The iArremate art auction portal, which marks ten years of operation in the Brazilian market, has released an unprecedented survey on the artists with the most consistent presence in its auctions over the past decade. The platform, considered a reference in the online auction sector for modern and contemporary art in Brazil, used data from thousands of transactions to identify the names that have consistently attracted collectors’ interest.
“We’re not talking about value or artwork prices. The list takes into account the availability of works by these artists and the number of bids received in auctions. In a market like art, which is marked by fluctuations and trends, an artist remaining prominent for ten years demonstrates sustained interest in their work,” explains Flor Pimentel, Marketing Director of iArremate.
The ten most consistent artists of the past decade
The survey is led by the Ceará-born artist Aldemir Martins (1922-2006), known for his exceptional talent as a colorist and his figurative works depicting animals, still lifes, and northeastern themes. His representations of cats, roosters, fruits, flowers, and cangaceiros (bandits) have remained among the most sought-after on the platform.
In second place is Abraham Palatnik (1928-2020), a Rio Grande do Norte native considered a pioneer of Brazilian kinetic art, followed by Alfredo Volpi (1896-1988), the Italian-born Brazilian famous for his iconic little flags and masterful use of colors.
Completing the top five are the Pernambuco-born Cícero Dias (1907-2003), with his surrealist-inspired work developed between Brazil and France, and Antonio Poteiro (1925-2010), a Portuguese artist who settled in Brazil and stood out as one of the greatest representatives of Brazilian naïve art, working as a painter, sculptor, and ceramist.
The second half of the list includes Cândido Portinari (1903-1962), one of Brazil’s most important painters, known for his approach to social themes; Manabu Mabe (1924-1997), a Japanese immigrant to Brazil who became a leading figure in national abstract art; Carybé (1911-1997), an Argentine who lived in Salvador and excelled in representing Afro-Brazilian themes, especially Candomblé; Sergio Telles (1936-2022), a Rio native who developed his artistic career alongside diplomacy; and Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), the celebrated landscape architect who also left an important legacy in fine arts.
“These ten artists are practically never off collectors’ radars. There are always works by them in auctions, and there’s always interest in acquiring them,” notes Pimentel.
Relevance of the survey to the market
As a leader in the segment, iArremate offers a privileged window into the behavior of the Brazilian art market. The platform allows users to place real-time bids in auctions across the country, consolidating valuable data on preferences and trends.
The survey gains even more relevance as it covers a period of significant economic and cultural transformations in Brazil, showing which artists have managed to maintain their relevance even in times of instability.
For art collectors and investors, the list provides information on names that have shown market consistency over time. For those interested in learning more about the careers and works of these and hundreds of other artists, the iArremate website offers detailed information.
The publication of this ranking coincides with the celebrations of the platform’s tenth anniversary, which has established itself as an important channel for democratizing access to the art market in the country.
