top 10 selling artists in 2007 actions are all from the 20th c.
Contemporary Art Tops the Auction Charts, Business Week online, April 8, 2008.
Some quotes:
“New Indonesian and other Southeast Asian artists are commanding five- and six-figure sums for their work, which is being snapped up by collectors, galleries, and auction houses around the world.”
“Contemporary art is now the driving force of an auction house,” says François Curiel, the Paris chairman of Christie’s Europe.”
“On Apr. 2, French Culture Minister Christine Albanel announced a plan to revitalize the country’s art market by providing zero-interest loans of €5,000 to €10,000 ($7,865 to $15,706) for buyers.”