ART: CHRISTIES VS. ETSY
The beautiful Louise Nevelson sculpture Rain Garden ll was expected to fetch $50,000-70,000 at today's auction of post-war and contemporary art at Christie's. If I were bidding, this would be on the top of my list. However, here are a few other items in the catalog that also caught my eye.
Yayoi Kusama's Wave of Sea is fantastic. I wonder where this will go. Will it end up in a room in someone's home? In a personal gallery? Donated to a museum?
Roni Horn's sculpture is simple, portable, thought provoking and in one of my favorite color palettes.
Alighero Boetti's little pieces of handiwork caught my eye... that is a lot of embroidery my friends - and the perfect segue into Etsy. Here things can go a little more arts & crafts than arts, but there are still good pieces to be found, from newly handmade to vintage.
I believe that there is good art at all price points. It may not be as easy as flipping through the Christie's catalog and sending your minions to do your bidding, but a little sifting can reveal things of interest. That is just the thing with art, you should buy it if it speaks to you, so the point is to have fun looking around. I scored a bunch of inexpensive paintings at different flea markets and thrift stores this summer. Although I was hoarding some for clients, I have hung on to a few. Because I am not investing $40,000, it is a lot easier to experiment with these pieces in my home. So here is what a relatively quick search on Etsy brought up.
Since we were just on embroidery, let's now move into quilting. Don't be afraid to hang or frame a textile. This guy comes in at 79" x 58". Try to find an abstract painting that size for $75.
These brushfire tree totem sculptures are pretty cool. A little pricier than the quilt, but if you'd spend a couple thousand on a good sofa, then why not on some art if it makes you happy.
Hello, 24" x 18" abstract painting for $85. Beautiful colors, seriously, it is all I can do not to buy it for either myself or my client - it is the perfect palette for West End Ave... ok, I caved. I just bought it. I will save on framing by buying an off-the-shelf frame and having a matte cut for it. Where will it end up? Here or there? You'll have to wait and see.
I love this wire and wood automata sculpture. Yes folks, it moves, which means hours of fun - and if that doesn't make you happy, the $165 price tag will. See, there is no excuse not to live with good art.