[Fast Eddie]

Holy cow, is that Sotheby's auction result for real?

$600,800 for what looks like 1 of the 3 Obama Hope Collages (one of them is at the Smithsonian, if I am not mistaken).

10x the estimate for a Shepard Fairey, roughly.

[Fast Eddie]

I know.

In this case the gap is huge. For an editioned work on paper.

I found it surprising. But I guess it is not just Banksy now.

[Sub Method]

Jesus Zombie Christ!

[pr.yu]

Not surprising. It's the most iconic work of American graffiti in essentially its original form at a time of great political divide.

[WOOF]

Very cool. These were pretty pricey from the LA show if I remember correctly. Is that when you got it?

[Andre The Giant]

Oct 3, 2020 9:20:15 GMT 1 pr.yu said:

Not surprising. It's the most iconic work of American graffiti in essentially its original form at a time of great political divide.

I agree with you completely however is it ridiculous to suggest that Fairey’s work is American Street Art and not graffiti?

Just for context of it’s value, other high priced Fairey items that have sold and their prices:

Arab Woman $132,500 (large canvas Robin Williams collection): www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/creating-a-stage-collection-of-marsha-and-robin-williams-n09977/lot.20.html?locale=en

Liberte Egalite Fraternite Canvas €232,000/$272,000 www.artcurial.com/en/lot-shepard-fairey-alias-obey-giant-americain-ne-en-1970-liberte-egalite-fraternite-2018-pochoir

[pr.yu]

What starts as graffiti usually ends up as street art as long as either (1) enough people like it or (2) people are willing to pay for it.

[hops]

Stunning!

GLWS...

[vernaxley]

Oct 5, 2020 10:55:54 GMT 1 pr.yu said:

What starts as graffiti usually ends up as street art as long as either (1) enough people like it or (2) people are willing to pay for it.

In the wake of Basquiat and Haring in the 80s, gallerists went searching for the next big thing to come from the street but got their fingers burnt when the long-term collectors didn't buy into it. This time a lot of street/urban artists have already established themselves in the lower leagues so there's a level of confidence built in.  Not all Shep's work is great - but then neither was Warhol's -  but his good stuff is good enough to go the distance and he will benefit from those priced out of the Banksy market. Historically he has earned that.

[filippobf]

In my opinion…
Fairey is one of the most iconic important American Artist and also well connected to history.
Not all of his production is iconic and amazing but all artists have same problem.
In his career he create 5 important icon (his logo, Obama, the face of libertè egalite, the girl with American flag, the black guy with American flag)
Obama is the most famous icon of him… every one knows that painting … so isn’t a big surprise the new record.
He create a lot of posters but really few unique painting.. in some way he use that posters to grow the attention to the icon and to grow-up the precious of the unique works (not only in terms of money value).
In the same time he has limited the role of flipper, an example.. 2 years ago the poster Fraternitè-egalitè was sold in artcuriel for 6K$... well some weeks later he stated to sell the poster for 35$... now the value of original poster is around 2-3K$.
No one did something like this… so if Street art is democratic he knows how do it.

My prediction:
UK.Banksy USA.Kaws/Obey French.Invader Italy.Blu Portugal.Vhils


Maybe isn’t a surprise if these artists start to grow up in value in upcoming years.