Page 1 of 1

Kenny Schachter on Art Basel Miami

PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:32 pm
by CAP
Rambling and gossipy account of America’s prime art gross-out, all very readable and amusing. Interestingly, Schachter notes the decline in so-called Zombie Formalism around the fair (something Jason Farago in The Guardian also noted) and the stalling prices for Lucien Smith, Israel Lund and Christian Rosa amongst others. Well, it was a short and fast ride guys, from 2010 to 2015, now buckle up for the bumpy part. Depressingly, Joe Bradley bucked the trend with a record $3m auction price last month. :cry:

But as yet there is nothing in the fair grounds to supersede them.

The fair at its most serious – as with Basel – increasingly concentrates on the secondaries market for past names – Warhol, Twombly, Late Picasso, etc. Schachter then archly notes that the main auction houses – Sotheby’s and Christie’s took torrid beatings in grosses for November, not to put too fine a point on the drift in the secondaries market to fair-y land. He reproaches himself for dismissing Christopher Wool in 1997, only to see the artist’s career soar. But frankly I think you got it right first time Kenny. Wool is way overrated and the NYC market manipulates him so far with impunity. I don’t even think the artist is comfortable with it.

Anyway it’s a longish read for Artnet (3k+) and a good slice of Kenny's world as shrewd appraiser, distant parent, public speaker and gossip magnet. Basically he’s Linda Yablonsky without the heels! :lol:

Re: Kenny Schachter on Art Basel Miami

PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 10:11 pm
by Jim
Sort out your typo. Fine a point for finer point. Happy Christmas dude.

Re: Kenny Schachter on Art Basel Miami

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 10:19 am
by CAP
The above post now duly corrected. ;)

Thanks for that Jim!

The readership soars! :lol: