Name: Seven Days in the Art World
ISBN: 9780393067224

Sarah Thornton

Shares observations about the subculture of contemporary art, in a narrative account that tours such arenas as a Christie's auction, Takashi Murakami's studios, and the Basel Art Fair to reveal how art has become an entertainment venue, luxury commodity, and lifestyle choice. 30,000 first printing.

Seven Days in the Art World

Hayley

entertaining read of the 'western art market' in the early 2000s but was defo a read for work purposes for me lmao

Magdalene Lim

I liked it. The art world is not just about the artist or person who hangs an art piece in their home. There are auctions, biennales that have political undertones, curators, dealers, art magazines, art fairs and prizes. Thornton gives the plebeian a glimpse into it and perspective for those who won't know their Duchamp from their Durant. 

For instance:
1) The importance of the artists' personalities in selling their work
2) The different purposes a museum and biennale serves (the latter is supposed to move things forward, bringing instability into the system and not replicate the consensus.)
3) What kind of art sells better at auctions (Brown paintings don't sell as well as blue or red ones)
4) How timing and relevance are major strongly affect who wins the Turner Prize
 and so on and so forth.

Bridget D

Abigail Collins

Marcel M

Habiba

Abigail Gangelhoff 

Brooks Bradley Leete

From London to Beijing to New York, art sales are booming, and the art world receives the sort of breathless media attention once reserved for celebrities and royals. In Seven Days in the Art World, Sarah Thornton, a brilliant young sociologist, looks at all aspects of buying, selling, and creating serious art.

Seven Days in the Art World

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