Casting for Art World Reality Show – artmarketblog.com

Posted on July 9, 2009 by artforprofits

Casting for Art World Reality Show – artmarketblog.com

tv2If you’re an artist who would like the opportunity to be on television and you think you have what it takes to be the next star contemporary art world then keep reading. With all sorts of people from aspiring chefs to wannabe models getting the chance strut their stuff on television while competing with other contestants for honour and glory, it is about time that artists got a slice of the pie. You may remember a show called Artstar that aired in 2006 where artists were a group of carefully selected emerging artists were given the chance to strut their stuff. Well, it appears that this Untitled Art Project program takes things a step further and will actually give artists the chance to compete with other artists for the chance to win some sort of prize – presumably some sort of promotional opportunity. It sounds like this show is going to be really awesome so I would encourage all eligible artists to enter. For more information see the press release and associated links below

Press Release:

How do you go from struggling, emerging or even semi-established artist to selling a complete show for $198 million? It’s a big art world out there, but maybe this is one place to start!

Magical Elves (Peabody Award-winning Project Runway, Emmy Award-winning Top Chef) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner) and her production company, Pretty Matches, are teaming up for an hour-long creative competition series among aspiring contemporary artists who will create and compete to conquer the art world!

If you’re an emerging or mid-career visual artist with a unique, powerful voice that demands a bigger stage – well. . . Here.  It.  Is.

We want contemporary artists. Your medium could be one of many (or several of many) – painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, mixed-media – we want voices that believe in their art and want the world to know.

*To be considered for the cast, attend one of our four regional casting calls around the country, see below.*

Go to www.BravoTV.com/casting to download an application and see what you need to bring with you to an open call.

GOOD LUCK.

*********************

OPEN CALL INFO:
LOS ANGELES
LA><ART
http://laxart.org/
Saturday July 11th & Sunday, July 12th
10:00am – 2:00pm

MIAMI
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
http://snitzer.com/
Tuesday, July 14th
10:00am – 2:00pm

CHICAGO
School of the Art Institute : Sullivan Galleries : 33 State Street
http://www.saic.edu/
Thursday, July 16th
10:00am – 2:00pm

NEW YORK
White Columns
http://www.whitecolumns.org/
Saturday, July 18th & Sunday, July 19th
10:00am – 2:00pm

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: adam reeder, art, art competition, art market, art news, artist | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Art of Fernando Carpaneda – artmarketblog.com

Posted on July 6, 2009 by artforprofits

The Art of Fernando Carpaneda – artmarketblog.com

Todd 2004

Todd 2004

I sometimes come across artists that I just have to let the world know about and Fernando Carpaneda is one of those artists, but be warned, because Carpaneda’s work is very confronting and will be not be to everyone’s taste. Those willing to keep an open mind and explore Carpeneda’s work will be glad they did because he is a truly amazing artist. A brave artist too. Brave enough to use rent boys, thieves, punks, goths, homeless people, and other unsavoury types as the subject of his work. If you are intrigued then please read on.

When I first saw a picture of one of Carpeneda’s works I didn’t know what I was looking at. What I saw looked like a photo of a person but had a surreal element to it that suggested that there was more to Carpeneda’s work than the image revealed. As soon as I found out that I was looking at a clay sculpture I was completely blown away. The level of detail and the amount of work put into each sculpture is quite astonishing especially for a clay sculpture. To give each sculpture a personal association with the person they depict, Carpaneda uses objects connected to that person in the sculpture. Carpaneda says about his work on his website that: “All his portraits are like a relic, a holy place, a moment caught in time. He uses objects that have a connection to the portrayed person to composing his work, such as cigarette butts, condoms, beer cans, underwear, semen, empty toothpaste boxes. In other words, things that are part of these people’s real world, and his own. He uses such objects and remains as a beginning for his portraits”

Most of the people we see on a day to day basis whether it be at work or at social event dress and prepare their appearance so that the look as one would expect a normal person leading a normal life to look. Most of the people that Carpaneda depicts, however, dress and prepare their appearance in a way that reflects their true personality.  These are the sort of people one would normally want to stare at but would try and refrain from doing so because we are taught that it is rude to stare. Instead of depicting the perfect male figure that most people are familiar with as a result of classical sculptors, Carpaneda utilises classical methods and materials to construct highly detailed analogues of what many would consider to be the outcasts of society.

A classical sculpture of a nude male figure is an image that almost everyone is familiar with and is able to view without feeling uncomfortable, embarrassed or repulsed. A sexualised image of a homosexual male, however, is a totally different story. Carpaneda’s sculptures challenge our perceptions of gender and identity as well as questioning the labels that society put on people who do not conform to the accepted norm. Yes, his work is confronting and will not be to every one’s liking but it is undeniably the work of a talented artist who is not afraid of challenging the boundaries of artistic practice and confronting viewers with the issues of stigma and division in modern society.

For more information on Fernando Carpaneda and his work visit
http://www.fernandocarpaneda.com/

and for information on the newly released book on his work see:
http://www.artslant.com/chi/articles/show/8249

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art market, artist, gallery, sculpture | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Susan Graham at Compound Editions – artmarketblog.com

Posted on July 5, 2009 by artforprofits

Susan Graham at Compound Editions – artmarketblog.com

Susan Graham Vessel for Safekeeping (Survivalism) 2009 Porcelain Edtion of 50, plus 10 APs $250.00 each

Susan Graham Vessel for Safekeeping (Survivalism) 2009 Porcelain Edtion of 50, plus 10 APs $250.00 each

It is good to see that there are people willing to make a stand against the global economic crisis and start new ventures to promote the work of emerging artists even though many would shy away from making such commitments. Two such people are the owners of Schroeder Romero and Winkleman Gallery who launched Compound Editions, a collaborative fine art multiples publishing venture, in November last year. The latest offering from Compound Editions is by New York based artist Susan Graham who has created a fantastically witty work that is very much a memento of our times. “Vessel for Safekeeping (Survivalism)” is a sort of “alternative” mantel piece ornament that consists of a hand sculptured and hand glazed porcelain lacy box which contains a porcelain credit card and porcelain scissors.

We all like to think that we have complete control over our financial status but Graham’s use of a very fragile and rigid material in the construction of the box, card, and in particular the scissors, suggests that we do not have as much control as we may think. Although a pair of scissors is provided to cut up the credit card the porcelain scissors are completely useless as though mocking the helplessness of the viewer. Even though we can’t cut the credit card with the scissors the fragility of the porcelain credit card makes it very vulnerable to damage, just like our financial status, if not properly taken care of. Graham also appears to be suggesting that our identities are very much defined by our financial status and that people judge others according to their financial means in much the same way as the sort of ornaments that a person has on their mantel piece can say a lot about them and and their family.

“Vessel for Safekeeping (Survivalism)” is an edition of 50 plus 10 APs and can be purchased for $250 from Schroeder Romero and Winkleman Gallery or by emailing compoundeditions[at]gmail.com

Further information and other editions can be found here:
http://compound-editions.blogspot.com/

Susan Graham has been included in numerous exhibitions in the United States and Europe including recent shows at the Tucson Museum Of Art, John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Michigan; the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, the Sherman Gallery at Boston University, Hunter College Leubsdorf Gallery, New York; the Musee d’art et d’industrie de Saint-Etienne, and the Musee International des Arts Modestes, Sete, France.

More info on Susan Graham and her work can be found here:

http://www.susangrahamart.com/

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art galleries, art market, limited edition, online art, sculpture | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Art Bankers Take Advantage of Falling Prices- artmarketblog.com

Posted on July 2, 2009 by artforprofits

Art Bankers Take Advantage of Falling Prices- artmarketblog.com

falling pricesThe interest in structured art investment programs has continued to remain relatively high considering the recent concerns voiced by some regarding the state of the art market. Since the beginning of the year there have been several new art investment programs launched which suggests that the categorisation of art as an asset class has not been damaged by the recent market jitters. In fact, with plenty of bargains up for grabs there is probably no better time for art investment funds to be buying works.

The most significant of the new programs is the so called “Collection of Modern Art Fund” which is a product of the UK based Castlestone Management, a privately owned independent fund manager. According to the fund website (http://www.collectionofmodernart.co.uk) “Collection of Modern’s Art’s investment philosophy is focused on building a diversified portfolio of artists to provide medium to long-term appreciation based on thorough research and the proven strength of the market for these artists. The portfolio composition is a key component to ensuring the returns of the fund are in line with the market. With this achieved, the fund can act as a real asset, increasing in value with money supply and inflation and thus providing an inflation hedge. In the initial selection process, the manager aims to identify works of art for the portfolio that broadly represent the Art Market Research 100 index”

The second major art investment program to be launched is a collaboration between the China Merchants Bank and the China Contemporary Art Foundation. China Merchants Bank (CMB) have taken what is a slightly different approach to art banking by offering their clients the opportunity to put down a deposit on a work of art chosen a group of experts and take possession of the work of art for a period of twelve months. If after the twelve month period the client decides that they want to purchase the work of art they can do so or if they do not want to purchase it they can return it and receive a full refund. According to one of the bank’s representatives who was interviewed by the People’s Daily Online Newspaper, “Some banks hire art investment consultant and bring clients’ money to auction house. We are not doing that, because it easily slips out of control. We offer free transportation and as long as the artwork is well preserved, our clients will at least break-even”

Adding to the options for keen art fund investors is Phillip Hoffman’s The Fine Art Fund Group Ltd (http://www.thefineartfund.com/) who have indicated at the beginning of the year that they would be starting a new fund to take advantage of the fall in price of many works of art. Since the beginning of the year Hoffman has further indicated his intentions to raise $100 million dollars of the next year to purchase works from private and institutional collections that are up for sale. According to a report from the Financial Times, the group is currently looking at purchasing two major art collections one of which is owned by a Spanish bank and the other by a manufacturer. After postponing their plans for a dedicated Indian art fund creatively titled the Indian Fine Art Fund due to the current instability of the market for Indian art, it is good to see this new initiative from Hoffman.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art banking, art fund, art investment, art investment fund, art market | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Niki de Saint Phalle Braves the Crisis – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 29, 2009 by artforprofits

Niki de Saint Phalle Braves the Crisis – artmarketblog.com

ndsp 1After the sale of three Niki de Saint-Phalle’s giant Nanas in Germany in December 2008 for €750,000, the Paris sale last month of her Le Banc produced another excellent result. The French-American artist – whose works are collected all over the world – is generating good sales performances in spite of the crisis.

Born in France and raised in the United States, Niki SAINT-PHALLE de successfully steered her career under the two flags at a key moment in the history of art and of the art market. Indeed, at the start of the 60s – when Niki de Saint-Phalle was creating her first Tirs and Nanas – the art market’s centre of gravity was being pulled across the Atlantic towards the United States and the American Pop Art phenomenon. Niki, who was associated with the New Realists in France, created the most distinctly “Pop” works of the French movement using a playful iconography of curves and colours. By successfully establishing herself as a female artist on both sides of the Atlantic, Niki de Saint-Phalle managed to join the ranks of artists whose price-indices enjoy international recognition (unlike some of the other New Realists, including her partner Jean TINGUELY). Nevertheless, the market for her work has remained more dynamic in France, and 35% of her auction sales take place in her native country. In terms of sales revenue, the geographical breakdown of her auction sales (often involving monumental pieces) is as follows: 38% in France, 31% in the UK and 15% in the United States.

Her Nanas – buxom women made with fibres glass and painted in bright colours – easily reach and exceed the estimate. Niki created her first Nanas in papier mâché and fibre in 1965, inspired by a friend’s pregnancy. Initially uncoloured, her joyous Venuses soon acquired multi-coloured surfaces – leading a playful revolution against gloominess. The very large and unique pieces – including some of her later works produced from the 1990s – sell for over €100,000. Her best-ever auction result was generated by a giant Nana (270 cm) in painted polyester which fetched $1m (nearly €780,000) at Sotheby’s in New-York during the sale of the Vanthohournot Collection on 14 November 2006. Two years before this record, a Nana of the same dimensions fetched €360,000 in Paris (Sotheby’s, 18 July 2004 La vie en rose – La danseuse rose).

ndsp 2The price range for the Nanas is very broad because Niki made them in various different sizes and sometimes produced limited editions of the same piece. For a small Nana from the 1960s (less than 30 cm), one would expect to pay between €15,000 and €30,000. Indeed, a Mini nana acrobate of 20 cm doubled its price estimate in Paris last month when it sold for €26,000. With strong demand for her work already developing during her lifetime, Niki de Saint-Phalle decided to make her work available to a broader public by producing prints and small porcelain Nanas edited in 200 copies, some of which can be acquired at auctions for around €3,000 (one such piece recently fetched €2,800 at Venator & Hanstein in Cologne).

The price index for her sculpture-furniture is also regaining momentum. On 27 May 2009, a sculpture of a man reading a newspaper on a bench watched by an imaginary animal entitled Le Banc (1 of 3 copies) fetched €460,000, substantially more than its estimated value. The fact that the piece was presented at Christie’s sale of a collection of pieces by François-X. & Claude LALANNE – hybrid works on the cusp of art and design – undoubtedly contributed to the result: the high number of furniture-sculpture pieces at the sale and the good results for the Lalanne works was the perfect context for the sale of the Saint-Phalle work.

Copyright@Artprice.com

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art auction, art investment, art market, art news, art sale | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Sotheby’s June 09 Indian Art Sale – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 26, 2009 by artforprofits

Sotheby’s June 09 Indian Art Sale – artmarketblog.com

Jogen Chowdhury, b.1939 "Day Dreaming" Ink and pastel on paper (lacquered)

Jogen Chowdhury, b.1939 "Day Dreaming" Ink and pastel on paper (lacquered)

On the 16th of June Sotheby’s held a sale of Indian art at their Bond, St. London Saleroom which, with the recent downturn in the demand for contemporary Indian art, was an important sale. Works by the modern masters fared well as was to be expected with works by the famous Maqbool Fida Husain proving particularly popular. Even though only 67% of the 86 lots on offer were sold the sale total of 2,067,400 GBP (3,376,684 USD) exceeded the pre-sale estimate of 1,193,500-1,754,000 GBP. This was mainly due to two works the first being the catalogue cover lot by Jogen Chowdhury titled ‘Day Dreaming’ which sold for 373,250 GBP against an estimate of 80,000-120,000 GBP and the other being ‘Orange Head’ by Francis Newton Souza which made 403,250 against an estimate of 80,000-120,000 GBP. All seven works by Husain found buyers with five of the works exceeding the top estimate including an untitled work from 1953 which fetched the third highest price of the auction of 109,250 against an estimate of 50,000 – 70,000 GBP. The two Husain works that didn’t exceed their top estimate were minor works on paper which proves that quality and rarity were important factors for buyers.

A safety net of historical works from the 16th to 19th centuries made up more than a third of the catalogue and sold well. The highlight of the historical works was an illustration from the Harivamsa circa 1820 that depicts Krishna and his consorts frolicking in the heavens while his companions watch from the Yamuna, India, Kangra or Guler which sold for 23,750 GBP against an estimate of 3,000—5,000 GBP. Works by lesser known and contemporary artists did not do as well with two major works by Thukral and Tagra each estimated to bring in 30,000 – 40,000 GBP failing to sell. The disappointing results for the works by contemporary artists were to be expected considering the overall decline in the demand for contemporary art.

The top four lots went to US private collectors as did the 8th and 10th highest priced lots. Indian private collectors took home the 6th and 7th highest prices lots with the 5th and 9th highest priced lots purchased by London dealers on behalf of private collectors. Overall the sale was a success for Sotheby’s who managed to put together a small and safe catalogue of works that would appeal to a wide range of buyers. The inclusion of several rare top quality works by the most sought after Indian artists satisfied the discerning collectors who are driving the market and gave Sotheby’s a solid result.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art market | Leave a Comment »

Do-Ho Suh at SculptureCenter – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 23, 2009 by artforprofits

Do-Ho Suh at SculptureCenter – artmarketblog.com

SculptureCenter Home Exhibitions Events Visit Join About Press Store Limited Editions Bookstore Event Tickets Search All content © SculptureCenter. All rights reserved. Limited Editions Do-Ho Suh Doorknob/Bathroom, 2003 Polyester fabric, lithograph on paper in acrylic box 12" x 18" x 7 3/4" Edition of 20 with 3 artist proofs $4,500.00

SculptureCenter Home Exhibitions Events Visit Join About Press Store Limited Editions Bookstore Event Tickets Search All content © SculptureCenter. All rights reserved. Limited Editions Do-Ho Suh Doorknob/Bathroom, 2003 Polyester fabric, lithograph on paper in acrylic box 12" x 18" x 7 3/4" Edition of 20 with 3 artist proofs $4,500.00

A new auction record was set for a limited edition work by the popular Korean artist Do Ho Suh at Philips De Pury’s June 2nd Editions sale where one of the artist’s limited edition lithographs, “Untitled, 1998″, sold for $7,500 against an estimate of $2000 – $3000. A far more interesting limited edition work by Do Ho Suh titled “Doorknob/Bathroom is available from the New York based SculptureCentre for $4,500.00. An edition of 20 with 3 artists proofs, “Doorknob/Bathroom” is “a full-scale reproduction of the doorknob of the artist’s Chelsea apartment. Do-Ho Suh often works with semi-transparent fabrics that he delicately sews together to represent – and defy – existing and functional spaces and objects. Doorknob/Bathroom exists as an isolated architectural element, separated from Suh’s apartment and therefore abandons its ties with a specific place and becomes a loose abstraction with a new-found flexibility and transparency”

The popularity of Do-Ho Suh’s work and the inclusion of his work in the collections of the NY Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the LA Museum of Contemporary Art makes this limited edition a good investment.

To purchase or inquire about this SculptureCenter Limited Edition, please contact Mary Button at mbutton@sculpture-center.org or 718-361-1750 x111

For more information go here:
http://www.sculpture-center.org/storeLimitedEdition.htm?id=10159

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art investment, art market, limited edition, online galleries | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

June Online Art Auctions – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 20, 2009 by artforprofits

June Online Art Auctions – artmarketblog.com

George S. Zimbel: 'Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder, The Seven Year Itch, New York, 1954'. Being auctioned by artnet auctions

George S. Zimbel: 'Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder, The Seven Year Itch, New York, 1954'. Being auctioned by artnet auctions

Online auctions can be a great source of art for collectors and investors as long as you buy from a reputable auctioneer that offers a guarantee of authenticity and condition. All the auctioneers listed below are extremely reputable and totally trustworthy so you can feel confident in dealing with any of them. There are always great bargains to be had so it’s well worth taking the time to browse through the catalogues, you never know what you may find!!!!

Canadian auction house Heffel.com is currently auctioning a selection of works by Eastern Canadian and Western Canadian modernists including works by Paul-Emile Borduas, Leon Bellefleur and Mary Frances Pratt. This auction finishes on the 25th of June.

Browse works here:
http://www.heffel.com/online/Index_E.aspx

iGavel is currently auctioning a selection of Fine Art and Antiques from Southern Estates and Various Owners which finishes on the 30th of June. This diverse auction features a group of psychedelic posters from the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s, a number of old master paintings, work from the Florida school, paintings by accomplished American illustrators working in the first half of the 20th century and other works by notable 20th century artists including Bernard Buffet, John Newton Howitt, Oliver Chaffee, A.B. Davies, Hattie Saussey and John Stobart.

Highlights from the decorative arts include a 17th century ivory inlaid Spanish vargueno, silver and objects of vertu from Gorham, Tiffany and Cartier, coin silver, American weather vanes, Venetian glass, 18th Century Georgian Furniture, 18th Century pewter and many interesting group lots.

Browse items here:

http://auction.igavel.com/AuctionHelp.taf?S=N&R=2&C=2&return=50&sort=1&ST=1&days=&category_id=&_start=1&keyword=E3AB&_UserReference=7F000001471891E7E8D3991F1FD44A35006E

Now through June 25, artnet Auctions is featuring Icons: 20th-21st Century Photographic Portraits, a special sale of 250 original fine art photographs of legendary figures including Muhammad Ali, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jackie Kennedy, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Kate Moss by renowned photographers from Louise Dahl-Wolfe to David LaChapelle.

Browse works here:

http://www.artnet.com/AUCTIONS/Pages/Common/Search/LotSearchResult.aspx?LotSearchState=1&Keyword=icons%20sale&SearchIn=AllArtWorks#scroll=1

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art auction, art market, buying art, online art, online art auction | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!!! June 09 Update – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 17, 2009 by artforprofits

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!!! – artmarketblog.com

get noticedSince my last ‘How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW’ post several new websites have been launched that can assist artists in the promotion and sale of their work so check out the new additions to the list below.

http://www.artprize.org
ArtPrize is a radically open art competition, giving away the world’s largest art prize. Open to any artist in the world who can find space. Open to anybody in the city who wants to create a venue. Open to a vote from anyone who attends. Part arts festival, part social experiment – this international art contest is decided solely on a public vote. Call for entries ends July 31, 2009. Art festival begins Sept. 23, 2009.

http://foliotwist.com/
Easy & effective online portfolio websites for artists.
Our unique artist websites have been professionally designed to put the focus squarely on your art – and since our design comes with a blog, newsletter list, and integrated PayPal, it’s very easy to promote AND sell your art.

http://www.myartplot.com/
MyArtPlot (MAP) is an art community and empowerment platform – of artists, crafters, and supporters – fighting to create a united, supportive, and non-elitist art world. No more isolation, elitism, and starvation. MAP is an essential part of any creative life. It brings together the art profession into one global point of contact and interaction. Social, professional, and commercial power thrive here.

http://www.artition.com
The social network for all artists. Present your works and explore works of others. Get inspired. Buy and sell art. Get real life exhibitons and be discovered. artition the whole world of art all in one place – totally for free!

http://www.zatista.com
Zatista’s mission is to create an online marketplace that effectively connects buyers and sellers of fine and contemporary original art. Our commitment is to provide an innovative, safe, and comfortable experience to discover and purchase high-quality original art, as well as increase exposure for our artists and galleries.

http://www.illustrationmundo.com/
* Just Illustration – A place where ILLUSTRATION gets all the Love
* Show case all the great Illustrators in the world today and make it easier for Designer,Art directors and others to find them.
* Provide current information about the commercial illustration industry
* Provide a central location where people can get inspired, share information and seek advice.
* Free!! – Participation is absolutely free- The only barrier to entry is that content submitted is relevant to illustration and of great quality.

http://www.dripbook.com
Dripbook offers its worldwide community of professional visual artists the easiest, most stylish way to display, promote and distribute their portfolios online.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!! Update 8 October 08 – artmarketblog.com

It has been a few months since I updated this post so for all those artists out there looking for ways to promote themselves and for all those collectors looking for sources of new artists talent – here you go…

Culture Hall
http://www.culturehall.com
Apply for your free online artist portfolio
Unlike many other online portfolio communities, membership to culturehall is curated. Our community is primarily composed of MFAs, art faculty and other art professionals. We are open to all genres and mediums and it takes only a couple of minutes to apply for your free art portfolio.

Squidoo
http://www.squidoo.com/
Squidoo’s goal as a platform is to bring the power of recommendation to search. Squidoo’s goal as a co-op is to pay as much money as we can to our lensmasters and to charity. And Squidoo’s goal as a community is to have fun along the way, and meet new ideas and the people behind them.

Art Marketing Action by Art Biz Coach
http://artbizcoach.com/newsletter/
Alyson Stanfield’s Weekly Tips for Taking Charge of Your Art Career

Art Slant
http://www.artslant.com
ArtSlant is your spot for the most up-to-date news on art exhibitions and events in your city and the great art cities of the world. Artists can upload their profile and list details of their exhibitions.

Artist Daily Deals
http://www.artistdailydeals.com/
Daily deals on supplies and services for artists

Discovered Artists
http://www.discoveredartists.com/
DiscoveredArtists.com is serious about selling your art. You can effectively promote yourself and your work to thousands of qualified Buyers around the world on this website. Our professional site design, robust search engine, and smart marketing result in generating significant art sales for career Artists.
And, the good news? It doesn’t take serious cash to do it!
You can sell your artwork online for as little as $59 per year.

Ideas for promoting and selling art from the lazarus corporation
http://new-media.lazaruscorporation.co.uk/

artid
http://artid.com/
Artists, Sell Art on ArtId by opening your own ArtId gallery, a simple, easy to manage web gallery that helps you promote your art by providing the necessary online marketing tools to make your business succeed. Also, view and apply to Calls for Art!

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!! Update 7 June 08 – artmarketblog.com

Several new avenues for artists to promote themselves and their work have recently popped up so I thought it was a good time to update this list. Enjoy!!

Seesle
http://www.seesle.com
Seesle is intended for all visual artists (professionals and leisure artists) who wish to bring their work to the attention of a large public. (Private) art collectors may also advertise work.

WebArtEx
http://www.webartex.com
Thanks to WebArtEx you can obtain widespread information on art exhbitions; gain access to artistic data and technical and economic data, as well as locations, services and supplies linked to an event with a view to creating and increasing the opportunities for exchange between the parties concerned. WebArtEx enables sellers to easily identify potential buyers and the latter to know the exhibitions and works-of-art available on the whole national territory.

GoZabo
http://www.gozabo.com
GoZabo gives artists an inexpensive portal to promote and sell their art online whether it’s jewelry, pottery or any mixed media! Gozabo also gives buyers the opportunity to save time from getting frustrated navigating thousands of artists’ individual websites AND the ability to go to one site where they can view products AND purchase them with secure shopping cart capabilities while shopping at home!

Zibbet
http://www.zibbet.com
A ‘Zibbet’ is the name for your art shop on Zibbet.com. When you name your ‘Zibbet’ you will receive a personalized web address. For example www.zibbet.com/mybeautifulart. You can fully customize the appearance of your Zibbet with a photo, bio and you can even display a YouTube video if you wish, as well as many other great features.

MutualArt
http://www.mutualart.com
MutualArt.com has a completely new approach to art on the web. Members can track categories of art – even individual artists – and receive new information on these from thousands of sources. They also receive advance notification of art events in the categories they choose – from exhibitions and lectures to opening parties and galas, to auctions offering works by their preferred artists.

MutualArt.com includes the world’s largest online archive of over 150,000 art related articles from over 250 quality magazines, newspapers and journals, as well as providing a conduit for galleries, museums, auction houses, art fairs and publishers to reach their target audiences over a single, global platform.

Time for another list of opportunities for artists to promote themselves and for art lovers to check out some talented artists.

Artist Rising
http://www.artistrising.com/
According to their website, Artist Rising (http://www.artistrising.com) invites you to mingle with emerging and established artists from around the world and browse their fine art and photography. Offering original artwork, fine art prints and limited edition works for immediate sale, Artist Rising allows for the discovery of creations that can express a mood, a space, or an appreciation/;.

Digital Painting Forum
A forum, gallery and shop for digital artists and mixed media artists
http://www.digitalpaintingforum.com/

Art Crazed
Network for photographers, collectors, artists, models and friends
http://www.artcrazed.com/

Pieronymus Art Network
A social network for artists
http://pieronymuskosch.ning.com/

WORLDWIDE ARTISTS Facebook Group
Facebook network for artists
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2258055248

Surrounded Art Competition:

You now have the chance to win signed copies of SURROUNDED’s latest album ‘The Nautilus Years’ and a limited edition poster. All you have to do is submit your favourite artwork/movie footage and the best entries will be included in the bands’ projections at their live shows. They can be works that either you have created yourself, or just admire by other artists. The images will then be taken by the band and sequenced in with their own videos and projected onto the back of the stage.

High resolution images should be submitted via email to info@surrounded.se or via this MySpace. Alternatively you can upload the videos on YouTube and email us the URL link. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become a part of the band’s performance and be a part of their visual spectacle. Even if you can’t make it to a show, submit something anyway as chances are high it will still appear.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!! Update 5 (April 08)

Time again for another list of websites that can help an artist get noticed. If you are not an artist but are interested in art then you should enjoy checking out all the talent that is being shown on the websites below. Something for everyone !!!

Expat Arts Network
http://www.expatarts.com
Expat Arts is a growing global network for people who live between cultures. Our mission is to bring the world closer together through creative endeavors. We have been developing the network since June 2007.

Art Break
http://www.artbreak.com
Artbreak is a community marketplace for artists and art lovers. It’s a place for artists to share and sell their stuff, tell the world about themselves, get feedback, and make connections with other artists and people who like their work. It’s a place for art lovers to find incredible work from emerging artists from all over the world.

Art Log
http://www.artlog.com/
Artlog is about connecting people through art.
You can break the Artlog idea into four basic parts:
- Catalog: Discover new museums, galleries, alternative spaces and not-to-be-missed exhibitions, parties, openings and lectures
- People: The social layer tying the other parts together
- Focus: Tumblelog- Quick way to stay current
- Portfolios: Allow users to manage their own websites through the Artlog app

Concept Art Forum
http://www.conceptart.org
Conceptart.org is a web community of artists who are here for one purpose. We want to help each other learn about art, provide the best place to showcase work, further our art educations, and to meet other artists from around the world.

Fine Art Studio Online
http://www.fineartstudioonline.com
FineArtStudioOnline is a revolutionary web site creation tool that allows an artist to create his or her own art website in a matter of minutes!

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!! Update 4 Feb 08p1010058.jpg

Well, I have come across some fantastic new promotional tools for artists in the last couple of months so it is time for another installment of “How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW!!!.

Art Review Digital:
http://www.artreview.com

artreview.com is an exciting new social networking site for the artworld, creating a global forum for discussion, interactivity and debate. Our members are artists, galleries, collectors, critics, curators and the curious. As a members of artreview.com, you can:-Post artwork, blogs, videos and audio and have members rate and comment on it
-Find exciting new artists from around the world
-Sniff through last night’s party pics and post your own
-Keep up to date with news and access ArtReview magazine archives
-Find the galleries that represent the artists with ArtFinder
-Create your own discussion groups and forums
-Promote yourself and make friends

Lab For Culture
http://www.labforculture.org

LabforCulture provides services to artists, cultural managers, producers, programmers, researchers and policy-makers.
We provide: -Information, research and analysis related to cultural cooperation and collaboration, including funding opportunities, critical perspectives, research, news, and contacts (organisations and networks).
-Online networking tools to enable and strengthen the capacity for cultural collaboration within the cultural sector.
-Promotion of the players engaged in cultural cooperation and their activities across Europe and beyond.
-Spaces for connections, exchanges and knowledge sharing between organisations and individuals.
-Platforms for discussion and discourse on current issues affecting the cultural sector.

Artmakr
http://www.artmakr.com

The Goal of artmakr, is to bridge the gap between amateur and hobby artist, and snooty art galleries. Artmakr aims to take the vast and barren middle ground. It is our Mission to provide resource and inspiration to help more people, make art, and get paid for it. As well as to encourage more people to buy original art.

I Send You This
http://www.isendyouthis.com

for the artist we provide:
-Own independent website: artist-controlled image and information upload.
-Promotion within the isendyouthis.com advertised and marketed website network.
-A secure credit/debit card payment facility that can be used in the studio or on-line.
-Art opportunity notification service
-Exhibition promotion service
-Gallery submission service
-Artwork cataloguing and sales recording
-Mailing list and press release services
-Work shown in online art galleries and online art fairs

The Art List
http://www.theartlist.com

Since 2003, TheArtList.com has been a leading online resource for visual artists and photographers
who are looking for income and exhibition opportunities to enter. TheArtList.com’s searchable database of art contest and opportunity announcements includes a wide spectrum of content submitted by art galleries, institutions and art organizations.

Time to get busy!!!

How Artists Can Get Noticed NOW !!! Update 3

I receive many emails from artist’s asking how they can get noticed by galleries and dealers so I created this post to give artist’s some ideas for ways to promote themselves. The popularity of this post has motivated me to update it regularly as I come across new websites that would be of help to artist’s trying to promote themselves. If you have any suggestions for websites for this post then please contact me via the contact form on this blog.Updated 25/12/07 Online Galleries:

Red Bubble:
http://www.redbubble.com

Art Mesh
http://www.artmesh.org
Invite only: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462506&highlight=artmesh

Folio Snap
http://www.foliosnap.com

Merchandise:

Printfection
http://www.printfection.com

The Art Group
http://www.artgroup.com

Networking:

Digital Consciousness
http://www.digitalconsciousness.com/

Organization of Independant Artists
http://www.oiaonline.org/

Miscelaneous:

Fine Arts Title Registry
http://www.fineartstitle.com/artists.php
-Capture personal commentary about each work of art: collectors will cherish it and the art’s value will be enhanced
-Certify your work was brought to life through your own creative effort; sign the Registered Certificate to use as your Certificate of Authenticity
-Begin provenance in the online record; it is transferred to the buyer and remains with the work forever
-Document and track your entire inventory with offsite, secure records

International Registry of Artists and Artwork
http://www.iraaregistry.org/
The IRAA is an authority in the registration of professional artists and artwork, and as such, serves anyone interested in art – including museums, historians, commercial galleries, educators, collectors, archivists, scholars, fine art publishers, universities, curators, estate managers, students, art insurers, and of course, artists.

Fine Art Adoption Network
http://www.fineartadoption.net
FAAN is an online network, which uses a gift economy to connect artists and potential collectors. All of the artworks on view are available for adoption. This means acquiring an artwork without purchasing it, through an arrangement between the artist and collector. Our goal is to help increase and diversify the population of art owners and to offer artists new means for engaging their audience.

Artist Pension Trust
http://www.aptglobal.org
Artist Pension Trust® (APT) is the first investment program dedicated to the needs of emerging and mid-career artists. APT’s long-term financial planning services allow artists to invest their artworks alongside a community of select artists, thereby providing a uniquely diversified, alternative income stream

Update 9/8/07
I have received several suggestions of other websites where artists can promote their work so I have decided to add the new resources to the list. If you have any other websites that you think should be on the list then send me a message using the contact box.

For The Artists: GET NOTICED NOW!!art-show.jpgart-show.jpg

In response to a large number of artists asking me how to market their art I have decided to write a basic guide for artists on how to get noticed online. The internet has opened up endless opportunities for artists to promote and market their work but with so many avenues of exposure it can be difficult knowing which to utilise and which to avoid. To keep things simple I have created a list of the most important avenues of self promotion for artists and links to relevant resources.

Networking:
One of the most important avenues of self promotion for artists is the involvement in, and interaction with communities of artists. By networking with other artists you get the benefit of their experiences, expertise and contacts within the art market which could lead to opportunities to exhibit your work, sell your work or be represented by a gallery of dealer. The internet has allowed global communities of artists to come together through online forums and groups to promote their work and enhance their marketing skills. There are many online communities of artists the best of which are:

Wet Canvas: http://www.wetcanvas.com
Saatchi Online Gallery: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk
Surreal Art Forum: http://www.surrealartforum.com
Artists Network: http://www.artistsnetwork.com
Art Span: http://www.artspan.com
Online Visual Artists: http://www.onlinevisualartists.com
EBSQ Art: http://www.ebsqart.com/forum/
Art Forums UK: http://www.artforums.co.uk
D’art Fine Art: http://dart.fine-art.com/MessageList.asp?intBoardID=7966
Deviant Art Forum: http://www.deviantart.com

Online Galleries:
Online galleries allow you to create your own online exhibition space and also offer your work for sale. Even if you don’t sell anything, having your work in an online gallery is great exposure. There are lots of online galleries many of which are not very good so below is a list of some of the better online galleries:

Yessy: http://www.yessy.com
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com
Art By Us: http://www.artbyus.com
Imagekind: http://www.imagekind.com
Absolute Arts: http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolio.html
Empty Easel: http://www.emptyeasel.com
Boundless Gallery: http://www.boundlessgallery.com
Ekaweeka: http://www.ekaweeka.com
Fine Art: http://www.fine-art.com

Competitions:
Art competitions are a great way of getting exposure for your work and allow you to compare your work against other artists. Below are some links to websites that list art competitions.

British Arts: http://www.britisharts.co.uk/competitions.htm
Art Deadlines List: http://www.artdeadlineslist.com/
Art Show: http://www.artshow.com
Saatchi Gallery Showdown: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/

Art Marketing Websites:
Art Biz Blog: http://www.artbizblog.com
Art Biz Coach: http://www.artbizcoach.com
Art Business: http://www.artbusiness.com
About Art: http://painting.about.com/

Blogs:
Another fantastic way to gain exposure is to create a blog that documents your career as an artist. Below are some links to free blog platforms:

WordPress: http://www.wordpress.com
Blogger: http://www.blogger.com

Merchandise:
Get your artwork printed on everything from mugs to t-shirts and even create prints of your work using these great customer merchandise creators
Cafepress: http://www.cafepress.com
Zazzle: http://www.zazzle.com
Finer Works: http://www.finerworks.com
Art Cards Wanter: http://www.artcardswanted.com

Happy Creating!!!

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art market, artist, artist promotion, online galleries, selling art online | Tagged: , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Limited Edition Art Market Update – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 15, 2009 by artforprofits

Limited Edition Art Market Update – artmarketblog.com

Lot 39, VICTOR VASARELY, 'Kedzi' 1990

Lot 39, VICTOR VASARELY, 'Kedzi' 1990

On the 3rd of June auction house Phillips de Pury held their third ever sale of Modern and Contemporary Editions in New York after achieving good results for both auctions dedicated to Modern and Contemporary Editions  in 2008. The affordability of limited editions should be a definite draw card in the current economic climate but the fall from favour that contemporary art has experienced of late would have increased the risk of a poor result.  With expectations high for their first Modern and Contemporary Editions auction of 2009 there was plenty at stake for Phillips de Pury.  To find out how they went, keep reading.

The first auction of Modern and Contemporary Editions held by Phillips de Pury in May 2008 was very successful resulting in a total sale value of US$2,688,288 (including buyers premium) for 134 lots and achieving a 92% sold by value rate and 86% sold by lot rate. One year later and the 2009 Modern and Contemporary Editions auction, held on the 2nd of June, achieved similar statistics as the 2008 auction with 90% sold by value and 88% sold by lot. This, however, is where the similarities end. For starters, the 2009 sale total of US$1,120,075 was less than half the 2008 total of US$2,688,288. If you are thinking that the 2009 auction must have been smaller than the 2008 auction then you would be wrong because in 2009, a total of 280 lots were auctioned compared with 157 in 2008. What this means is that although the sold by value and sold by lot rate were almost the same for 2008 and 2009, the value of the lots in the 2009 auction were much lower than they were in 2008. The average price per lot for each auction confirms this with the average price per lot in 2009 coming to US$4590 compared to an average price per lot of US$20,060 in 2008. An ever more revealing indicator of the difference between the two auction is the fact that in 2008 a total of 63 out of the 134 lots sold fetched more than US$10,000 whereas in 2009, only 18 out of the 244 lots sold fetched more than $10,000.

With a majority of the lots on offer selling for less than US$4000 and many selling for one or two thousand dollars there were plenty of works that were affordable to almost anyone. Because of the lower value of the works being sold it is likely that a majority of the buyers were either collectors or decorators as opposed to hard core investors or trophy hunters. This is a good sign that people still have a certain amount of disposable income and that they are willing to spend that money on art within reason.

The results of the 2009 Modern and Contemporary Editions auction shows that limited edition works of art remain popular especially those priced at less than $10,000. Although the lower number of higher priced works in this years auction compared to the 2008 auction could be perceived as being the result of a lack of supply, I doubt that this would be the case and would suggest that this was a deliberate tactic by Phillips de Pury to ensure a high sold by lot and sold by value rate. The general reduction in the amount of money being spent on contemporary art across across the board was reason enough to increase the number of lower priced works in the auction in order to avoid a poor result. By focusing on low value works, Phillips de Pury could have ended up with an auction of low quality works that were undesirable regardless of their low price. Instead it appears that Phillips de Pury deserve a round of applause for putting together a catalogue of top quality yet affordable works of art.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art auction, art market, limited edition, phillips de pury, prints | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Herb & Dorothy – An Art Collector Documentary – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 12, 2009 by artforprofits

Herb & Dorothy – An Art Collector Documentary – artmarketblog.com

I was recently made aware of a new film that has just been released called Herb an Dorothy (http://www.herbanddorothy.com/) which is the true story of a postal worker and a librarian who built a world class art collection. Projects such as this can only have a positive impact on the art market and increase interest in art collecting so take the time to go and see a great (and award winning) movie while supporting the art market.

Details of movie below:

SYNOPSIS

HERB & DOROTHY tells the extraordinary story of Herbert Vogel, a postal worker, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. They lived off of Dorothy’s salary and used Herb’s to collect art. They only had two requirements when purchasing art: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment.

Over the decades they collected over 2000 pieces of art, (keeping all of it in their tiny apartment) and became patrons of artists including Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, Chuck Close, Robert and Sylvia Mangold, Lynda Benglis, Pat Steir, Robert Barry, Lucio Pozzi, and Lawrence Weiner.

Credits include;

Herbert Vogel
Dorothy Vogel
Sol LeWitt
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Richard Tuttle
Chuck Close
Robert and Sylvia Mangold
Lynda Benglis
Pat Steir
Robert Barry
Lucio Pozzi
Lawrence Weiner
Will Barnet

***********************************

Now playing

@ Beekman Theatre, NYC
@ Cinema Village, NYC

***********************************

Coming Soon to theaters Summer 2009.

- June 19~ at Landmark Ritz at Bourse, Philadelphia
- June 19~ at Landmark, San Francisco
- June 19~ at Landmark Shattuck, Berkeley
- June 27, 28 at The Guild Cinema, Albuquerque
- July 3~ at Landmark E-Street Cinema, Washington D.C.
- July 10~ at Landmark Nuart, Los Angels
- July 10~ at Landmark Kendall Square Cinema, Boston

Upcoming Screenings

= Taubman Museum of Art, VA: June 12
= Provincetown Film Festival: June 18-20
= Cinema Arts Center: June 25
= Criterion Cinemas: June 26
= Portland Museum of Art, Maine: July 10-12
= Denver Film Society Doc Night July 16
= Starz Film Center, Denver: July 17
= Miami Art Museum: July 19
= Oklahoma City Museum Of Art: July 23 -26
= Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City: July 31
= Seattle Northwest Film Forum: July 31
= Grand Cinema, Tacoma, WA: July 31
= Ogunquit Museum, Maine: August 4
= Aspen Film Series: August 16
= Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington DC: September 15
= Walker Art Center, Minneapolis: September 16
= Cincinnati Art Museum: September 18-20
= Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: September 26-28
= Wexner Center-Columbus, OH September 30

herb and dorothy 2Past Film Festivals

* Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2009
* Transylvania International Film Festival 2009
* Little Rock Film Festival 2009
* Marfa Film Festival 2009
* Newport Beach Film Festival 2009
* Independent Film Festival Boston 2009
* Riverrun International Film Festival 2009
* Philadelphia Film Festival 2009
* Sarasota Film Festival 2009
* FIFA: Festival International du Film sur l’Art, Montreal 2009
* Cleveland International Film Festival 2009
* Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival 2009.
* The Reel Artists Film Festival, Toronto 2009.
* Palm Springs International Film Festival 2009
* Hamptons International Film Festival 2008.
* Silverdocs AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival 2008.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art collectors, art film, art market film, artist | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Investing in an Artist’s Oeuvre – artmarketblog.com

Posted on June 10, 2009 by artforprofits

Investing in an Artist’s Oeuvre – artmarketblog.com

'Christie's Auction' by Thomas Rowlandson

'Christie's Auction' by Thomas Rowlandson

When you invest in a work of art, especially by a deceased artist, you are essentially investing not in just one work of art but in the artist’s entire body of work which is known as an oeuvre. An oeuvre is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer”. When it comes to documenting an artist’s oeuvre a publication called a catalogue raisonné is usually published which lists all known works by a particular artist. What I want to look at in this post is the rather important question of what should be included in an artist’s oeuvre and how what is included in an artist’s oeuvre can have an effect on the market for an artist’s work.

Considering that an artist’s oeuvre is supposed to be the entire body of work an artist produced throughout their career it would seem to make sense that every single piece of art they produced should be included. Or does it?. I recently spoke to the widow of one of Australia’s most famous and highly valued artists who was responsible for documenting her late husband’s oeuvre. Instead of just including everything in the oeuvre she undertook a very extensive examination of her late husband’s work and made decisions relating to what should and should not be included in the oeuvre. Her decisions were based on the theory that everything an artist produces is not necessarily produced as a work of art and should therefore not be included in a documentation of that artist’s body of work. An example was given where people who visited the studio of her late husband would take doodles or sketches out of the bin with the intention of selling them some time in the future. With many such pieces, which would be unsigned and undocumented, now infiltrating the market, the question of whether they should be included in the artist’s oeuvre becomes rather important. The reason it becomes important is because the size of an artist’s oeuvre can dictate how much demand there is for an artist’s work and also because what is included in an artist’s oeuvre can effect people’s perception of the artist’s whole oeuvre.

The oeuvre of the Australian artist used in the example I gave earlier is very small compared to other artists and is undoubtedly a contributing factor in the high value put on the artist’s work because a smaller oeuvre means that demand for an artist’s work is going to be higher because there are less works available on the market. Imagine for a second that an artist produced hundreds and hundreds of doodles and sketches that the artist did not intend to ever display or sell. Because the artist did no intend these pieces to be viewed or sold they are probably not going to be very good quality and are probably completely meaningless in the scheme of things as well as being worth very little. If hundreds of such pieces became available a whole market of lower priced, low quality and probably meaningless bits of paper would be created for that artist which would undoubtedly have an effect on people’s perceptions of the artist’s whole body of work. When it comes to the market for the artist’s work the addition of hundreds of meaningless, low value and poor quality pieces to those genuine works available on the market could change people’s perception of the value of the artist’s work as a whole.

I can understand why those in charge of artist’s estates go to such extreme lengths to protect the integrity and stability of an artist’s oeuvre because, when it comes to the work of deceased artists, the stability and integrity of the artist’s oeuvre has a strong influence on the value of an artist’s work and the way people perceive the desirability of an artist’s work. The estate of Jackson Pollock is a good example of an estate that is ruthless when it comes to protecting and preserving an artist’s oeuvre. The Pollock-Krasner foundation have produced a complete catalogue raisonne of Pollock’s work and will not allow any additions to that raisonne unless they are 100% certain that the work is genuine and that it is part of the artist’s oeuvre. Considering that Pollock is one of the most highly valued and desirable artists ever means that any alteration to the artist’s oeuvre could have major repercussions.

By not recognising pieces not meant to be viewed as works of art in the documentation of her late husband’s oeuvre the widow of the artist used in the example earlier is able to maintain the integrity and stability of her late husband’s oeuvre by ensuring that fakes are not recognised as genuine works and that works not meant to be included in the artist’s oeuvre are not not recognised as works of art. Maintaining the integrity and stability of the entire oeuvre will consequently have a positive effect on the integrity, desirability and value of each individual work. When investing in a work of art by a deceased artist it is always a good idea to do some research on the artist’s oeuvre to see whether it is managed by anyone and whether it is stable and has maintained it’s integrity over a period of time. It is also a good idea to make sure that if you are purchasing a work by an artist whose oeuvre has been documented in a catalogue raisonne that the work you are purchasing appears in that catalogue otherwise the work may be fake or may require authentication by the artist’s estate or by an authentication organisation. The moral of the story is that an artist’s oeuvre is very important to the value and desirability of an individual work of art so make sure you know what you are buying into especially if you are buying for investment purposes.

**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.

Filed under: art, art investment, art market, buying art, fake art, fake picasso | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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