Can Black Collectors Afford "High" Priced Black Art?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Turtel Onli on December 28, 2011 at 6:26am

I wonder what the ratio is of Collectors on this site to their collecting art of artist listed or participating with BAIA?

So many of these conversations seem to overlook the obvious.  Obvious? Yes.  That most of the visual artists in BAIA are worth collecting and promoting. Then we could see a Top Ten of Collectors who collect the most at BAIA and visual artists who sell the most via BAIA. The BAIA brand is now the new standard. That old star system is so 20th Century!!!!

Permalink Reply by Turtel Onli on December 28, 2011 at 6:27am

I wonder what the ratio is of Collectors on this site to their collecting art of artist listed or participating with BAIA?

So many of these conversations seem to overlook the obvious.  Obvious? Yes.  That most of the visual artists in BAIA are worth collecting and promoting. Then we could see a Top Ten of Collectors who collect the most at BAIA and visual artists who sell the most via BAIA. The BAIA brand is now the new standard. That old star system is so 20th Century!!!!

Permalink Reply by Darryl Love on January 15, 2012 at 1:52pm

I want to thank everyone that chimed in on this topic thus far.  I'm sure that at some point in the future, I'll eventually pay for a work of art whose asking price is akin to that of a car.

Recently, my brother went to New York to visit the DC Moore Gallery for the 80th birthday celebration of Dr. David Driskell.  He told me that his paintings were astonishingly beautiful...and approximately $150,000 each.  I am happy that his works are commanding those kind of prices (and if I had to guess, he might be opining that those pieces should be commanding TWICE that amount).

I suspect that the price of a work of art will be forever controversial.  As human beings, we tend to rationalize the intrinsic value of an inanimate object with the economic value.  However, African-Americans have known for centuries the folly of that kind of thinking.  That's part of the reason why I brought up the topic.  I don't mind paying an artist what the art is worth if (1) I LOVE the piece and (2) I can afford it.  What bothers me (as it should bother many other people on here) is the gentrification of black art.

That being said, I think it's more important that as artwork continues to appreciate in value, we should think about why we buy art in the first place.  I hope I never fall in love with a piece that I can't afford.  Even so, I now realize that at the end of the day, art cannot put food in your refrigerator or replace a hug with your kids or a smile with a loved one.  Like so many things in life, you cannot put a price tag on fine art.  However, I understand the necessity of doing so.  Who knows...I may be so successful in my future engineering career that I CAN pay $200,000 for a Driskell painting one day.  Only time will tell...

Permalink Reply by Grace Bryan on March 22, 2012 at 1:00pm

I am an Avid Collector and appreciate Art Immensely..however, even being a Gallery Owner, I cannot own many of the works that I desire due to the prices that are basicly over the top for most Fine Art.  I have encouraged and do participate in satisfying the Collector's desires to own these works through the technology of "Fine Prints" and the devine work of "Giclee" (pronounced g-clay) whereas through the process of reproducing fine-art by archival, high quality inks on canvas and museum quality paper, gives the Collector an edge to own the work of art at a substantial lower price and enjoy the beauty and satisfaction of its presence in your home and business...the value is of course substantially less as well, which means the appreciation that you desire is not going to happen but it will carry worth.  Artist prices are not geared to the Collector that cannot afford it..it is set for those who can and the bidding continues to rise as the Gates, Wynn, Rockeffellers, Rothchields etc. are in the front row by large digits...BUT then we expect out Black Art to be more affordable? We should not, because I see it as the most desirable, colorful, exciting and rare of all..but the work is over-valued for our people who have not yet caught up to the all-mighty dollars..we still are in our struggles and with the economy at an all-time depressive mode, how can we afford to support our Artist if they over-price to us?  And the Blacks in the "Cinema Clout"..they buy Picasso, Peter Max, Calder, Van Gogh etc. and few  buy Black Art. So, my suggestion would be to save until you can afford the work of art your heart desire and your purse wont' be deprived..or buy the next choice-a Limited Original Print, Geclee or lithogragh and enjoy the color of life without the price.

 

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