Contemporary Art World -101

We had a wonderful opening on Thursday of amazing paintings by Lisa Breslow and we even sold several.  They’re really soo beautiful,  they’ll sell in any market.

But I want to write today about the importance of context in the selling  of art.  I have this theory that half the people in the world need to have their art presented on a silver platter.  Otherwise it’s not important enough for them.  The other half of the world is like me.  When I look at a piece of art I think, “Would the work still speak to me if I saw it hanging in my gas station?”  That’s my test.  Unlike most of my colleagues,  my definition of good art is that it can stand on its own.  I would love it if I saw it at Sam’s Shell.  It shouldn’t need explanation,  back story, or verbiage. If it has enough visual presence, enough inherent meaning, it will resonate in any context.

But the greater art world sees it differently.   For much of contemporary art, the art is not at all about making an object, but about presenting an idea.  The resulting object is merely the  souvenir of the idea – the saleable leftover of an art thought, art process, performance, etc.  That leftover is anything but self-explanatory and requires reams of verbiage.  The object itself is irrelevant.

And then there is the attitude factor.  Folks always complaint about haughty attitudes of gallery assistants and dealers.  But remember,  Attitude exists because it works.  The art world is so confusing and as I have said many times before – there is no bottom line to the art market – just perception.  Therefore, many collectors who don’t have the confidence in their own taste, need to be intimidated.   Attitude adds credibility.

I have such a hard time being that kind of dealer.  I take the art I exhibit seriously, but not my gallery, which is a lovely space but not at all pristine, or definitely,  not myself.  That just wouldn’t be any fun – and if it’s not fun, why would one want to have a gallery in the first place.