Black Rhinoceros (F. & S. II.301) ⓒ Andy Warhol 1983
Market Reports
In the first half of 2025, the Contemporary print leaderboard is led by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Hockney. Using MyArtBroker’s print market database, the data indicates a market that prioritises depth and recognisable blue chip names over short-term spikes.
Read our most recent insights in The Collectors' Guide To The Print Market 2025
Drawn from MyArtBroker’s print market database, the two charts in this article offer complementary views: one traces each artist’s quarterly price index, the other pairs auction hammer value with lots sold. The Index Value chart maps momentum and volatility from 2021 to H1 2025, highlighting concentrated spikes in yearly quarters versus steadier trajectories over time. The Top Performing Artists chart returns to fundamentals: value and liquidity. Taken together, they distinguish headline peaks from durable market leadership.
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol is the clear market anchor in H1 2025. He combines the highest sales volume (396 lots) with the strongest overall sales value among the cohort. This signals both a broad, active collector base and the depth of a large body of work that sustains trading across various price points, from entry silkscreens to iconic subjects that still command premium results. On the artist index, Warhol doesn’t rely on quarterly fireworks; instead you see a resilient, gradual increase into 2025, reflecting a market that has matured over time. The result is the blue chip profile: high turnover, consistent pricing, and low execution risk for sellers; in H1 2025, Warhol sets the benchmark for the field.
Read our most recent insights on Warhol’s market in A Seller’s Guide To Andy Warhol
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein ranks second with approximately £4.8m in hammer sales across 180 lots, a position underpinned by a disciplined balance between quality and output, with overall sales value rivalling Hockney’s. On the index, his trajectory stabilises through 2024 and trends upward in 2025, indicating sustained demand for canonical Pop imagery and well-documented editions. Although less of a volume-driven market than Warhol, H1 2025 shows sufficient output to support ongoing price discovery while preserving scarcity - an attractive profile for collectors seeking stability with upside.
Read our latest insights into Lichtenstein’s market in A Seller’s Guide To Roy Lichtenstein and The Roy Lichtenstein Edition: Extremely Limited
David Hockney
David Hockney completes the top three with approximately £4.6m in hammer sales across 202 lots, evidencing depth and durability; the index shows fewer pronounced spikes than peers - an advantage that indicates steady, repeatable demand. In H1 2025 his aggregate value aligns closely with Lichtenstein’s while his lot count is marginally higher, signalling a broad mid-market willing to transact despite tighter macro conditions. Taken together, this profile - solid value, reliable output, and limited volatility - keeps him firmly positioned among contemporary print leaders.
Read our latest insights into the print market for Hockney in A Seller’s Guide To David Hockney and The David Hockney Edition: Extremely Limited
Conclusions
The first half of 2025 confirms a market led by breadth and consistency rather than one-off peaks. On MyArtBroker’s print market database, Warhol, Lichtenstein and Hockney top the contemporary rankings because they combine deep, repeatable demand with steady pricing: high volumes, disciplined scarcity at the top, and index profiles that increase without sharp volatility. Activity just beneath the podium (Banksy, Kusama, Haring and Hirst) remains lively, but the data reward sellers and buyers of blue chip editions who prioritise quality over chasing spikes.
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