🔥 Lots to Watch - 24 April 2024

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HEY Y’ALL! 🔥

Thanks for all the great feedback from the lots I shared last Wednesday!

📈 Top Picks from the Last Issue:

#1: Tracey Emin, Be Brave, 2014 sold for $62,827, (27% over the estimate)

#2: Anselm Reyle, Untitled, 2012 sold for $40,839, (10% over the estimate)

#3: Ugo Rondinone, all moments STOP here and together we become every memory that has ever been, 2022 sold for $34,554, (12% over the estimate)

I’m excited to share 5 artists and lots worth checking out for this week.

Today's issue is brought to you by NEW Art Services, where you can find contemporary art by established artists at all price points. Start or grow your collection by exploring their available artists and inquire about available works.

1) François-Xavier Lalanne

• 📍 Bio: French, b. 1927

• 📊 Price Range: $85,000 - $130,000

• 💰 Record Price: $19,418,035 for RHINOCRÉTAIRE I', PIÈCE UNIQUE, sold at Christie's Paris in 2023.

• 🥂 Representation: Ben Brown Fine Arts

• 🌎 Main Market: France & U.S.

💭 My 2 Cents: François-Xavier Lalanne's "Tortue Topiaire" from 1998 is up for grabs at Tessier & Sarrou on April 30th, with an asking price between €200,000 and €300,000 (213,000 - 320,000 USD). The numbers tell us why Lalanne is a hit with collectors: his works often blow past expectations, fetching 348.34% more than their low estimates, and some pieces have even hit the $19.89 million mark. With a hammer ratio of 3.29, it's clear buyers are eager and willing to push prices way up. Plus, nearly 95% of his pieces sell, so you can bet this turtle will likely find a new home soon. If you're looking to buy, this piece isn’t just a good look—it’s also a smart move for your collection.

2) Etel Adnan

• 📍 Bio: British, b. 1963

• 📊 Price Range: $60,000 - $90,000

• 💰 Record Price: $567,034 USD for Untitled, sold at Sotheby's London in 2024.

• 🥂 Representation: GALLERIA CONTINUA, Galerie Lelong & Co, White Cube

• 🌎 Main Market: U.K & U.S.

💭 My 2 Cents: Etel Adnan's art is really hitting it off in the auction world with an 86.8% sell-through rate and her works selling for 228% over their low estimates, on average. That's some serious overachievement! Take "Untitled (Sands)" for instance, a vibrant oil on canvas from the 1990s with a size of 22.86 x 30.48 cm, it's up for grabs between £30,000 and £50,000 (38,000 - 63,000 USD). It comes straight from Galerie Janine Rubeiz in Beirut. Considering Adnan's massive spike in market value—a whopping 205.7% increase year-over-year—this piece is expected to draw keen interest. Plus, her artworks are typically smashing expectations with a hammer ratio of 2.49 times the low estimates. If you're looking into investments that might pay off big, this lot looks like a hot ticket, especially with the momentum Adnan's gaining in the global art scene.

3) Albert Willem

• 📍 Bio: Belgian, b. 1979

• 📊 Price Range: $15,000 - $20,000

• 💰 Record Price: $296,007 for The mountain air provided a pleasant atmosphere, sold at Sotheby's London in 2023.

• 🥂 Representation: Waterhouse & Dodd

• 🌎 Main Market: U.K

💭 My 2 Cents: Albert Willem's market has seen its ups and downs. His hammer ratio took a dive from an impressive 12.03 in 2022 to just 2.73 in 2024, signaling that the buzz has definitely cooled. The numbers back this up further with a sharp drop in Year-Over-Year prices—down about 65.84% from last year. Still, his "Coming Home After Work" (2019), hitting the auction block with a £10,000 to £15,000 (13,000 - 19,000 USD) estimate, shouldn't be ignored. This piece is fresh on the market from Maddox Gallery and it comes at a time when Willem's past works, like "The mountain air provided a pleasant atmosphere," (2020), have smashed their estimates in 2023, selling for $296,007 on a $12,000 to $19,000 estimate. The track record shows that while the general vibe around his market might be cooling, his works still pull strong interest, especially those that tap into his unique blend of humor and story.

4) George Morton-Clark

• 📍 Bio: British, b. 1982

• 📊 Price Range: $20,000 - $40,000

• 💰 Record Price: $103,940 USD for A Horse With No Race, sold at Christie's London in 2024.

• 🥂 Representation: Pinto Gallery, Maddox Gallery

• 🌎 Main Market: France & U.S.

💭 My 2 Cents: Check out George Morton-Clark's "Action-Static" from 2020. This big canvas (170 x 190 cm) is loaded with acrylic and charcoal and is hitting the auction block with a price tag between 22,000 - 41,000 USD. The numbers here tell a clear story. Last year, his art pieces were scooped up for 282% of their estimated low price, showing folks are really into what he's doing. Plus, the prices for his works have been climbing. From an average of $28,394 in 2023 to $46,837 in 2024, that's a hefty jump. He's also got a decent sell-through rate of 73% and a hammer ratio of 2.23, which means his works often sell for over twice their low estimates. So, this piece "Action-Static," with its solid size and punchy style, is likely to pull a lot of eyes and maybe some big bids too.

5) Brian Calvin

• 📍 Bio: American, b. 1960

• 📊 Price Range: $20,000 - $30,000

• 💰 Record Price: $151,200 USD for California Freeform, sold at Phillips New York in 2021.

• 🥂 Representation: Almine Rech

• 🌎 Main Market: U.S.

💭 My 2 Cents: Brian Calvin's "Alta California" from 2009 is coming up for auction with a price tag set between 20,000 and 30,000 EUR, that's about 21,000 to 32,000 USD. Despite a dip in Calvin's average market prices last year (they dropped by -36.4%), this painting could stir up some interest. Why? Well, his artworks usually fetch way more than expected — selling for about 191.2% of the low estimates on average. Plus, this one's been with its current owner since it was bought from the respected Anton Kern Gallery back in 2009. Solid provenance like that can make a difference. Even with the broader market seeming a bit shaky for Calvin lately, the numbers suggest that his pieces still pull strong interest when they hit the auction block. If you're eyeing this for potential value or just digging Calvin’s style, "Alta California" might be worth a look.

Glossary: The hammer ratio represents the relationship between hammer price and the average pre-sale auction estimate. This ratio determines how a lot performed in relation to its presale estimate. The better performing a lot is, the larger the hammer ratio. Any ratio above 1.2 indicates a high bidding intensity that exceeds expectations.

See you next Wednesday!

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways for us to work together:

1. I'm launching a chat group community for serious collectors and investors in a few weeks. We'll trade art, share insights, and host exclusive live Q&A sessions with market experts. Click here to join the waitlist.

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🔗 Market Stories

Why did JaeMyung Noh start his own art fair? Dive into the journey from high school art collector to establishing 'Art OnO', a unique fair with a youthful zest (link)

In an era of shrinking budgets, find out how auction houses like Christie's and Sotheby's are stepping in to support major Biennales. A look at partnership dynamics in the art world (link)

Discover the Toledo Museum of Art's innovative approach to auction guarantees—a financial win-win that’s turning heads in the museum sector (link)

Meet Nicole Eisenman, dubbed the most inventive painter in America today. Here's what makes her latest exhibit a must-see at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (link)

Uncover the 8 mesmerizing highlights of this year's Venice Biennale, from a symphony of fruit to underwater marvels. Why this edition is a crowd-puller (link)

Delve into the scandalous world of art fraud with Orlando Whitfield as he recounts the rise and fall of Inigo Philbrick, the art scene's notorious swindler (link)