Boom. Crazy Money, Mega Deals, and the Rise of Contemporary Art

The contemporary art market is a special world that develops according to its own laws and, at the same time, an unmanageable flow, the waters of which bring fabulous fortunes to experienced gold diggers. Michael Shnayerson, a writer for Vanity Fair, is interested in the hidden mechanisms of this market, its participants, and the history from the 1940s to the present day — that is, the history of its incredible growth and transformation into an industry. The phenomenon of 57th Street in New York, the flourishing of art galleries in Soho and Chelsea, the fair fever of the 21st century, the most significant events in the art world in recent decades... And of course, art dealers — the tastemakers, those who support emerging artists and guide them to success. Through examples drawn from personal conversations with leading dealers and gallerists, the author proves: behind the scenes of the world of contemporary art, in conditions of fierce competition, there is room for honest partnerships and betrayal, pragmatism and philanthropy, painstaking work and adventurism.