The art world, or maybe we should say, The Art World, is complex and often seems impenetrable. Oregon’s cultural ecosystem is smaller, more grassroots, and generally more accessible than the art world writ large, but we all might benefit from hearing about how the large markets and auctions work. As collectors or artists, we may not find ourselves in this level of exchange but hearing how major dealers think about the art market—and how artists experience it—is compelling. Listening to Stephen Dubner dive into this world and ask the questions we all want to know the answers to about “how it functions, who’s benefiting, and how it’s changing,” is time well spent.

In this written analysis of the series, published by The Art Newspaper, Stephen Dubner speaks about what he learned in putting the series together.