collected, and valued, Artsy has emerged as a key player in making photography more accessible.

In this exclusive interview, Casey Lesser, Artsy's Chief Curator and Editor-in-Chief, shares insights into the current photography market, emerging trends, and how digital tools are shaping the way collectors engage with the medium. From the growing demand for portraiture to the impact of price transparency, Lesser offers a behind-the-scenes look at the evolving landscape of photography collecting.

All About Photo: Photography has long been a key category in the art market. How does Artsy’s data reflect its current demand, and what trends are you seeing in collector interest?

Casey Lesser: Photography remains a key category on Artsy, among the top four most collected mediums on our marketplace.We’ve seen a slight but notable uptick in interest since 2023, which suggests a broader trend—that new collectors are drawn to the accessibility of photography, both in terms of pricing and its ability to bridge fine art and contemporary culture.

One of the biggest photography trends we’re seeing is the demand for portraiture—particularly images of well-known cultural figures or celebrities. Collectors gravitate toward iconic images, whether it’s a historic work by Gordon Parks or a vivid contemporary photograph of people by artists like Prince Gyasi or Nadine Ijewere.

We’re also seeing strong interest in color photography (versus black-and-white), which currently accounts for about two-thirds of the most inquired-about works on Artsy.

Beyond that, nature photography is very much of interest. Artworks capturing landscapes, flora, and wildlife are clearly of interest—perhaps as a response to broader environmental concerns or as a way for collectors to bring the natural world into their homes.



Artsy provides unparalleled access to photography from galleries around the world. How does the platform help both established and emerging photographers gain visibility among collectors?

One of the key ways Artsy expands visibility for photographers is by removing traditional barriers to discovery. Our platform allows collectors and new art buyers to engage with works from leading photography galleries across the world—all in one place.

For established photographers, this means reaching a global audience of buyers, curators, art advisors, and art lovers who are actively searching for works. For emerging photographers, it’s a crucial way to be discovered. Our recommendation algorithms surface artists to collectors based on browsing habits, and our editorial coverage, curated collections, and gallery partnerships all contribute to amplifying photographers’ visibility in an increasingly competitive market.

Which photographers are seeing the most demand on Artsy today? Are there emerging names gaining traction that collectors should be watching?

We’re seeing strong demand for established names like David Yarrow, Gordon Parks, and Hiroshi Sugimoto , who consistently top our rankings in terms of commercial interest and follows. Nan Goldin, Ellen von Unwerth, and Robert Mapplethorpe also continue to resonate deeply with our audience.

But it’s also an exciting moment for a younger generation of photographers who are redefining the medium. Among the top names born in 1990 and later who we saw gain traction in 2024 are photographers including Prince Gyasi, Andrea Torres Balaguer, Sarfo Emmanuel Annor, Tania Franco Klein, Nadine Ijewere, and Farah Al Qasimi, Girma Berta, Marc Posso, Gilleam Trapenberg, and Jaime Welsh—who each bring fresh perspectives to the medium, as well as the genre of portraiture and visual storytelling.


Artsy has been a leader in price transparency in the art market. How does this approach influence how photography is presented and collected on the platform?

Traditionally, the lack of clear pricing in the art market has created friction for new buyers. Artsy’s commitment to price transparency allows collectors to easily compare works, understand value, and make informed decisions.

We’ve found that when price visibility is available, collectors are significantly more likely to inquire about works. This is particularly important for early-career photographers and editions-based works, where price transparency helps demystify the market and encourages new collectors to start engaging.

From the perspective of market accessibility, what role does Artsy play in broadening the reach of photographers, especially for younger or international artists?

Artsy has a uniquely global perspective. When we look at the top 500 photographers with the most commercial interest on the platform, nearly 50% are American, but we’re also seeing strong representation from Germany, France, and the U.K. Among younger artists (born in 1990 or later), that diversity expands significantly: Photographers from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, China, and the Netherlands are gaining increasing traction. The market is no longer just centered in New York and London.

Our platform helps break down regional barriers by allowing collectors to discover and acquire work from artists they may never encounter in traditional gallery circuits. We’ve seen young artists grow their audiences significantly through Artsy, simply by being discoverable to collectors who might not otherwise have access to their work.


As digital platforms transform the way art is bought and sold, how has Artsy’s role evolved in shaping the photography market?

The traditional art market has long been gallery-driven and heavily reliant on in-person sales. But over the past decade, we’ve seen a major shift toward digital discovery and collecting, and Artsy has played a critical role in that evolution.

A few things that set us apart:

- Personalized discovery: Our recommendation engine helps collectors find photography that aligns with their tastes, surfacing new artists and works they may not have encountered before.

- Seamless inquiry and purchase process: Many photographs on our platform now have visible pricing and direct purchase options, which lowers the barrier to entry for new collectors and makes it easier to connect with galleries.

- Global accessibility: Collectors can browse works from leading photography galleries anywhere in the world, making it easier to acquire pieces without being tied to specific fairs or exhibitions.

The future of photography collecting (and all art collecting for that matter) is hybrid—blending in-person experiences with digital access. Artsy is at the forefront of ensuring that collectors can engage with photography in a way that feels seamless and intuitive.

Beyond marketplace activity, how does Artsy collaborate with galleries, institutions, and photography fairs to expand visibility for the medium?

Photography is deeply embedded in our curatorial programming. We partner with many leading photography galleries. Those partners take part in some of the most prominent photography fairs like Paris Photo, Photo London, and AIPAD, and add their fair presentations to Artsy to ensure that collectors are exposed to the new and important photography they’re showing.

Additionally, our editorial team produces in-depth artist profiles, interviews, and market insights, helping collectors make informed decisions about photography acquisitions; and our curatorial team selects the most compelling works to feature in our curated collections.


What advice do you have for aspiring collectors looking to build a photography collection? How does Artsy help guide them through the process?

I think the best photography collections have a clear perspective, whether it’s built around a specific theme, artist, or style.

For new collectors of any kind of art, I recommend:

- Follow your eye: Go and see a lot of art, online and in person. Seek out galleries, museums, and art fairs near you; or, add some art visits to your travels. Be sure to expose yourself to different styles—portraiture, documentary, conceptual photography, abstraction—and see what resonates.

- Research artist trajectories: Look at what’s happening at museums and galleries and art fairs—who’s getting attention? Who’s gaining traction?

- Engage with experts: Artsy makes it easy to connect directly with galleries, ask questions, and get guidance on purchasing.

- Use digital tools: Save artworks, set up artist alerts, and follow artists and galleries on Artsy to stay informed about new works and photographers.

- Buy the art you love: Ultimately, the most important thing is not whether an artist is gaining attention or accolades, it’s whether or not you really love the work and want to live with it.