James Stourton on London’s Postwar Art World and the Rise of the Global Market

In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with James Stourton, British art historian and former chairman of Sotheby’s UK, about his new book Rogues and Scholars: A History of the London Art World: 1945 to 2000. Stourton reflects on key moments that shaped the postwar British art market, including the landmark Jakob Goldschmidt auction, the rise of the buyer’s premium, and the shift in global power from London to New York. He shares insights into the long-standing rivalry between dealers and auction houses, the decline of certain collecting categories, and whether those markets can ever rebound. The conversation also touches on how larger-than-life personalities once helped define the art world and where the biggest risks and opportunities lie for the next generation.