[Harveyn]

I am sure this has been a thread somewhere before but with Micallef prices rising at an alarming rate day by day I thought I would open the debate again.

Two questions. The first being will Micallef prices match or even exceed Banksy prices for signed limited editions?

The second question is whats the forums opinion on Micallef's recent approach of small print runs at high prices as opposed to Banksy's approach of slightly larger runs at significantly lower prices. Is Micallef's approach an attempt to make his print work more exclusive and will it drive the price of his originals even higher? Is Banksy's approach to prints based on making his prints available at affordable prices even if only to a lucky few (based on demand) and how does he square this up with the way it fuels the secondhand market prices? Banky's lower priced prints at source do not seem to effect his original prices?

Two very different approaches by two very different artists. It has to be said that only the very fortunate will own originals of either.

[adrscib]

micallefs are matching banksys prices... however i have made an estimate based on his works and the current market value of micallefs prints currently stands at around £6m (when the last 3 editions sell out)...

which is very good figure... and will definitely raise the price of his canvases... providing that these prices hold.. (which is the expectation that they keep rising)...

however micallef can never, ever even come close to banksy... banksy has probably done 4-5 times the prints of micallef, whether signed and unsigned... and in larger editions....

imagine just one print... e.g the grin reaper edition of 300 x £5k each is worth around £1.5m... so do not even try to compare him with him.... again micallef has a limited amount of fans (which is growing rapidly) but can never ever grow as large as banksy, because if for e.g. he tries to match banksy in terms of prints released his price will fall... so his desirability will remain as long as he limits prints releases... just as banksy is now doing! just an honest opinion.

hope this partly answers your question.

[a4mnt]

apart from the two being totally different styles and so in some ways, not really comparable, i wonder how much of the decision for micallef to go for the high prices and low editions is his choice -or that of Laz?

Surely these artists just want to create and not deal with the 'triviality' of editions and prices??

[lesroy]

I agree Cracka...

Eyestorm generally always go runs of 95 and laz prints are always lower.... the POW do the larger runs as they have always admitted... their aim id to make good art affordable...

The artists are sooo different in style and have very differnt fan bases..Micallef's have hardly started as the USA & rest of the world havent seen him yet. Banksy on the other hand has this incredible knack of making people who hate art.. just fall in love. An amazing skill indeed!

[stuey09]

That's very well put Lesroy, particularly the last point. This I believe is the reason why Banksy, rather than just being a commodity for a small number of flippers, will continue to be held in such high esteem as an incredibly clever artist.

[graeme501]

i think because micallef has produced far less prints than banksy, and none of them are unsigned, that after his LA show and tour with the brittish museum, his popularity will explode and push his prices similar 2 banksys since there wont b enough to go around

£1000 can buy u an (unsigned) banksy
it cant buy u a micallef

[bobbymeachamjr]

Micallef exists (his inflated prices) because of Banksy. The latter is a cultural phenomenon which is largely responsible for the whole speculative frenzy in this scene. Micallef, although a wonderful artist, does not have the "phenomenon" ie. prankster/everybodys fav vandal etc etc portion to justify his prices. In other words, Micallef has his art and his art alone (well right now hes some how anointed the next banksy lol) and his art alone does not warrant the crazy prices. You see, banksys price is attributed to 1. his art and 2. his "everybodys fav vandal" image.

[dawn2006]

I gpt into Banksy fairly recently and then because of another Banksy collector discovered a whole new deal in Micallef. When you see his work in the flesh it really is awesome, although for me Barcode surpasses all. It comes down to taste and what makes you tick. However price now plays a huge part and even in the short time that i've been an addict price hikes are unbelievable. The property world all over again!!!

[poofly]

Although I agree with most points above, you must admit that Micallef may have more appeal to more conventional art buyers, and it has been largely promoted in such a way.

It has only been since the LAZ machine got into action promoting him and releasing print runs through POW and LAZ that us less conventional art appreciators have taken so much interest.

The eyestorm prints had been around a good year or two before LAZ got a hold and started to flog it all to us cheaper and more affordable through POW then the really expensive ones through LAZ.

Same wi Banksy. Everyone is hooked on the normal runs, then LAZ release the Kate print & 4 Soup Can piece (one that I did have but wasn't sure 3.5k was a good deal, so sent back) and then there you are into real art market prices.

Hats of to Steve Laz, but does he really have to lie saying POW isn't anything to do with him? We all know it is and when someone posted the domain registration page with Steve Laz as owner of POW it just seems a bit cheeky.