Dr. Olav Velthuis

Biography

Olav Velthuis is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in economic sociology and cultural sociology. He currently serves as the Head of the department, focusing on research themes such as globalization and art markets, the interrelations between market dynamics and gift exchange, and the valuation, pricing, and socio-technological dimensions of contemporary art. His notable projects have been financed by the VIDI grant from the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO). Velthuis previously worked as a Staff Reporter for the Dutch daily newspaper de Volkskrant and has held positions as an Assistant Professor at the University of Konstanz and as a Post-Doctoral researcher at Columbia University. He is the author of 'Talking Prices: Symbolic Meanings of Prices in the Market for Contemporary Art' (2005), which received the Viviana Zelizer Distinguished Book Award in 2006, and has published other works such as 'Imaginary Economics' and edited volumes on contemporary art. His academic contributions have been featured in leading social science journals and his writings have been cited in international media. He has also been active in presenting keynote lectures at notable cultural institutions globally, including Tate Modern and Art Basel, and serves as the president of the International Art Market Studies Association.

Research Interests

Experience