Understanding an artist’s market value: the example of the Akoun index
When looking to purchase a work of art, the question of market value often arises. Yet few people really know what an artist’s market value is or how it is determined. This article offers some guidance to help you better understand its role and limitations.
There are several references used to assess the value of an artist’s works on the art market, notably Akoun, I-CAC, auction results and data recorded by Drouot. These tools are used by collectors, gallery owners and industry professionals to provide benchmarks for the art market, but they are not an exact science. An artist’s market value evolves over time depending on their career, visibility, exhibitions, collector demand and the presence of their works on the market.
In France, the Akoun guide is one of the best-known references in the field of contemporary art. It has been consulted for many years by professionals and art lovers wishing to better understand an artist’s value and the progression of their career.
What is the Akoun rating?
The Akoun index is a benchmark used in the art market to assess the value of works by contemporary artists. It is published in the Akoun Guide, a reference work consulted by many professionals, collectors, gallery owners and art lovers.
This index is based on various criteria, including actual auction results and the artist’s career trajectory.
What is it for?
The Akoun rating serves primarily as a measure of value. It helps collectors to better gauge an artist’s standing in the art market and provides a benchmark when purchasing a work.
For artists, it also represents a form of recognition of their career and their presence in the market.
Just one factor among many
It is important to remember that a valuation alone does not determine the value of a work of art.
Every painting has its own characteristics: dimensions, technique, quality of execution, period of creation, rarity, and its significance in the artist’s career.
The emotion evoked by a work of art and the connection it forges with its future owner are also essential factors.
Buying a work of art: beyond the market value
Acquiring a work of art is, above all, an encounter.
Market value can serve as a useful guide, but it can never replace that instant connection, personal sensitivity or the attachment one develops for a piece of art.
Choosing a work of art means bringing an artistic world into your daily life, one that will continue to engage with you over time.
My Akoun quote example
My work has been listed on the Akoun price index since 2025.
The price assigned to my work is €600 for a 15P format.
The 15P format corresponds to a canvas measuring 65 x 50 cm, one of the standard sizes traditionally used in the world of painting. This figure serves as a basis for calculation and enables the price of works of different sizes to be estimated.
It is important to understand that this figure does not mean that all works are worth €600. The price of a painting varies according to numerous criteria: its size, technique, complexity, age, or even its place within the artist’s career.
For me, this listing represents an important milestone in my artistic career and forms part of a process of professionalisation I have been pursuing for several years.
Obtaining a valuation is based on an analysis of various factors relating to the artist’s career. In my case, the dossier submitted included, in particular, proof of actual sales of works as well as information regarding my artistic activity.
Whilst the valuation provides a useful benchmark for collectors, it cannot, on its own, encapsulate the richness of an artistic approach.
Beyond valuations and art market references, my approach remains, above all, guided by the pursuit of colour, light and emotion, which remain at the heart of each of my creations.