The Art Investor's Radar: Styles and Artists to Watch This Spring

Key Points

• Eco-responsibility: Sustainable materials and organic shapes captivate collectors and institutions.

• Storytelling: Narrative and committed artworks are particularly prized by young buyers and the street art market.

• Artificial Intelligence: AI is revolutionizing art, with record sales but a still speculative market.

• Investment: Follow trends, analyze sales, and diversify acquisitions to limit risks.

• Where to buy?: Platforms such as ArtMajeur, contemporary art fairs, and specialized auctions.

Plastic Army (2019), Dirk Krull, Photography

In the spring of 2025, the art market is at a decisive turning point, where emerging trends are shaping the future of art investment. Savvy collectors and investors must be able to identify the movements that not only define today’s art landscape but also influence its future directions. Three major currents stand out this year: eco-responsibility with organic forms, the importance of storytelling in artworks, and the rise of new techniques, particularly artificial intelligence. These trends are not just aesthetic phenomena; they reflect social, cultural, and technological changes that are transforming how art is perceived, created, and consumed.

For investors, understanding these emerging currents is essential in order to identify the artists and works that will leave their mark in the coming years. By anticipating these developments, it becomes possible to make informed decisions and position oneself on works that could not only increase in value over the long term but also offer a new dimension to art itself. This article explores these three trends in detail, providing investors with a clear vision of the styles and artists to watch during this 2025 spring season.

Eco-responsibility and Organic Forms: A Sustainable Trend

Eco-responsibility and Organic Forms: A Sustainable Trend

In 2025, art is fully embracing sustainability, with a particular focus on the use of recovered, recycled, organic, and biodegradable materials. This evolution echoes growing global concerns about the environment, and more and more artists are choosing to adopt eco-responsible practices. The trend toward works that incorporate nature—through materials such as reclaimed wood, natural pigments, organic fabrics, or even plant and mineral elements—is intensifying. These creations are not just visually captivating; organic, biomorphic, and fluid forms dominate, suggesting a closer relationship with nature. The artwork thus becomes both a means of raising awareness and a powerful message for an audience increasingly seeking meaning in what it consumes, particularly in the field of art.

Habitat Circular (2024), Fournier, Sculpture - Wood, 47x47 cm

Impact on Investment

This trend has a significant impact on the art market. The demand for eco-responsible works is rising, especially among collectors and institutions that want their acquisitions to convey a strong message about sustainability. The target audience is becoming more aware of environmental issues and seeks to support artists whose work resonates with these concerns. The ability of these works to stand the test of time in harmony with nature further enhances their appeal. For investors, this trend represents a unique opportunity to position themselves in a rapidly expanding market, with artworks that, beyond their aesthetics, also carry a moral and philosophical commitment. These pieces are increasingly sought after by buyers.

Eco-responsible Creators

Cloud, Ines Baumgart, Paper Sculpture

Eco-responsibility and organic forms are essential themes in contemporary art, where many artists are committed to reinventing the relationship between creation and nature, offering interesting investment opportunities in innovative talents. Ines Baumgart, with Seidennest (2021), transforms repurposed materials such as paper and branches into a fluid, airy sculpture that seems to emerge from nature itself. This approach, where lightness and organic shapes meet, reflects a desire to free art from traditional constraints while respecting the environment. Similarly, Fournier, in Habitat Circular (2024), draws inspiration from recycling and the reuse of materials by assembling fragments of disparate structures to create a new one, symbolizing a habitable place born from chaos and transformation. Samuel Dougados integrates his art directly into nature with Olo Naima Star (2017), an ephemeral work created on sand, inspired by zellige tiles and traditional Arab architecture, merging art, culture, and the environment in a fleeting, poetic way. Astrid Stoeppel, for her part, explores the relationship between order and chaos through paper sculptures like Paperwork #26 (2021), mixing collage and abstraction while using natural materials treated in a respectful manner. Finally, Marc Mugnier and his sculptures, such as Souffle de l’Univers (2021), showcase a deep connection with nature, where he works with stone, marble, and slate to create pieces that embody both the power and serenity of the elements. These artists, among many others, remind us that art can be both a form of creative expression and an act of respect for our environment, reusing materials, seeking harmony, and inviting us to rethink our relationship with nature. These are creators in whom it could be wise to invest over the long term.

Discover more eco-responsible works

Aesthetics and Symbolism

The organic and biomorphic forms, with their fluidity and natural aspect, have become symbols of harmony between humans and nature. These shapes, which evoke growth, decay, and regeneration, not only capture visual attention but also offer a powerful philosophical message about the interdependence of living beings and their environment. This artistic approach goes beyond a mere trend; it becomes a genuine means of expression that attracts the attention of investors looking for pieces that are both innovative and meaningful.

Artworks with a Story: Art as Narrative

Polyphème et Diogène (2021), Julien Sama, Acrylic on Cardboard, 85x120 cm

The Importance of Storytelling

The storytelling, or narrative aspect of art, has become a key element of contemporary artworks’ success. This is especially true among younger generations, who are increasingly receptive to stories that resonate with their social and personal realities; art is seen as a powerful way to convey strong stories. These stories can be told through visuals, concepts, symbolism, or even materials, creating a deep emotional connection and a shared experience with the audience. Storytelling is not limited to mere narration; it also serves to convey committed messages, critical reflections, and raw emotions.

Street art is an excellent example of this trend. Born in the streets as a form of protest and social activism, it uses visual storytelling to capture public attention. By incorporating narratives on political, social, or community topics, street artists create works that speak directly to young people, often addressing themes such as social injustice, identity, or resistance. This type of art becomes a direct communication form, a space for dialogue for generations that sometimes feel excluded from traditional artistic channels.

Artists like Banksy, for instance, integrate powerful messages into their visual works, where each mural tells a story that goes beyond aesthetics to become social commentary. These visual narratives, often tinged with dark humor or social criticism, captivate younger generations seeking to express their values and concerns through art.

Visual Narratives: Artists to Follow

Playings with daddy (2016), Ac One, Spray paint on Canvas, 110x110 cm

Artists who incorporate storytelling into their works weave captivating visual narratives, inviting the viewer into an emotional and intellectual immersion. For example, Julien Sama, in Polyphème et Diogène (2021), does not simply paint a scene; he uses his art as an act of resistance, a tribute to protesters, and a reflection on the necessity of democratic vigilance. His work addresses the progressive destruction of public systems and police brutality, while emphasizing that even in an ideal world, a guardian of the law will always be needed to maintain balance. This mix of politics and emotion resonates with other works where narratives serve as windows into personal and collective realities. Conversely, Agnieszka Banasiak with A Portrait Frozen in My Dreams (2023) and Janos Kujbus in On the Wall (2021) explore inner worlds and dreams. Banasiak, through a painting with mysterious contours, plunges us into a universe where memory and emotions are frozen, creating a boundary between the real and the imaginary. Kujbus, for his part, tells the story of children locked in their dreams and fiction, disconnected from reality. Through his painting, he invites us to open our eyes and move beyond our illusions, reminding us that true connection only happens when we choose to look at things differently.

Les trois grâces - le Centre des loisirs (2015), Ben & Sara, Photography, 60x90 cm

Visual storytelling is further enriched by Romy Van Rijckevorsel, who in The Shoes I Never Got (2025) combines various styles to tell a story of unfulfilled dreams and confrontations with the legacy of great masters. Her eclectic approach, blending drawing, painting, and graphics, transports us into a universe where classical artistic references merge with personal exploration, while questioning notions of achievement and renunciation. The painting thus becomes a mirror of the complexity of the human condition, both decorative and provocative. Finally, Ben & Sara, with Les Trois Grâces - Le Centre des Loisirs (2015), offer a critical look at the evolution of commercial spaces. Through a staging full of derision, these artists tell the story of shopping centers transformed into leisure spaces, illustrating the changing face of cities and the ceaseless struggle of large malls to maintain their leading positions. Their work reveals the absurd quest to perpetuate a consumer model, while highlighting that this system is constantly adapting to evolving consumer behaviors and new technologies. This is an artistic field to watch closely, where investment could prove wise as these innovative talents shape reflections on our contemporary society.

Discover more narrative artworks

Impact on the Art Market

Works that incorporate captivating storytelling are particularly valued for their ability to create lasting emotional connections with viewers. Among young people, these works are widely successful because they often address contemporary struggles or concerns that speak directly to them. Artworks with a strong storytelling component are seen as having a more timeless value and are capable of attracting a broader audience. Therefore, they can translate into potentially safer and more sustainable investments, especially in an art market where emotional connectivity is a key success factor.

New Vision and New Techniques: Artificial Intelligence and Technological Innovations

Adornment and Obstruction I (2025), Mara Barros, Digital Art

In this spring of 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming the art market, offering new investment opportunities for savvy collectors. AI-generated works, combining innovation and technological exploration, are attracting increasing attention due to their avant-garde character and their ability to push the limits of creativity. Artists such as Renato Schiller, Mara Barros, Alain Zenatti, and Jean Luc Michon, using digital technologies and AI, create pieces that question our perception of identity, emotion, and reality. Schiller, with his bold line mazes, Barros, with her poetic and powerful portraits, and Zenatti, with his mysterious and contemplative scenes, all bear witness to the growing impact of AI in the art world. By reinventing classical forms and introducing innovative visual tensions, these artists offer investors the opportunity to position themselves in artworks that are both aesthetic and technologically pioneering. In a changing market, following these new artistic practices is essential to identify emerging talents and make informed decisions, ensuring a sustainable and relevant investment in tomorrow’s art.

Discover other works created with AI

FAQ – Investing in Art in 2025: Styles and Artists to Follow

How to spot promising eco-responsible works?
Look for artists using sustainable materials, follow specialized fairs, and watch for auction sales.

Why is storytelling crucial in contemporary art?
Artworks with a strong narrative captivate collectors, especially young buyers and street art enthusiasts.

Is artificial intelligence a good investment?
Yes, but it’s a market in flux. Some works, such as those by Refik Anadol, reach record prices, but their value remains speculative.