Programmer and blogger Andy Baio thinks fans should commission work from their favorite artists (particularly through Kickstarter, where Baio is an adviser). His recent article for Wired is mostly about music and events, but micro-patronage could just as easily work for visual art. There are barriers in both cases—we’re talking about challenging entrenched power structures here! But why should wealthy patrons and board members have all the fun deciding which projects get funded? As an added bonus, fan-commissioned work would lend itself best to areas like public art, performance, video, and net art—exactly the kind of stuff that doesn’t sell to conventional collectors looking for trophy pieces. So, anyone want to go in on a Doug Wheeler with me?
Collecting
Even though Venus over Manhattan is in the heart of art world bustle on Madison Avenue, the gallery sits in stark contrast to the white walls of its neighbors. The space looks more like a bomb shelter than a place for exhibiting art, which is exaggerated by the fact that its inaugural show, À Rebours (Against Nature), takes place in near-darkness.
What is left to say about Jeff Koons as he arrives for his first solo exhibition in Switzerland at the Fondation Beyeler?
The Gagosian empire is growing as Larry launches his twelfth gallery in a warehouse just north of Paris (his second space in the city).
Brendan Chilcutt’s Museum of Endangered Sounds wants to ensure you never forget the sound of your Nokia 3310 or the sound of fingers striking QWERTY keypads.
Twelve years ago Turkish writer Orham Pamuk set out to compose a novel in the form of a museum catalog. His first step, naturally, was to go looking for real estate in Istanbul for his museum.
Instead, he collects. He accumulates everyday objects that catch his eye but would normally be overlooked. The glint of light off a marble, the color of a milk crate, or liquid sloshing around in a plastic bottle can spawn sculptures shown around the world.
The Steins Collect at the Metropolitan Museum of Art demonstrates how Gertrude, Leo, Michael, and Sarah Stein promoted and supported some of the greatest artists of their time, including Matisse and Picasso.
On May 2, Edvard Munch’s The Scream will lead Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in New York. The work is poised to join the ranks of the most expensive paintings of all time, among works by Cézanne, Picasso, Van Gogh and Andy Warhol with an estimated price of $80,000,000.
Let’s get this straight and move on: eleven facts about Damien Hirst’s spot paintings. On view at all eleven Gagosian galleries worldwide.
Actress Blake Lively may be better known as a style icon than as an art collector, but she has assembled quite an inspiring personal collection. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Lively about her favorite pieces and what drives her passion for art. With a mix of contemporary art, vintage black and white photographs, and even a few prints from Urban Outfitters, her collection shows that art can be accessible at any age or budget.
W.M. Hunt has collected photographs for over 35 years, co-founding major Chelsea photography gallery Hasted Hunt (now Hasted Kraeutler). When he started collecting photography, there was something a little radical about it – fine art collectors tended to focus on more prestigious (and expensive) painting and sculpture.
