| The 1980s brought about significant changes in American society. Decades old economic theories were completely overturned, corporate America was restructuring and expanding, the art market kicked into high gear with unprecedented prices and a shift toward contemporary American art. In the midst of all this, corporate art collecting trends were responding to these overarching forces, and what resulted was the foundation for current corporate art collecting trends. As the art market showed greater potential, and art became a likely profitable investment, corporate art collections took advantage. As corporate art collections became more valuable, and the American economy became more interested in growth and expansion post-recession, the fact that financial gain was a major aspect of corporate art collecting became increasingly during this time. This thesis looks at the historical context surrounding the surge in corporate art collecting during the 1980s, as well as the profit-seeking motivations behind that surge. |
