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Paolino, Chiara; De Molli, Federica & Pinardi, F (2025)

The Emotional Side of Collecting: Disgust and Attraction in the Art Market

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 16(1), s. 75- 94. Doi:

This study delves into the exploration of a niche organisational culture within the art market, focusing on shared values that drive photography collectors' appreciation and acquisition of works considered repugnant by mainstream standards. The research aims to comprehend the emotional dynamics guiding collectors' choices, particularly regarding subjects that typically evoke negative emotions, such as explicit sexuality, deformity, illness, and death. Utilising an original dataset comprising 1,766 lots from 24 artists auctioned at major European events between 2013 and 2018, the analysis sheds light on intriguing trends. Collectors demonstrate a heightened inclination to purchase and invest higher prices in photographs featuring disturbing subjects compared to traditional ones. Qualitative interviews reveal that this positive evaluation is anchored in the categories of 'extraordinariness', 'change', andm'sophistication' associated with these artworks. This research provides insights into how shared values within niche organisational cultures shape organisational actors' preferences and behaviours in the art market.

De Molli, Federica & Paolino, Chiara (2022)

Meaning Making through Artistic Interventions: An Aesthetic Approach

Owens, Allan; Pässilä, Anne, Ponsillo, Nick, Biagioli, Monica, Cunningham, Charlotte, De Molli, Federica & Paolino, Chiara (red.). Community and Collective Learning

Owens, Allan; Pässilä, Anne, Ponsillo, Nick, Biagioli, Monica, Cunningham, Charlotte, De Molli, Federica & Paolino, Chiara (2022)

Community and Collective Learning

Aalborg Universitetsforlag.

De Molli, Federica; Vecco, Marilena & Pizzetti, Marta (2022)

Space for seduction: the redefining of auction houses’ role in the art market

Consumption Markets & Culture Doi: -

Technological and socio-economic changes have forced organizations in the art sector to redefine their function in the market, to strengthen their relationships with consumers and to appeal to a more heterogeneous consumer audience. The physical space of art organizations constitutes a major tool for them to attract and communicate with customers. Based on a multiple case studies approach, this article explores how art auction houses have rearranged their physical space in order to create an intended customer experience based on seduction. Our study contributes to Consumer Culture Theory research by illustrating how both the tangible and intangible features of the spatial setting are orchestrated by managers to facilitate an intended consumer experience. Space is organized in such a way that a heterogeneous customer base can co-participate in the game of seduction, and the artwork maintains its role as a catalyst of the experience.

De Molli, Federica (2021)

Participatory interpretation: a way to overcome analytical challenges in organizational aesthetic research

Culture and Organization, 27(3), s. 226- 239. Doi:

Despite the growing academic interest in the aesthetic dimensions of organizational life, there is a surprising lack of critical reflection on how to analyse data acquired through organizational aesthetic research. This paper addresses this gap, first by illustrating the analytical challenges that aesthetic research poses. Then, it introduces participatory interpretation as an analytical method, and evaluates it by drawing on an empirical study. What sets this method apart from the other methods traditionally used is its potential (1) to avoid an almost exclusive reliance on the researcher’s interpretation, developing instead an understanding of the aesthetics explored which takes into account both the researcher’s and the actors’ interpretations, and (2) to achieve an understanding of the performativity of the organizational aesthetics under study. The paper concludes by suggesting possible applications of this method in a wide range of other organizational research fields.

De Molli, Federica (2022)

Podcast "Creativity Matters!" https://open.spotify.com/show/0PF2Tkgirb8gAnF6EQLmmV?si=f43564a2980d4d0e

BI Podcast [Radio]

Mangis, J; Zamparini, Alessandra & De Molli, Federica (2025)

Controlling Space beyond Organizational Confines: The Force and Fugacity of ‘Tractive Control’

[Academic lecture]. Research Group on Collaborative Spaces (RGCS) Symposium 2025.

De Molli, Federica; van Marrewijk, Alfons & Carlsen, Arne (2024)

Creating value in megaprojects: Unveiling five qualities of the aesthetic sublime

[Academic lecture]. EURAM 2024 Conference.

De Molli, Federica; Balachandran Nair, Lakshmi, Vecco, Marilena & Lapointe, Émilie (2024)

No space for mistrust: exploring the role of place in repairing trust

[Academic lecture]. PDW Academy of Management.

De Molli, Federica & Paolino, Chiara (2022)

Meaning Making through Artistic Interventions in University Spaces: An Aesthetic Approach.

[Academic lecture]. Transdisciplinary Workplace Research (TWR) Conference.

Mengis, Jeanne; Zamparini, Alessandra & De Molli, Federica (2022)

Controlling Space beyond Organizational Confines: The Force and Fugacity of 'Tractive Control'

[Academic lecture]. European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Conference.