The Hypebeast (why I’m not buying it.. but probably will)
I cannot bear to recount the continued boring downpour of dowdy and repetitive blah about who next to invest in and what I need to buy for a substantial return. ‘Alert… Dick & Head have a solo show in trap 2 at Euston Station, quick, there is still some soiled bog paper available‘. Saying that, John and I are attending Gavin Turk’s PV next week for the launch party of ‘Artist’s Piss’, literally, limited edition cans of Turks urine. I don’t profess to know the art market, nor have the ability to direct you to the next hot-shot and make loads of money. We all wish we had Marty McFly’s Almanac, but hey, life’s a c**t. What I can tell you (in brief), is what I do and the mistakes I’ve made. My biggest lol was when, having a conversation with a Gallery at an art fair about investing (contemplating a Shrigley), I was told to look at Banksy or Harland Miller. I puffed out my chest and blurted out ‘Banksy is finished’, and I had no idea who Miller was until Art on a Postcard released a print at ACBF (Art Car Boot Fair) which caused people to queue over 24hrs, seeing a profit into the low K’s. The future can’t be predicted. Banksy, Stik, KAWS, Martin Whatson, Sandra Chevrier and Connor Bro’s to name but a few have, and still are doing incredibly well in the secondary market. Hirst is king, he has again been working his magic recently and is defo a collectors/flippper’s delight providing you get the right piece(s).
The rich get richer! I made the mistake of amassing work from popular artists thinking that because my collection was growing, so was my profit. I was forking out between £50-£400 a time and then framing most of it, which I later realised is not a great idea the majority of the time. Collectors prefer work unframed so that it can be seen in its entirety, and not hide marks/tears, or poor framing, which can cause damage and border yellowing. It wasn’t long ago when I started to sell nearly everything I had as the eureka moment finally arrived and I started to change the way I collect. Some may say this is shallow, but old age isn’t cheap and I’m not dying shrouded in cat faeces and empty dog food cans.
Understand who the big players are and their demand by collectors/flippers, then focus on acquiring their work. Attend drops and PV’s where the artists are present and take unsigned work you have already acquired to get signed by them which will add £‘s. Be ready to head out as soon as you hear about a free drop. If your bag is to flip ASAP, then do so as soon as the work is in your hand as this will see the best profit. The longer you leave it, the more of it will start appearing (depending on edition size obvs), allowing the buyer a broader choice. Watch the secondary market so you know the value of your work and can spot a good deal. However, newsflash - be careful as there are unscrupulous people out there.
When a print drops, try and request an AP or PP, which will always bring a sweat out in a collector, as these are favoured far more, and can command considerably more money. The more you start attending events, the more information you will gather from likeminded collectors and the more your face will be seen. People are usually more than happy to share tips and information with you, so ask. Follow them on Insta and look at who they are watching. If you like a forum, then try UAA (Urban Art Association) which has helped me out in the past with recent drops and up to date info. Artist & galleries are always giving away free work on Insta, so this is always worth a pop.
The above is by no means exhaustive, but I have spent long enough writing this, and now need to check eBay. If you love art, the journey ahead will be a buzz and your walls filled with beauty, happiness, and if you’re good/lucky, ££.
