ARTnews Selected World’s Top 200 Collectors of 2023

ARTnews, a world-renowned art magazine, recently announced its ‘2023 TOP 200 COLLECTORS.’ By country, the U.S. had the largest number of collectors with 102. The list was followed by the U.K. (12), Switzerland (11), Hong Kong (8), Germany (6), Taiwan (5), China (5), and Singapore (4). Founded by James Hyde in the U.S. in 1902, ARTnews has selected and announced the 200 most influential collectors in the world by surveying collectors, dealers, auction officials, and curators every year since 1990.

Looking at the details, Haryanto Adikoesoemo, a collector and entrepreneur representing Indonesia, was named at the top. He was followed by Hong Kong-based fintech entrepreneur Shane Akeroyd, and the Ambani Family, an Indian billionaire business family and owner of Reliance Industries.

In addition, Laura Arrillaga and Marc Andreessen, a couple of American real estate billionaires; Hélène and Bernard Arnault, chairman of the French luxury brand LVMH; Laura and John Arnold, a couple who run an American hedge fund; Monaco investor Laurent Asscher; Brazilian investor Pedro Barbosa; American investor and philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen; CEO of the Swiss biotech company Serono and investor Ernesto Bertarelli; and Jeff Bezos, chairman of Amazon’s board of directors, were listed.

The top 200 collectors this year focused on contemporary art. Contemporary art (183 people) accounted for the overwhelming majority of collectors listed by ARTnews. Next came modern art (76 people), postwar art (33 people), Impressionism and Post-Impressionism (14 people), and Asian art (11 people). African art (9 people), Old Master (8 people), Design and Furniture (8 people), and Latin American art (7 people) also received attention.

Of the top 200 collectors noted by ARTnews, two were Koreans. Global Sae-A Chairman Woong-ki Kim and AmorePacific Chairman Kyung-bae Seo were both selected as collectors for the second consecutive year. Kim is widely known as the owner of Kim Whan-ki’s Universe 5-IV-71 #200, which was auctioned at Christie’s in Hong Kong in 2019. Global Sae-A is expanding its influence in the domestic and international art world by opening an exhibition space called S2A in Seoul. Seo has been selected as one of the top 200 collectors several times and is famous among contemporary and Korean traditional art collectors.

While analyzing the list, the Korea Art Authentication & Application Inc. said, “The center of the art market is still in the United States and Europe, but Hong Kong and Chinese collectors that follow are also showing off their great hands,” adding, “The progress of Taiwanese and Singapore collectors is remarkable.”

Meanwhile, ArtReview, a British art magazine, recently announced its list of “Power 100” for 2023. The magazine has been selecting 100 notable people since 2002 after evaluating and discussing the activities and influence of cultural and artistic figures around the world. This year, Nan Goldin, a famous American photographer who advocates the ethics of art sponsorship, topped the list. German contemporary artist Hito Steyerl took second place. 

Four Koreans made the list. Doryun Chong, deputy director of Hong Kong’s M+ museum and chief curator, was ranked the highest among Koreans. Former Berlin University of Arts professor Byung-chul Han, who was ranked 24th, jumped from 48th last year. He was evaluated as a philosopher most frequently mentioned by contemporary artists and curators for his writings and books that express keen views on changes in society and the times. Haegye Yang, an artist who is actively exhibited across Europe these days, ranked 71st, and Hyun-sook Lee, president of International Gallery, ranked 92nd.