Driven by institutional validation at MoMA and record-breaking sales at Sotheby’s, Refik Anadol’s “machine hallucinations” are redefining the financial and cultural footprint of AI-generated art. As of early 2026, Anadol’s market is no longer defined by the speculative frenzy of the 2021 NFT boom, but by a structured, value-driven trajectory with an average price year-over-year growth of +837% between 2024 and 2025. The bedrock of his secondary-market success was laid in late 2021, a year that saw a turnover of $5,060,000 with a perfect 100% sell-through rate. The definitive work of this era remains Machine Hallucinations – Space: Metaverse, 2021.
Non-fungible token (ERC-721) minted in September 2021. When it appeared at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, it carried an estimate of 3,500,000–5,500 HKD. The final hammer price of 18,325,000 HKD ($2,353,864 USD) was a thunderclap for the industry, signaling that major Asian collectors viewed Anadol’s data paintings as equivalent in stature to modern masters. This work established the artist’s “Space” series as a high-water mark for digital aesthetics.
By processing vast datasets from NASA and the ISS, Anadol turned cold information into a fluid, painterly abstraction that resonated with traditional art historical tropes of the “sublime.” This ability to translate complex technology into a visceral visual language is what allowed his market to maintain a foothold even as the broader NFT sector cooled in 2022.
Living Architecture: Casa Batlló, 2022, was an ERC-721 with custom software and generative sound. Executed in 2022 and minted in April of that year, this work reimagined Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Barcelona façade. Offered at Christie’s New York during the 21st Century Evening Sale, it realized $1,380,000 USD. The success linked Anadol’s generative process to a world-renowned landmark.
By the time Chapter II: Mars (Generative AI Data Painting) appeared at Sotheby’s Riyadh in early 2025, the market was primed for his Generative AI Data Paintings. That work, which processed millions of data points from the Red Planet, sold for $900,000 USD, within its $800,000–$1,200,000 estimate, reinforcing the stability of his mid-to-high six-figure price floor.
The vertical climb in average lot values – reaching $227,400 in 2025 – can be attributed directly to the artist’s monumental exhibition, Unsupervised, at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This institutional validation transformed Anadol from a digital pioneer into a museum-grade contemporary artist.
The MoMA Effect is evident in editioned works and artist proofs, such as Machine Hallucinations – ISS Dreams – A, an artist proof from an edition of five, which appeared at Christie’s New York in March 2025. Despite being part of an edition, it sold for $277,200 USD, nearly 40% above its high estimate of $200,000. This demonstrates that collectors are increasingly willing to pay a premium for works associated with his most famous series, even when they are not unique.
The data shows that by 2025, the average lot values had grown by +1535% relative to previous minimum estimates, a clear indicator that the market has repriced Anadol’s entire output upward. However, a sophisticated market is also a selective one.
By 2025, the volume of lots offered rose to 18, a significant increase from the 3 lots offered in 2022. This increase in supply leads to higher scrutiny.
In January 2026, Origins II, number 1 from an edition of 3, failed to find a buyer at Sotheby’s Riyadh against an estimate of $350,000–$450,000 USD. The unique data paintings, particularly those with architectural or planetary themes, continue to act as the gold standard for the artist’s market. With the recent launch of his “Dataland” museum initiative, Anadol is building a permanent physical infrastructure for his digital visions, ensuring that his works remain at the center of the cultural conversation for decades to come.
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