Romanian collectors own around 20 works of art, prefer painting – Survey
Most Romanian art collectors are aged between 45 and 54, buy mainly paintings, own around twenty pieces and visit about two art fairs a year. For many, buying art is a moderate investment rather than a major financial commitment.
These are a few highlights of the first report on the Romanian art market conducted by Deloitte in collaboration with the Romanian Art Dealers, the association that organizes the RAD Art Fair, now in its third edition, which takes place between 22 and 25 May.
104 Romanian collectors responded to the survey, which was conducted between March and April 2025.
“We find out the preferences and factors contributing to the purchase decision,” says Corina Dimitriu, partner at Deloitte. Such reports have already been produced globally, and the company considers this one of international interest and will be distributed in other countries. It will also be carried out annually in Romania to track trends.
Galleries, hubs for exposure to new artistic trends
Art galleries are perceived as key cultural institutions that not only provide opportunities for visual dialog, but also serve as hubs for social interaction and exposure to new artistic trends. As for visiting galleries, 39% do so monthly, 29% weekly and 22% every two months. However, around ten (1%) out of the respondents say they have yet to visit a gallery.
The subjects of the survey live in Bucharest and large cities of the country – Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Brasov and Craiova.
Of the 104 respondents, 61% identified as male and 36% as women. Most, 37%, were aged between 45 and 54, followed by 34 – 45 age group (28%), 25 – 34 (14%), and 55 – 64 (13%).
The majority, 32%, work in the arts, followed by those working in finance, real estate and technology. Of the total, 10% consider themselves art investors and 36% art collectors.
When asked how many works of art they currently own, 34% said they currently own between 6 and 24 pieces, 15% between 25 and 49 pieces, 13% between 1 and 5 pieces, 11% between 100 and 299 pieces, and the same percentage over 300 pieces. Three percent of respondents own more than 1,000 pieces.
Art accounts for 40% of the wealth of up to 5% of respondents, and 5% think more than 50%.
A total of 29% have physically attended auctions a few times, while 24% have never been, 17% go monthly and 15% every two months.
Online, 25% attend every two months, 11% monthly and 35% have never attended.
Purchase directly from the artist
Most, 89%, have bought paintings and 86% say they plan to buy paintings. Sculpture ranks second with 53% and 60% respectively, photography 49%, ceramics fourth with 32% and 31% respectively, followed by conceptual art, philately and art on paper, installation, glass, video, outdoor sculpture.
The majority, 88%, of collectors prefer art after 2000; 83% intend to buy contemporary art. Art from the second half of the 20th century is preferred by 60%, with 55% intending to buy. The first half of the last century is of interest to 34% and 38% respectively.
More than 70% have bought directly from artists and 77% intend to do so. This is followed by art galleries with 59% and 64% respectively, auction houses with 49% and 50% respectively, another collector, friend or acquaintance with 40% and 44% respectively, and an art fair with 39% and 48% respectively.
Most – 88% – buy artworks to keep at home, the main reason – 81% – being aesthetics. They are deterred by lack of financial resources (70%), value (42%), lack of information on provenance (29%), lack of price transparency (22%), lack of expertise (21%).
Foto: Suprainfinit Gallery at RAD Art Fair 2024
