Item — HN Reader

Interesting view, theoh. I wonder if you have any thoughts on what customers in contemporary times look for in art?

You write that "successful art speaks to current human concerns in a way that's undeniable." In general, do you find that customers look for this when they're aiming to buy "quality" art, like paintings, these days?

1 comments

Most commercially successful artists are "supported" by collectors and/or institutions. That's what makes their work a good investment. To become eligible for that kind of support, an artist's work has to be deemed relevant by someone with a degree of clout. Not all collectors care about the relevance of the art they buy: some are just looking for a prestigious investment. But somewhere along the line, any successful artist has convinced some people that they are the real thing.

Insightful, this makes me think of the importance of the ecosystem in contemporary art, especially when you write: ""supported" by collectors and/or institutions", "someone with a degree of clout", and "convinced some people that they are the real thing." Thanks.