Goya’s Great Game. Practices of Geoeconomic Competition in the Globalized Art Market

• Applicant: Dr. Frank Meyer
• Subject Area: Human Geography
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 582072793

The globalized art market for high-priced goods art market has traditionally been dominated by Western actors. However, in recent years, a shift has become evident. First, state and non-state actors are increasingly competing, particularly in the context of tax avoidance and the establishment of new trade hubs for art. Second, freeports—special economic zones with tax advantages that facilitate international trade—have gained prominence within this system. Third, this geoeconomic competition is no longer confined to the former centers of the art trade in North America and Europe but has become a strategic arena for states such as Qatar and China. Thus, the mechanisms of this competition are not merely economic but also reflect geopolitical shifts and the future distribution of global power. In this context, high-priced art (such as the so-called Old Masters) serves as an illustrative example through which current trends in globalization and geoeconomic competition can be analyzed. This research project examines how state and non-state actors of varying origins and motivations use the globalized art market for high-priced artworks (e.g., paintings) as an arena of geopolitical and geoeconomic competition. By doing so, it contributes to economic and political geography by analyzing hidden dynamics of globalization. Through three case studies, the project will reconstruct the strategies actors employ to compete for influence and reputation in the global art market. Various qualitative methods will be applied, including Interviews with key stakeholders in the art trade, document analysis of publicly available regulations and market reports, participation in key events such as art fairs to understand network structures and market mechanisms. The project sheds light on a highly contested field shaped by affluent and influential actors. Challenges arise from the analysis of sensitive information and the difficulty of accessing relevant data. By examining hybrid actor constellations, conflict-driven practices, and multifaceted motivations, the study advances research in economic and political geography and enhances our understanding of the global art trade as a site of geopolitical and geoeconomic negotiation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants