The Art Market and Auction Houses. A Study Throughout the Gender Lens

In the context of growing attention to sustainable and ethical investment, an increasing number of entities and individuals are choosing to allocate resources to artworks. As a result, major international auction houses acting as intermediaries between artists and investors—are expanding their business operations. Within this evolving scenario, the present study investigates the gender composition of employees in selected top-tier auction houses worldwide, with a focus on understanding how corporate diversity and inclusion policies influence female representation and affect market dynamics in the art sector. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining a comprehensive review of academic literature and professional reports related to the art market, sustainability, ethical investment and gender studies, with a descriptive statistical analysis of gender distribution within the organizations examined. The findings contribute to academic and professional debates by highlighting the impact of gender representation on market efficiency, inclusivity and corporate governance in the art industry. This study also provides a conceptual framework for future research on the role of diversity and inclusion in shaping the evolution of the art market in alignment with broader sustainable and ethical investment practices. Additionally, it offers practical insights into the relevance of gender perspectives in financial decision-making processes, thereby supporting the development of more inclusive investment strategies.