An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework for artist ranking: evidence from an art gallery in Italy

Art evaluation is a longstanding challenge mainly due to its multidimensional nature. In recent decades, the expansion of online art markets and the increasing interest in art as an asset class have intensified the demand for transparent, systematic tools for art assessment. Existing artist rankings are widely used, but often rely on opaque logics and embedded biases. This research introduces a structured framework for building artist rankings through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). To assess its feasibility, we conducted a case study using data from an art gallery in Trento, Italy. Our findings indicate that this approach improves transparency and interpretability, while balancing both quantitative indicators and expert judgements. Moreover, the framework is flexible and adaptable to specific objectives and various artistic contexts.