Contemporary painting dominates the purchase options (76%) of Romanian collectors, in line with regional trends, followed by classical painting (54%), according to the second edition of the Deloitte "Romania Art Report", conducted in collaboration with the RAD Association and the Artmark auction house. The perception on the Romanian art market is predominantly growth-oriented, with over 80% of respondents considering that it is developing or maturing.
Purchase motivations continue to be dominated by aesthetic and emotional considerations (41%), confirming that the personal relationship with art remains the main driver of collecting. Cultural involvement (25%) occupies the second position, reflecting collectors’ desire to support the art scene, to actively participate in cultural life and to build an identity through art. At the same time, the interest in legacy planning (14%) and in the investment dimension (12%) indicate a growing awareness of the long-term value of art, both from an emotional and a financial perspective. Although they remain secondary to aesthetic motivations, they signal a gradual transition to a more structured, strategic and future-oriented collecting behavior, the study shows.
"The Romanian art market is in a clear stage of development and consolidation, perceived by most of the participants in the study as having a positive dynamic and on a visible path to maturity. Although collecting remains deeply personal, with the works mostly placed in private homes and the purchases motivated primarily by aesthetic and emotional criteria, we notice a diversification of behaviors. Contemporary painting dominates preferences, along with a constant interest in classical painting, which outlines a collector’s identity, anchored in the present, but culturally validated. At the same time, the structure of the collections remains predominantly local, indicating both loyalty to the Romanian scene and an untapped potential for internationalization," said Corina Dimitriu, Partner, Deloitte Romania.
According to the study, the collector base is becoming increasingly professionally diverse. Entrepreneurs (18%) are emerging as the largest individual segment, reflecting a growing interest from capital and investment-oriented profiles. Professionals in the corporate environment (13%), specialists in art and culture (13%), representatives of the liberal professions (12%), as well as an expanding IT segment (7%) contribute to the increase of the socio-economic plurality of the art market.
"The data shows a gradual transition from a market dominated by passion to one where art is starting to be integrated into long-term financial thinking. Even if aesthetic and cultural motivations continue to be dominant, the increased interest in the investment component and in legacy planning indicates a change of mentality among Romanian collectors. The fact that the market is mainly supported by entrepreneurial capital and mature professional segments and the generalized perception of growth position art more clearly as a relevant alternative asset. In this context, the Romanian art market is starting to function not only as a cultural space, but also as an indicator of the evolution of private capital and the appetite for long-term value," said Alexandra Smedoiu Partner, Deloitte, and Leader of the Deloitte Private Program in Romania.
From the perspective of funding sources, 72% of respondents rely mainly on their own income for art acquisitions, which indicates their integration into their current financial life, and not dependent on windfall earnings or external sources. A smaller segment (13%) uses investment income, while inheritances play a marginal role (6%), suggesting that most collectors do not rely on generational capital to sustain their interest in art.
The collections remain predominantly local from a geographical perspective - over 69% of respondents own a maximum of ten international works. This share underlines the strong attachment of Romanian collectors to the domestic art scene, a still limited level of cross-border acquisitions, but also an unexplored potential for the internationalization of collecting practices.
In terms of exhibition and storage spaces, private homes (81%) remain the main space for placing works of art, reconfirming the deeply personal and domestic character of collecting in Romania, as well as the strong emotional connection between the collector and the artistic object.
The most frequent and credible acquisition channel remains the auction house (31%), confirming the role of this channel as a mechanism for validating the value and accessing works with a clear history. Direct purchases from artists, from art galleries active on the primary and on the secondary market, as well as purchases from antique shops are in second position, with similar shares (19% each), reflecting both a direct relationship with creators and constant interest in works with historical or decorative value. Online platforms (10%) function predominantly as documentation and research tools rather than as main trading spaces, indicating a still cautious level of trust in digital purchases.
Deloitte Romania Art Report provides an extensive analysis on the behavior, interests and perspectives of Romanian art collectors. The study was conducted in collaboration with the RAD Association and Artmark, among 343 respondents surveyed in March 2026. Compared to the 2025 pilot edition, the study also includes a section dedicated to professionals in the artistic sector - galleries, auction houses and representatives of cultural institutions.
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