While Drawing Protests, Deaccessioning Continues
Throughout the pandemic, we have read stories about museums in financial trouble and how some have resorted to selling works to cover costs. Hopefully, we are getting closer to allowing them to open fully; however, some are still looking to … More…
Kardashian Learns a Lesson on Looted Artifacts… Maybe?
Just last week, the U.S. Government filed a suit seeking the forfeiture of an “illegally imported” statue, which is currently being held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; it has been in their possession since it was imported to the … More…
Kanye West Has A New Record
Kayne West breaks a record, and this one was not vinyl. Kayne West is best known as an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer, but he also has a love of fashion and has had his hand at designing. For … More…
More On The da Vinci Saga
Martin Kemp, one of the leading experts on da Vinci’s work, has penned an article for The Art Newspaper about the controversy surrounding the $450 million painting. Will this ever end? I doubt it, but in the end, does it … More…
That Did Not Take Long – Thank Goodness!
The other day we reported on the Basquiat NFT and our feelings that creating one is a violation of the artist’s copyright, not to mention the idea of possibly destroying the work would also open up a legal battle. Well, … More…
Way To Go, Mario!
Super Mario scores again when one of the oldest known factory-sealed game cartridges sold for a record price. Super Mario began his adventures in 1985 when NES (Nintendo) started producing the iconic video game. The copy just presented at auction … More…
Make An NFT & Destroy The Original?
Now I can confirm that some of the players in the NFT market are off their rockers. The owner of Basquiat’s Free Comb with Pagoda will have it made into an NFT and sold at auction. The ‘lucky’ purchaser will … More…
Christie’s 19th Century – What Did They Expect?
On April 21, Christie’s offered up a selection of 19th-century European works of art. I will start by saying that when the catalog arrived, I felt like many of the works had been offered recently (I will get into that … More…
Tom Brady Sets Record Off The Field
Tom Brady is one of the most distinguished football quarterbacks and a legend in the NFL today; he is often referred to as the GOAT (Greatest of All-time). Brady has set numerous records throughout his 20 plus year career, including … More…
19th-Century & British Impressionist – Bonhams, London
On March 31, Bonhams presented their 19th-century and British Impressionist sale, which included various works dating from the 1840s through the 1960s. In the number one position, they had a tie. Alice Boyd’s The Thames from Cheyne Walk (est. £15-20K) … More…
Wow, One da Vinci Mystery Has Been Solved
In 1909, the Berlin Royal Museums, under the direction of Wilhelm Bode, purchased a wax bust of the goddess Flora for 185,000 Goldmark. The artist? Leonardo da Vinci! Well, maybe. The purchase created controversy, and hundreds of articles appeared – … More…
Impressionist & Modern – Paris
On April 14, Christie’s, Paris, presented their Oeuvres modernes sur papier / Art Impressionniste et Moderne sale that included a wide range of work from the 19th and 20th centuries. While there was very little that interested us, it is … More…
Real Coin or Bitcoin?
What is the better investment, a real coin or a Bitcoin? Only time will tell, but I am betting on the real deal for now. Nothing can compete with looking at and holding a real treasure; obviously, you cannot do … More…
Contemporary Feature: Sömngångare by Ben Bauer
As a young boy growing up in rural Minnesota, the environment played a vital role in Ben Bauer’s upbringing. Weekends in the countryside and treks through the local woods, river valleys, and wetlands bred a deep admiration and understanding for … More…
Can You Blame Them?
In 2016, the American graffiti artist JonOne painted an extremely large work (7.8 x 22.9 feet) in front of an audience at the Lotte World Mall in Seoul, South Korea. The artist then left cans of paint and brushes in … More…
The Salvator Mundi Saga Continues — This Time On The Big Screen
The da Vinci story never seems to end. Is it real or not? I doubt we will ever find out. On April 13, The Savior for Sale, a film about the da Vinci saga, is scheduled to hit the big screen. In … More…
Sacha Jafri Creates a Painiting as Big as His Heart
When it too big, too much – apparently not when your heart is in the right place. According to Guinness World Records, a recently created painting that just sold is the world’s largest and one of the most expensive sold … More…
Really, Another Person Leaves Works In A Parked Car?
This story left me shaking my head in disbelief. It seems that someone in Los Angeles left two paintings by Jack Armstrong, Primalsun #1 and Imagine #3 AKA Elvis Painting (supposedly worth millions of dollars – really?) in a car … More…
More Auction Action – Impressionist & Modern, Paris
On the 25th, Sotheby’s, Paris, presented a curated group of Impressionist and Modern works of art and the results were pretty good. (all final prices, unless otherwise noted, include the buyer’s premium; estimates do not) For the past month, the … More…
Yard Sale Treasure
With a bounty of treasures, galleries and auction houses presented works of art and collectibles during Asia Week New York, which took place from March 10th -20th. One of the treasures offered was a rare Yongle period blue and white … More…
American Art at Sotheby’s
Earlier this month, Sotheby’s offered up a group of American paintings ranging from Hudson River School, to Western, to Impressionist, to Modernist, to Contemporary. Taking the number one spot, and a surprise to many, was a small (20 x 16 … More…
Sotheby’s Curated Contemporary Sale
On March 12th, Sotheby’s New York presented their Curated Contemporary Sale, which featured a diverse group of artists whose work spans the last 70 years. The selection includes artists that exemplify the postwar period to cutting-edge artists of today. … More…
A Colorful Day For The The Scottish Colourists
On the 17th of March, Sotheby’s presented a group of works by the Scottish Colourists from the Harrison collection – all of the paintings were acquired by Major Ion Harrison almost 100 years ago. Some of you might be wondering, … More…
Impressionist and Modern Art – Sotheby’s, New York
On March 11, Sotheby’s New York presented their first Impressionist and Modern Art sale for 2021; it was an online-only event, and bidding was open from March 1 through the 11th — at 2pm on the 11th, lots began to … More…