Interesting read on the high-end art world

[edhopper]

http://patlipsky.com/writing/what-happened-to-the-art-world

Remember, there are many artists doing work for regular folk to enjoy and buy, that are not part of the auction houses and elite galleries.

[MineralMan]

1. Interesting article, with a particular perspective.

The author is an extreme cynic, of course. The assessment made of the art world reflects that cynicism, too. And yet, there are excellent artists all across this country, making art that individual people will judge and either purchase or not purchase. Some of it, decades down the road will accumulate value and be worth huge amounts more than they originally sold for. Other works will end up in the Goodwill store begging for buyers.

What's the difference? That's hard to determine, really. Art and the perception of art is a matter of individual judgment. So it has always been. The author has a cynical perception. That's one person's point of view.

I suggest that this author go away from New York City and visit some art fairs in other places, just to see what today's artists are actually producing. Cynicism isn't my reaction to what I see there.

[edhopper]

4. I think she is commenting

on this one part of the art world. And there is plenty to be cynical about there.

[MineralMan]

5. I suppose. But the rarified world of the art collecting

community, which includes museum curators, has little to do with the artistic endeavors of individual artists. That community is thriving and always present. The success of annual art fairs in every sizable community is evidence that the public, too, is willing to attend and to purchase the work of working artists.

Two different worlds, really. In the art auction and high-end collecting community, again including museums, the art that is being traded has become an investment commodity. The extremely inflated values for artworks that are bought and sold in that marketplace have little to do with contemporary artists working today. Many of the works in that market were not costly when first produced. In fact, people have been and are buying works from artists who have no widespread reputation, and at prices that will appear to be enormous bargains in many cases decades later.

Having one's works displayed at the tony galleries of our major cities is a goal for many artists, but not one that is realized by most artists, even those who find a ready market for their work in other venues.

I have several water colors and oils I purchased from a very talented artist in California many years ago. At the time, she struggled to sell them at all, and that despite being represented in local galleries. Today, if I search for her name on Google, I find a ready market for her work, and at prices far above what I paid for her pieces. But, I bought them because I enjoyed them and because she was talented and creative. I don't really care what their current value is, but I'm heartened that she is doing well as an artist.

[mainer]

6. Exactly, buy what you love. That's what gives it value.

I seldom buy art in NYC, but find wonderful pieces in surprising places. One of my favorite paintings is by an obscure artist in Indiana, a farmer who every so often delivers his paintings to a gallery. Will it be valuable some day? I don't care. I love it.

And every so often, an inexpensive piece I've bought suddenly becomes valuable when the rest of the world discovers the artist.

[edhopper]

8. Most galleried artist

do not survive on selling their art alone. This is true even at many higher end galleries in NY. Not the art world the article is about, but at many of the other galleries in the main art areas like Chelsea.

But yes, there is a very active art market around the country that has nothing to do with this world.

[progressoid]

2. bookmarking for a later read.

THNX

[Octafish]

3. Outstanding read on the State of Art

From the OP:

In the past the art critic was the one to confer legitimacy. Greenberg/Pollock, Fried/Stella, Zola/Manet, Baudelaire/Delacroix. But most art critics now, simply do not judge. Then too, the art world has morphed into the art market, which has become the play thing of the super rich. David Zwirner, also in Business Week said, “The art market is not just the trade of goods, it’s a lifestyle.”

Like capitalism: most fine art ends in the pockets of the few. Like America's culture: without vision, the people perish.

[PasadenaTrudy]

7. Thanks! I'll

pass this on to my partner who is a painter. BFA Pratt Institute, MFA SFAI