Welcome to the January/February issue of American Fine Art Magazine and Happy New Year! I hope your collecting adventures include attending a live auction this year. You will see why in our popular and ever-expanding Collector’s Guide to 2026 Auctions, where you will find more than 50 pages devoted to this incredibly dynamic sector of the fine art market. Inside, we highlight prominent auction houses and their sales in the year ahead. We bring you market reports from the experts, as well as coverage of recent auctions and previews of those happening this month and next.
The collector base for historic fine art has grown in 2025, and we see it in auction and gallery sales, increasing numbers of art shows and events, on social media and, yes, in our many new subscribers. If you are among them, welcome to the American Fine Art Magazine family. Adding a piece of art to your own private collection—whether through a gallery, fine art dealer or auction house—is an incredible feeling. You are now the steward of this collection for posterity.
You can peruse the entire auction guide starting on Page 49. Here is a personal tidbit of history for you. I would like to celebrate the auctioneers who lead each sale, manage the bidding and maintaining its pace. As a colonel and certified auctioneer myself, I understand the entertainment aspect of the auction and the importance of exceptional art in a room full of serious collectors. The pageantry and the fortunate collector who has just acquired their next piece of historic art is, well…magic! It is an energetic spectacle that everyone must experience and, if you haven’t already, we’re sure this issue is going to inspire you to do so. This guide, which features more than a dozen major and boutique auction companies, will be your reference all year long so please plan accordingly. We do not want you to miss any opportunity to acquire a fresh-to-market artwork in 2026.
While auctions are celebrated this month, managing editor Sarah Gianelli draws our attention to all of the other compelling content in this issue, and introduces some new voices into the magazine. Turn to her letter on the following page to learn more and stay tuned for more features about lesser-known aspects of the art world, as we all play a part in keeping historic art relevant and alive.
May 2026 be your best collecting year yet!
Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo
Publishers
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