The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles have led to an unprecedented loss of life, property, and cultural heritage. Among the most devastating impacts is the destruction of millions of artworks, leaving the art world grappling with the loss of invaluable pieces of history and culture.
Artprice by Artmarket.com, a leading authority on the global art market, has expressed deep sympathy for those affected by the fires. Thierry Ehrmann, the company’s founder and CEO, described the destruction as one of the greatest cultural tragedies in modern history, likening it to the burning of the Library of Alexandria.
Artists and Collectors Devastated
The fires have obliterated entire studios, destroying the life’s work of hundreds of contemporary artists. Historical art collections have also been decimated, leaving a significant void in the global cultural landscape. Christopher Wise, vice-president of Risk Strategies, told ARTnews that the monetary value of the lost art runs into billions of dollars.
Artprice has reported a sharp rise in valuation requests, with a 450% surge in traffic to its website as collectors and insurers attempt to assess the damage. Using its extensive database of 861,000 artists and nearly 30 million sales results, the company is working to support those affected by providing accurate valuations to expedite insurance claims.
“Our mission since 1987 has been to map the circulation of artworks across centuries and continents,” said Ehrmann. “We are witnessing a truly historic disaster, and we extend our support to artists, collectors, and all those impacted by this tragedy.”
Global Response to Cultural Loss
The international art community has rallied to support the recovery efforts. Major institutions, philanthropists, and organisations have raised $12 million to assist artists affected by the wildfires. Contributors include the Getty and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as well as prominent individuals like Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
The Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and major galleries such as Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth have also pledged significant support.
Ehrmann highlighted Artprice’s role as a custodian of global artistic memory, noting that the company’s comprehensive archive now serves as a critical resource in documenting lost works. “Countless unique pieces will now exist only as photographs in art history books and databases, including those of Artprice,” he said.
Mobilising Expertise
Artprice has mobilised its teams and opened access to its extensive collection of manuscripts and sales catalogues, spanning over three centuries and documenting 180 million artworks. The company’s AI-powered tools are being deployed to streamline insurance processes and assist in valuing lost pieces.
As Los Angeles begins to rebuild, the focus remains on preserving its vibrant arts culture. The collaboration between the global art community and local institutions underscores the importance of protecting and restoring the city’s rich artistic heritage in the wake of such a profound loss.
