artnet, the world’s leading resource to buy, sell, and research fine art, design, and decorative art online has released its recent findings from fine art auction sales for the first six months of 2015. Overall, the fine art auction industry witnessed a contraction throughout the first half of the year, with four of the top five regional markets experiencing a decline in sales numbers compared to the same period in 2014. The United States, however, experienced significant growth during both Q1 and Q2. In the second quarter of 2015, the global fine art auction market decreased 5% by value sold when compared to the same period in 2014, dropping from $6.6 billion to $6.2 billion. Despite this contraction in overall value sold, the average price per lot during the quarter increased over 20%, to $69,000, suggesting an appreciation in the sales of high-value lots. In fact, 766 lots sold for prices in excess

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