The Friday F.U.N Email (Factoid, Under 2k, Nuggets) Factoid: Relax, It’s Only 0.22% A banana duct-taped to a wall selling for $6.2 million is, admittedly, tough to digest. Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian ignited both outrage and existential despair after its sale. “If that’s art, then it’s the end of art, isn’t it?” lamented Bendor Grosvenor. Well, “some people don’t realize when they’re being played” said Marion Maneker of Puck. So who's holding the peel? Enter Justin Sun, the 34-year-old...
7 months ago • 1 min read
THIS WEEK: The green fairy, a fantastic foot, books, exhibitions & more. Keep on scrolling... Absinthe is making a comeback—or so says The Observer. Once banned for nearly a century, the emerald elixir has reclaimed its place in London’s trendiest bars. At Soho’s Three Sheets, for example, you’ll find the “Sazzaquack,” a zesty mix of rooibos-infused lemon absinthe. For generations of artists, though, absinthe wasn’t just a drink—it was a muse. Gauguin, Picasso, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh not...
8 months ago • 2 min read
3 sunny bargains below keep on scrolling... The Friday F.U.N Email (Factoid, Under 2k, Nuggets) Factoid: 95% of Auerbach's work ended up in the bin. The great Frank Auerbach has passed away at the age of 93. In 1939, his parents saved him by placing him on a train from Berlin to London, just before they were sent to Auschwitz. They would never see him again, but what a future they ensured. The son they saved became one of the greatest painters of modern times—a true giant. Auerbach painted...
8 months ago • 1 min read
THIS WEEK: An ultra contemporary piece worth investing in? Chris Martin gifts a Banksy and a quiz.... Keep on scrollin' ON THE MARKET MIA CHAPLIN (b.1990) Adam & Eve £2,000 - 3,000 Here is a young, gutsy painter from South Africa. The image will not do justice to her technique which makes use of extremely thick application of paint. Her work shows the influence of artists like Cecily Brown, focusing on themes of flesh, paint, and the female body. This is a large piece (185 x 157 cm) and...
8 months ago • 2 min read
The Friday F.U.N Email (Factoid, Under 2k, Nuggets) Factoid: Millennials Are Cooling on High-End Art According to a recent Art Basel report, the art market’s prolonged slowdown is partly due to a shift in millennial spending habits. This group, aged 28 to 43, made waves in 2022, spending an average of $864,940 on art. But in 2023, that figure more than halved to $395,000. However, if we look at median spending, the drop is much less dramatic, slipping only slightly from $50,165 to $50,000. So...
8 months ago • 1 min read
THIS WEEK: Bargains on the market, a seriously big sleeper, snippets & more.... ON THE MARKET RODERIC O'CONOR (Attributed to) Still life £1,000 - 2,000 Pretty in Pink: O'Conor may not be a household name, but at his best, he’s a breathtaking painter who often brings in six-figure sums at auction. This piece is only attributed to him, and the signature’s a bit dubious. But the technique speaks for itself—and at this price, it’s too good to pass up. BROWSE HERE A 'NGATU TAHINA' TAPA CLOTH...
8 months ago • 2 min read
The Friday F.U.N Email (Factoid, Under 2k, Nugget) Factoid: Are luxury watches in for a recovery? This graph from WatchCharts tracks the average selling price of frequently traded luxury watch models. Since spring 2022, prices have been in a seemingly endless nosedive. Has the last month marked the start of a recovery, or is it just another ‘dead cat bounce’? Time will tell. Under 2k: CHRISTOPHER LE BRUN Study for Sacred Desert, 2013 £1,000 - 1,500 One of the most highly decorated artists in...
9 months ago • 1 min read
THIS WEEK: Quirky finds at bargain prices, Clapton parts with a De Kooning, sleepers and more... Keep on scrolling! ON THE MARKET CIPRIAN MURESAN Study After Apollo and Daphne £800 - 1,200 Here is a contemporary artist who has work in an impressive number of major national collections. A superb draughtsman celebrated for his lively drawings. This buzzing little sketch after Bernini's sculpture in Rome is no exception. BROWSE HERE A PAIR OF GIANT CLAM SHELLS 77cms £800 - 1,200 Here’s something...
9 months ago • 2 min read
The Friday F.U.N Email (Factoid, Under 2k, Nuggets) Factoid: The Art Market is in a slump Fine art sales for the first half of the year were disappointing. The number of lots sold dropped by 4.8%, and the total value was just over $5B—a huge 29.5% decrease from 2023. But as they say, "Be greedy when others are fearful"—so let's head to the auctions! Under 2k: GEOFF UGLOW View of Edinburgh £1,500 - 2,000 Extra thick and textured! Uglow’s sculptural, Auerbach-esque painting technique piles on...
9 months ago • 1 min read