Who decides what matters in art—and can the art world become truly global without a single centre of authority?

by Niotah Team · 10/22/2026, 1:15:58 AM

The global art world often presents itself as international, yet the institutions, markets, publications and educational systems that shape artistic recognition have historically given greater authority to certain cultural centres and traditions. Research on art-history textbooks, for example, has documented the slow inclusion of artists outside the Western canon.  This dialogue asks how artistic value is defined, who has the power to establish the narratives of art history, and how artists from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia can gain recognition without having to conform to expectations shaped elsewhere. Rather than replacing one canon with another, the discussion seeks to imagine a more pluralistic art world—one in which different artistic traditions, intellectual frameworks and contemporary practices can be recognised on their own terms.