Female Printmakers to Watch in 2026

A pioneer of Conceptual and Pop Art, Kusama is the highest-grossing contemporary artist in recent years, with her market largely driven by Asia. Over 80% of her works sell in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, solidifying her influence beyond the Western art world. In the past year alone, her print market has amassed a sales value of £4.67 million, demonstrating her preeminence on the secondary market.

Beyond pumpkins, Kusama’s Waves series and Infinity Nets continue to generate significant interest at auction. Waves (TWXZO) reached £172,480 at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2022, setting a new print record for the artist. Meanwhile, demand for her iconic polka-dot motifs remains strong, with Shanghai Pumpkin achieving £94,321 at Mallet Japan Inc. in December 2025. Kusama’s presence in the secondary market shows no signs of slowing, with continued institutional recognition bolstering confidence in her long-term investment potential.

A leading figure in Op Art, Riley’s prints are in steady demand. In 2025, her highest auction result was Untitled (Based On Movement In Squares), which hammered for £50,000 at Christie's. Riley's prints were relatively scarce on the public secondary market in 2025, with Intervals 3 (blue) and Coloured Greys 1 being the only prints to surface more than once at auction.

Collectors are particularly drawn to Riley’s Fragment series, which has accounted for 20% of total print sales value over the past five years. Fragment 1 remains a standout, having achieved £42,336 at Sotheby’s London in 2021. Despite stable demand, Riley’s secondary market still lags behind male Op Art contemporaries, presenting potential opportunities for future market growth.

A key figure in Abstract Expressionism, Frankenthaler’s print market continues to grow. Her woodcut prints are among the highest-performing, with Madame Butterfly setting a new record of £242,114 at Sotheby’s New York in 2024. Despite her strong market, her work remains largely US-centric, with room for global expansion.

Frankenthaler’s Tales of Genji series has also seen strong auction results, with Tales of Genji III achieving £172,823 at Sotheby’s New York in 2022, marking a 55% increase in value in just six months. As collectors continue to recognise the significance of Frankenthaler’s contribution to post-war abstraction, her market may see further upward momentum.

Known for her deeply personal and provocative work, Emin has built a loyal collector base. Her print market has shown steady growth, with key works such as These Feelings Were True (Complete Set) achieving £38,000 at Phillips London in 2021. However, her print market still lags behind male YBA counterparts like Damien Hirst, whose secondary market value remains significantly higher.

Her highest selling print in 2025 was the monotype So Tell Me, which achieved £15,723 at Lempertz. Despite her print market’s lower price points, her continued institutional presence and her major retrospective at Tate Modern, Tracey Emin: A Second Life, signals potential for long-term value appreciation.

Celebrated for her psychologically charged work, Bourgeois' print market remains one of the most competitive, with limited supply driving strong auction results. In 2023, her complete portfolio Hang On!! achieved £160,000 at Sotheby’s London, showcasing the demand for her rare print sets.

Bourgeois' prints frequently appear at major auction houses, but with relatively low volume, competition remains high. Her Ode À Ma Mère series, for example, consistently achieves strong results, with select plates hammering between £3,500-£5,000. As interest in female artists continues to rise, Bourgeois' print market is likely to see continued demand and price growth.

Famed for her cut-paper silhouettes exploring race, gender, and readdressing history, Kara Walker’s print market is seeing increased activity. In 2024, her standout print The Means To An End... A Shadow Drama In Five Acts achieved £15,428 at Phillips New York, indicating a growing secondary market presence.

A 20th-century portraitist who defied Abstract Expressionist trends, Neel’s prints are steadily gaining recognition. Her top-performing 2025 print, Olivia And The Red Hat, hammered for £12,605 at Christie's, reflecting growing interest in her work.

Blending collage, photography, and printmaking, Thomas’s works are in increasing demand. Her print Sleep: Deux femmes noires sold for £12,531 at Bonhams in 2025, marking her as an artist to watch as her secondary market develops.

Her primary market continues to develop through her collaborations with Avant Arte, with an upcoming release of a quartet of prints.

Known for her abstract, body-referencing compositions, Hollowell’s market is expanding. Her 2024 standout sale, Standing in Light (AP), fetched £7,842 at Christie’s New York, demonstrating growing demand for her distinctive prints.

Capturing intimate scenes of women’s lives, Caroline Walker’s work resonates with contemporary audiences. Her Sunset (Complete Set) achieved £12,000 at Phillips London in 2024, marking her as a significant presence in the print market.