AN ART COLLECTOR'S MAD CRAZY PERSPECTIVE INTO COLLECTING 21ST CENTURY STREET & GRAFFITI ART

NEW YORK CITY DOORMAN AMASSES A GREAT COLLECTION OF ART

2010-09-30T07:37:00.021-04:00

Only in Manhattan can a doorman amass a great art collection which is considered better than most of the artwork belonging to the tenants where he works. Ron Dominguez is not your ordinary doorman. He is a Cuban American with a great zeal for art who began collecting after his sister brought him a Picasso poster purchased on a trip to Barcelona. This gift ignited a burning passion. He parlayed an assemblage of modern master prints into one of the most avant garde accumulations of low brow art in America today.Ron is a delight. His love for art is unbridled and his knowledge of contemporary low brow art matches that of the art dealers Jonathan Levine or Joshua Liner who specialize in this genre. The Dominguez collection of low brow art has religious undertones and was inspired by his fondness for Mad Magazine as a child. All of it is displayed in his condo in Harlem which faces a massive church. As you tour the apartment you suddenly realize that Ron Dominguez is a curator. Each piece is placed on the wall with purpose. He has one room explicitly devoted to drawings and the rest of his art, mostly paintings and sculpture, is spread out interplayed between the antiques scattered throughout the residence.

How does a doorman get the money to collect such a large body of work? Ron is not your ordinary doorman. He works in a very high end building in Manhattan filled with millionaires and most likely billionaires. Once a year Ron receives a huge bonus check and with that money he buys art Included in his collection are works by The Clayton Brothers, The Date Farmers, Gary Baseman, Ron English and Jonathan Viner among others.

THE DATE FARMERS NEW WORK IS OFF THE CHAIN, CHECK "IT" OUT !

2010-09-29T14:54:00.008-04:00

I seldom write a Wednesday blog but the new work from the Date Farmers blew me away. I had to tell the world. Their paintings have matured. Each image is exciting and filled with powerful symbols of Hispanic culture and American pop and all of them are truly AMAZING. Their upcoming show at Ace Gallery this month should be a smash hit, I'll bet on that. Take a look at the work and judge for yourselves.

Their future couldn't be brighter. I bow to you Date farmers. Here is my prediction, these guys are going to make it big, very big. Now is the time to be buying this artwork. One day the Date Farmers will sell at Sotheby's and Christie's for substantial money.

CHECK THIS STORY OUT ABOUT ART ASYLUM BOSTON BY CLICKING ON THIS HEADLINE

2010-09-28T04:04:00.003-04:00

CLICK ON ABOVE HEADLINE FOR STORY

ART ASYLUM BOSTON CAUGHT IN A QUAGMIRE !

2010-09-24T18:32:00.034-04:00

RUTGER TERMOHLEN

I can feel proud of myself that Everlast got his money back but I am saddened to learn how many others were affected by Art Asylum Boston. During the week I was flooded with complaints against this art gallery.Unfortunately I couldn't use most of them because there was no way of checking out their validity. The one's that were valid however are a sad commentary on how a gallery with such a promising career messed up their future.

HANDIEDAN

The first complaint I got after Everlast's was from the Dutch Artist Handiedan. She apparently had a hard time getting her money from Art Asylum Boston and according to her, two of her collectors never got the prints they ordered. Next was from the artist Rugter Termohlen. He sent Art Asylum Boston over 10,000 Euros worth of art and paid nearly 700 Euros in shipping costs for a show there. This was months ago and neither the artwork nor any monies have ever been returned to the artist. His countless emails sent to the gallery have remained unanswered.

ARTSCOUTING FOUNDATION MUNICH GERMANY

The worst story I received this week was from two European businessman from Munich who own a gallery called Artscouting Foundation. These trusting art dealers sent Jason Zenga over18,000 US Dollars for three 4 foot Kaws figures but only ended up receiving one which had been broken and repaired and was not resalable. Artscouting has asked repeatedly for all their money back, but did not receive a refund.They than proceeded to file a lawsuit against Art Asylum Boston and Jason Zenga and contacted the Lynn, Massachusetts police department hoping to get better results. Being desperate and feeling hopeless they also wrote Brian Donnelly better known as Kaws to see if he could help. Sadly he couldn't do anything but posted a warning on his Facebook site that he wasn't affiliated with Art Asylum Boston in any way.

For the next week we are checking into Art Asylum Boston's fund raiser to benefit the American Heart Association. We do know that Jason Zenga did donate $ 50 dollars from the 2010 -2011 Heart Walk:

http://www.kintera.org/faf/teams/groupStatisticsList.asp?ievent=331275&lis=1&kntae331275=56221AE2BDFC4AABB5DE7B6974CECB41&lis=

We have tried to contact Art Asylum Boston, but they have not responded to our email request !

Anyone who can help these individuals get their money or artwork back please contact me at estatebuyersmia@aol.com. Thanks

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING RAPPER GETS PAID BY ART ASYLUM BOSTON

2010-09-21T14:45:00.002-04:00

UPDATE:

Erik Everlast Schrody September 21 at 2:39pm

I received word that I received the bulk of my money ... they still shorted me a couple hundred bucks (which I'll deal with later) this has been this single worst art transaction I've ever been a part of this dude has NO business in the game ... Thank You for your help in the posts I'm sure it helped make them realize I was going to be a thorn in their side

ART ASYLUM BOSTON TANGLES WITH GRAMMY AWARD WINNING RAPPER

2010-09-17T21:17:00.016-04:00

Art Asylum Boston sold Erik Schrody a 4 foot Kaws statue but has never delivered the item. They have made excuses to him that they were unable to obtain the artwork but have never returned his money. Schrody is better known by his stage name Everlast, a Grammy-Award winning Irish-American and singer songwriter known for his solo hit "What It's Like" and as the front-man for rap group House of Pain. He apparently sent them big dollars and has been given the run around ever since.
Yesterday while I was on Facebook, I happened to be on Art Asylum Boston's page and I kept on seeing these messages being posted and than systematically erased:

Erik Everlast Schrody September 16 at 5:43pm

I sent dude X grand for a Black 4ft kaws and never got the piece kept getting excuses and when they couldn't deliver send they would wire my refund back and now Jason has been ducking me telling all kinds of lies about where my bread is please help spread the word on this cat and his thieving gallery .

I contacted Schrody to see what was wrong and he proceeded to tell me his story. I felt compassion for my fellow Facebook member and I told him that I would post his story on all the major street art/ graffiti forums hoping to put pressure on this gallery to return his funds. Overnight I got more horror stories, this is one of the them:

Eiko Artscouting September 17 at 6:08am

we buy the statues from artasylum boston.
i was buying 3 4ft kaws and they didnt arrived in germany.
i pay 18,400 doller.
artasylum was telling the same story with the fedex id.
and we have contact the police in lynn boston couse of this galarie.

The moral of this story is to know who you are dealing with. Remember to only use Paypal to buy your artwork. Paypal protects the buyer against any loss if the item is not delivered up to 45 days after purchase. Lets pray that this situation can be remedied for all those out money.

Note: As of publication of this story no money has been returned to the people mentioned in this article. I have been given permission by all parties above to tell their story. WE ALSO RECEIVED FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ART ASYLUM BOSTON AND ARE CHECKING OUT THE FACTS. AS SOON AS THEY CAN BE CHECKED, WE WILL BE WRITING A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE

JASON ZENGA - OWNER ART ASYLUM BOSTON

Art Asylum Boston's ONLY response to me was as follows.
September 16 at 6:02pm

I am clarifying the situation right now. Please take that down--it is not fair.

Thank you- Juliann

PREDICTION FOR KNOWN GALLERY

2010-09-03T16:33:00.001-04:00

The Known Gallery in Los Angeles is certainly on its way to becoming the most important gallery showcasing graffiti art in the world. Their recent show at the Yves Laoche Gallery in Montreal, Canada was stunning and actually blew me away. I have never seen so many beautiful works of art hanging in one gallery. What was even more amazing is that this body of work is very affordable to any collector. If you cant see the show, I would definitely go 441 North Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles and check them out.

ARNAUD RABIER NOWART HIDDEN BUT NOT UNDISCOVERED

2010-09-03T15:40:00.007-04:00

As always I comb Facebook for unique street art and lately I discovered French street artist ARNAUD RABIER NOWART, an exceptional young talent who lives in Clichy but uses the walls and streets of Paris to display is his art What sets this talent apart from the crowd is his mind. Nowart is brilliant. He makes films that are reminiscent of Man Ray or Magritte. He can dissect the human face on canvas like no other artist I have ever seen. His art explodes with color and is joy to look at. At first glance this colorful work my be dismissed as kitch but on further exploration his catalog of artworks appear to be a stroke of genius. I am not sure why fame has eluded this artist but I'am a big fan and will tell the world of his existence. I consider this superb talent in the same vein as Space Invader, Banksy, Barry Mcgee and other world renown street / graffiti artists. I hope he actually gets invited to Art Basel this year so I can finally meet him !! Check out his videos on Facebook, they are a joy to watch: http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/?of=1315650134

A REVIEW OF MY FRIEND P. TEPPER'S WORK

2010-08-13T21:40:00.005-04:00

Your Facebook portfolio is hauntingly beautiful with your fantasy figures especially strong and deserving praise.Your devils, political and mythological images are pure dope. You definitely are a skilled painter and I love your sense of color.You pull from both the surreal and impressionist school of painting.I am not a huge fan of low brow art but I think your work unique and masterfully done. You are at the top of your game however for me there are too many people doing this type of art.It will be hard for you to achieve fame in a field that is already crowded. If you are selling your artwork that's all that counts. If you want to discuss this critique, I' am always available. This was an honest opinion. I hope you werent insulted by my comments. They were meant as a balanced insight into your work.

KNOWN GALLERY: THE EPICENTER OF THE GRAFFITI ART MOVEMENT ON THE WEST COAST

2010-08-10T08:58:00.006-04:00

SABER

REYES

I am just blown away by the quality of work coming out of Known Gallery in Los Angeles.

The artists of the 7th Letter Crew are maturing into an amazing pool of talent. The 7th letter in the alphabet is G and G stands for graffiti. There are over 100 members that claim this affiliation and the best are producing art that rivals any art from any art movement that has preceded them. Artists like Retna, Revok,Reyes,Saber, and Push just to name a few have been creating wonderful prints and original artworks worthy of the art world's attention. There really is something magical going on here. It won't be long before the art establishment will be clamoring for their attention. Be sure this is the art to collect. It is bold, powerful and it's roots stem from the culture of the street. Make no mistake, this isn't a fad, these young artists are here to stay. For those collectors who are on a limited budget, prints can be had for as little as 40 to 250 dollars.Original art work can start at 500 for artists like PUSH to many thousands for works by Retna or Saber.This is a very exciting time in the art world and it would be a shame to overlook this talent'.

RETNA

PUSH

THE BUTCHER'S WIFE CALLS HIM HOMER HURDLE

2010-08-03T17:10:00.017-04:00

Facebook never fails to amaze me, every time I think that next weeks narrative is no where to be found I am sent a gift from God. This week it's a story about a butcher's wife Barbara Gonzales who became my friend almost by accident. She wasn't an artist but I found her photos intriguing. I decided to send her an invitation to become my friend and she accepted with great enthusiasm. Barbara began writing on my wall instantly, commenting on my blurbs and liking my photos. Several days later she sent me an IM so I asked if she was an artist. She replied "no but my husband paints". I said to myself , yeah right, another dilettante, but it peaked my curiosity so I checked out her other photo albums. What I found absolutely blew me away, her husband's work was as good as any outsider painting I had ever seen. I discovered someone who with very little art training had an amazing sense of color, shape and spacial design and created paintings that were a cross between Grandma Moses and Mose Toliver. They were incredible little primitive masterpieces worthy of the art world's attention.

The artist's name is Richard Gonzales but his wife calls him Homer Hurdle after a character in a Cary Grant movie. When you look at the couple's picture it reminds you of the painting by Grant Wood entitled American Gothic. Immediately I said to myself I have to write about this couple,their story must be told. The wife for her animation and her husband for his unbridled talent.

The Gonzaleses are an average unassuming couple living in Texas. Barbara Gonzales is a housewife. Her husband is a hard working butcher who only recently started painting. He has no formal training in art. He doesn't even paint full time yet what he creates is sophisticated in all its simplicity. I loved the fact he had never sold any of his work and usually ended up giving most of it away.

Richard was born into poverty to Mexican American parents.It wasn't a good childhood. According to his wife, things were so bad at home he use to dress up in his Sunday best and stand on the street corners of Dallas hoping a family would adopt him. He was emotionally abused as a little boy by an alcoholic father who practiced Santeria and took him to brothels. The prostitutes were some of the nicest women in this young man's life. He knew no better. There were times that his father got tired of his son and tried to put spells on him hoping he stop following him around. Richard overcame all this adversity to marry have 4 children and now 4 grand children. He is retiring this year as a butcher after 42 years in the trade and hopefully he will continue to paint creating something special.

When you look at a Richard Gonzales work you see a masterful use of primary color playing against each other. You see shapes and figures suspended in space that make perfect sense. With no real training, this artist obviously understands color and composition. His works are happy and very rudimentary yet there is an air of elegance and refinement to it all.

AMERICAN LATINO ART IS PURE DOPE !!

2010-07-31T13:50:00.012-04:00

DAVID CHARLES ROSALES

I am not sure what all the fuss is about, but Latino immigration to America should be celebrated not vilified. Hispanics make up 15.4 percent of the United States population and by 2050 they will constitute nearly 33 percent of our society. Their culture is vibrant and they have made rich contributions to the arts in America.We should be praising their accomplishments and admiring their art. We must not forget our own roots and how at one point our ancestors were immigrants too.The United States remains a big melting pot rich in diverse cultural history.Without that diversity we wouldn't have given the world artists like Jean Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol , Jackson Pollack or Jasper Johns , all descendants of immigrants.

EDUARDO VALADEZ

With that said I'd like to talk about the Hispanic arts in America today. We are awash with in Latin talent and it's exciting. They bring to the America a viewpoint on life that would be missed, if not for their eyes. I keep on writing about the Date Farmers, one of my favorites, but their are tons of artists that dot the landscape like Judy Baca,Clare Rojas,Jose Bedia and Romero Britto. Everywhere you look their is new talent springing up from members of the graffiti collective known as the 7th Letter crew to artists like David Charles Rosales, Eduardo Valadez , Ernesto Yerena and Ryan De La Hoz.

RYAN DE LA HOZ

The other day I was talking to a young man who told me he was a Chicano artist. That label bothered me. I corrected him and told him he is an American artist documenting the Chicano experience. We must never let our ethnic background pigeon hole our creative ability. It is that kind of thought process which encourages prejudice Hispanic immigrants are no different than the Irish or Italians who immigrated to America nearly a century ago.

JUDY BACA

I live in Miami , a city that is more than 60 percent Hispanic. Latinos have made this city. Before they arrived, Miami was a city devoid of culture. The Latino invasion enriched our cultural fabric and made Miami a world class city. This should be a lesson for all of us. Instead of persecuting people of different cultural backgrounds we should embrace them and make them feel a part of America.

COMMENTS FROM ARTISTS MEAN SO MUCH TO ME....

2010-07-28T12:23:00.003-04:00

Carlos Ramirez July 26 at 4:25am

thats a trip ,I checked out his work a few days back and was going to tell you about him,I really tripped on the innocent rawness and energy about it ,sick composition and he fucking rocks the colors ,I can totally see a large oil painting in my mind of this work, I see it.
I would hang it on my wall, its pure! I love raw uninfluenced work that is not drowned and diluted so that you can still see and identify it to that one person,not a copy of a diluted copy of a copy bullshit!
good night.

Porous Walker:
I love you honesty on your writings!
MARCEL, THE PORTEER!! HOLY FUCK!

MARCEL IS A GENIUS!!
HE IS BRILLIANT
YOU FOUND A GENIUS THERE

Marcel Angel Goycoechea:

Thanks so much for your interest in my work as well as your encouragement..........................

FACEBOOK TALENT WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED ; MARCEL ANGEL GOYCOECHEA

2010-07-26T02:25:00.005-04:00

This entry isn't about fame or an overblown ego or even poorly made art but about a hidden talent in a young lad who doesn't even realize that he possesses such a beautiful gift from god. He works as a relief porter by day and creates art in his spare time. His works are beautiful, somewhat a cross between graffiti and low brow art. The more of his images I saw, the more compilations I liked. Here is a kid from Woodside, Queens who with very little art education has drawn countless stories on paper. He is a natural, uncorrupted by the world around him.When it comes to Marcelo, it isn't about aspiring to have a show at Jonathan Levine or selling a work for thousands of dollars , it is creating art for art's sake . Another real artist true to himself that I have discovered on Facebook. This is what motivates me to sign on every day and look at a community that is rich in talent begging to be discovered. I am not sure that this kid will ever have aspirations to make it in the big bad art world but I am sure he possesses raw unbridled talent. I hope when he reads this blurb he gets motivated to prepare himself for a future that could be both exciting and disappointing all at the same time and that he grows balls to overcome the galleries that might reject him and deem his work "junk art". For Marcel Angel Goycoechea has the ability to mature into a fine artist and the world deserves a chance to see his art.

HOW POROUS WALKER AND RENE ALMANZA TOUCHED MY LIFE

2010-07-24T20:23:00.005-04:00

I keep on reminding everyone how the internet has brought the art world into my home. How I can be making my teriyaki chicken thighs with spicy Szechuan noodles and at the same time influencing some of the greatest artists of our time.
Today Porous Walker thanked me for encouraging him to make larger works of art. I have had a Facebook relationship with him for some time now and I knew I was onto something big when I told him he should create large scale images.
Porous Walker in my eyes is a genius . His sense of color, cutting edge humor and his down home humbleness just blows me away. He is just down right SWEET and belongs to a group of artists that are non-materialistic . He actually makes art for arts sake and couldn't give a flying hoot about the money.
I had mentioned to him at some point how wonderful it would be to take his color palate and create large scale paintings. That he should take his work to the next level. He actually took me up on my advice and I feel honored to have influenced him.

For some time now I have also had the distinct honor of knowing Rene Almanza who I consider one of the great rising stars of the contemporary art world . At the age of thirty, Rene's work is both strong and powerful and comes from a soul much older than his years. His images jump off the canvas, making you feel a sense of urgency and desperation. His work is disturbing but in a good way.

Rene and I have been conversing for a little over two months . He is in Barcelona working hard surviving off that wonderful crunchy Spanish bread and hearty Catalonian cheese. I enjoy hearing from him daily especially when he chats with me about his fondness for Spanish woman and his lack of funds being so far away from home. You get a real insight into this artists life. Its amazing. I keep on thinking about Picasso and what he would have said to me if the internet were around sixty years ago.
What disturbs me most about getting to know Rene Almanza and Porous Walker is that both artists haven't had much acclaim yet. I think that they both deserve more recognition than the art world has bestowed upon them. I will wait and follow their careers and know that their friendship has meant so much to me. God Bless both of them !!

LOW BROW ART CAN ALL LOOK ALIKE , CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHO PAINTED WHICH PAINTING ?

2010-07-24T10:30:00.008-04:00

IMAGINE HAVING HAD THE ABILITY TO TALK TO PICASSO EVERY DAY

2010-07-23T12:29:00.004-04:00

Imagine having had the ability to talk to Picasso every day or purchase a work from him for very little money because he was traveling and was in need of money. Facebook has created a wonderful resource to meet artists worldwide, buy their art, strike up conversations and even become friends. From the click of the mouse you can see galleries explore their inventory and even critique the thousands of artists who post their work online. It is a brave new world for artists , collectors and dealers alike.

I'am a late comer to Facebook only joining 6 months ago. However I have lost no time working this medium to my advantage. I have met gallery owners, browsed hundreds of artist pages and formed many relationships and friendships with people all over the world. Its incredible that I can sit at my desk while making a hearty chicken soup on my stove and talk to some of the most renowned artists of our time sharing personal stories and discussing their work. What an educational tool this has become, where as soon as you leave your opinion about a movement or an individual work, you can get feedback from just about anybody.

Now not everyone in the art world on Facebook is altruistic. There are many there only to hawk their goods. They don't really care to become friends and share their human condition. Those often frustrate me but I remain resolute on this journey of discovery. I choose to look for those who are genuine because there are so many fascinating stories to hear and friendships to solidify !

One thing I know that one day I can boast to those of a younger generation that I had the profound opportunity of speaking with some of the greatest emerging artists today and collecting some their most beautiful artworks.

STREET ART CREEPS ITS WAY INTO THE MAINSTREAM

2010-07-21T02:37:00.003-04:00

Slowly but surely the art establishment is taking notice of the street art movement. With the opening last week of Viva La Revolucion : A dialogue With The Urban Landscape at the Museum Of Contemporary Art in San Diego, the once overlooked art form by the art establishment is growing large cohones of legitimacy. Although I did not attend the show I read reviews from Arrested Motion and spoke to many who attended the show. I heard nothing but postive reviews from everyone. The works exhibited by Os Gemeos, Date Farmers and Shepard Fairey were standouts. Unfortunately I could not view Banksy's work, it wasn't allowed to be photographed. This show will be the predecessor to an even bigger show curated by Jeffery Dietch of the MOCA in Los Angeles slated to open in April 2011. Has the West Coast become the birth place of whats avant garde in the art world ? It appears the museums there are taking risks exposing the viewing public to an art form that was once relegated to sidewalks, back alleys and the sides of aging buildings. My guess is that the old stodgy East Coast art establishment is finally waking up too and taking notice of this art form that has been in development for over 20 years now. Why just this month The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut mounted an exhibition of established urban /street artist Kaws . It shouldn't be long before the Whitney, Guggenheim or the MOMA will follow suit and showcase their take on this movement.

EGOSEUMS: HOW DECLASSE !!!

2010-07-15T15:10:00.001-04:00

Click on title above to read article !!

Viva la Revolucion: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape at The Museum Of Contemporary Art San Diego

2010-07-12T05:00:00.001-04:00

http://www.mcasd.org/exhibitions/616/viva-la-revolucion

The exhibition includes a diverse range of 20 artists from 8 countries that are linked together by how their work addresses urban issues -- Akay (Sweden), Banksy (U.K.), Blu (Italy), Mark Bradford (U.S.), William Cordova (U.S.), Date Farmers (U.S.), Stephan Doitschinoff [CALMA] (Brazil), Dr. Lakra (Mexico), Dzine (U.S.), David Ellis (U.S.), FAILE (U.S.), Shepard Fairey (U.S.), Invader (France), JR (France), Barry McGee (U.S.), Ryan McGinness (U.S.), Moris (Mexico), Os Gemeos (Brazil), Swoon (U.S.), and Vhils (Portugal).

ART OF A GENIUS: POROUS WALKER

2010-07-10T16:09:00.004-04:00

I have seldom run into an artist that solicits such a response as Porous Walker. You either love him or hate him, there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. I met Porous Walker a month before his show at Fifty24SF surfing the web looking for new talent. When I came across his drawings I couldn't stop laughing. The more images I saw, the more laughter emanated from my soul. I said to myself, this guy is onto to something. He created this whole world of funny little characters with over sized teeth talking to themselves using wry statements usually based upon political or social commentary. If I had stopped there, I might have shrugged this artist off as an illustrator, but I chose to study his world vigorously. I discovered that Porous Walker had a sophisticated sense of composition and his works can be colorful crammed with cartoons overlayed with paint like a Jackson Pollock painting. I discovered that he was a human being filled with generosity and compassion for all mankind. What Porous Walker lacks in acceptance he more than makes up with his sharp insight into the sometimes cruel and surreal world.

Artist Max Subtalk summed it up beautifully: OK, so I have a confession. Went to Fifty24SF, and I get it now. At first glance in Juxtapoz I was like yeah yeah another "low brow" art hero. But, you are FUCKING BRILLIANT AND HILARIOUS! That shit had me, my bitter old Manhattan Mom, and my whole family, cracking up. We went thru every drawing one by one and they are... Classic. I wouldve bought one but I am a "starving" artist. Literally. So I opted for a future barter possibility. Cheers man!

NEXT WEEK: THE GENIUS OF POROUS WALKER

2010-07-04T04:16:00.003-04:00

LOW BROW ART, DOES IT DELIVER, IS IT EXCITING ??

2010-07-04T03:15:00.005-04:00

I have been wrestling with this topic in my own mind for months now and I keep on coming up with the same answer, too many artists doing the same thing, how boring. In my opinion the makings of a great artist should be originality of style . You look these low brow artists and after a while their art work all looks the same.You ask yourself has this movement produced any standouts and the real answer to that question in my mind is NO. While all these painters can paint, none of them have set themselves apart from the rest. Many of the images produced are derivative and repetitive. You look at a Jeff Soto piece and you see similarities to Camille Rose Garcia or a whole slew of other LOW BROW artists. Just go to Los Angeles and you will see hundreds of artists painting the same genre. There are no super stars.. When the history book is written on this period, I believe that it will take a back seat to artist's like Barry Mcgee,The Date Farmers Judith Supine, The Clayton Brothers or PorousWalker ! When buying a Low Brow painting and spending nearly 12k for it, ask yourself can I sell this item if I need money . I think we all know the answer to that question is NO . Some will say collecting art isn't about money however I disagree with that idea. Art is all about money or artists would give their work away or sell paintings at very reasonable prices. Galleries are in business to sell art, collectors buy art as investments and artists hope to make lots of money by becoming famous. As sad as that may seem , its the reality of the art world.

WHEN IS BAD ART JUST PLAIN BAD ???

2010-07-04T01:45:00.004-04:00

I have been on sabbatical for months now but with all these big name contemporary low brow and street artists flooding the market with poor quality prints, I found it necessary to voice my opinion once again. Lately artist's like Jeff Soto, Mr. Brainwash,Shepard Fairey,Rene Gagnon, Fake and David Kinsey have been issuing garbage hoping that their adoring public continue to buy up whatever comes to market. Reminds me of what happened in the real estate market a few years back . Eventually there will be a huge supply of prints on the market and no buyers. One has to step back and start to think about the quality of a print before making a purchase. The public has to stop acquiring a name just for the flip. Jeff Soto's new print is not even mediocre. It looks like a robot covered in excrement. Mr Brainwash appears to be rehashing old subject matter over and over and his work has become unexciting and forgettable. Once a rising star in the art world, Mr. Brainwash is fading as well. His lack of originality is making his art work stale and very unappealing. Shepard Fairey seems to be falling into this category as well. All his new prints are rehashes of his paintings from his May Day show, no real genius there. Ask yourself, is he just making the prints for the love of money? Rene Gagnon, Fake and David Kinsey also fall into this category, there is very little excitement about their work. Gagnon issues a print of a spray can with a Campbells Soup Logo. Haven't we seen this done by so many artists ? Isn't that boring?? Fake issued a print of Ganesha holding a spray can, a brush and a can of paint. All I could do was yawn, where was the originality in that? Finally David Kinsey who is known for strong images did a skull with sunglasses. Haven't we seen enough take offs on the Hirst Skull ?

I think if an artist runs out of good ideas, he needs to take a break. There is no rush to come out month after month with sub standard material thus flooding the market with junk. Those who take time producing work and come to market selectively will go down in art history with memorable prints !

DATE FARMERS HAVE HIGH AMBITIONS

2010-03-30T07:10:00.006-04:00

The Date Farmers, a wonderful pair of Mexican American artists who make these incredible collages using found objects, drawings and layering them on colors from the south of the border, last month jumped ship and signed with Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills. Ace Gallery has had somewhat of a checkered past. They have filed for Bankruptcy 6 times since 1982 according to an article in the LA Times and it's owner according to the same article had plead no contest to stealing art works in the 1980's. To be fair to Ace Gallery, they have some clout in the art world representing artists like Sam Francis and Robert Rauschenberg and that should be very beneficial to the Date Farmer's career

Excitement about the Date Farmer's move is everywhere especially from collectors who have held works for several years now. They are finally in a break out mode. Don't miss their group show coming up at the San Diego Musuen of Art. I tried to find the opening date but was unsuccessful. Their new work is large, powerful and hauntingly beautiful. I think that this duo is on the road to making art history. Let see if I'am wrong ?

NEW IMAGE ART GALLERY IS DA BOMB, MEET MARSEA GOLDBERG !!

2010-03-27T21:36:00.015-04:00

As an art collector you are always looking for galleries which showcase consistently brilliant new talent. You peruse the internet looking through inventory of many different galleries. When you come to New Image Art , you say to yourself, WOW ! One artist after another blows you away. Whether it be Judith Supine, Date Farmers, Anthony Lister, Bast or Retna, every single artist shown at this gallery has something special to offer !! Marsea Goldberg is the director / owner of the gallery. She is tough, determined and born with one of the best eye's for art in the business. The quality she offers the public far surpasses her competition. Even Jeffery Deitch bought one of Retna's pieces at the gallery's current show for the artist entitled Retina : DESATURATED. That says a lot about a gallery owner when another gallery owner, soon to become director of the MOCA , patronizes your business !

I love everything about this gallery and it's owner. Her personality oozes art and she is always pleasant to deal with. Goldberg is no push over and you have to deal with her knowing that. She is tough negotiating but you always come away loving what you buy. I highly recommend this gallery to artists and patrons alike. This woman has a real pulse on whats current in the art world and buying from her is rarely a mistake !!

CHECK THIS OUT, MY BUDDY PATRICK MARTINEZ, STREET ARTIST EXTRODINAIRE

2010-03-27T02:20:00.003-04:00

blow up status: patrick martinez from Patrick Martinez on Vimeo.

Patrick Martinez: You Don't Have To Lie To Kick It @ Fifty24LA Gallery from Patrick Martinez on Vimeo.

BANKSY HATES MY BLOG ??

2010-03-06T17:22:00.008-05:00

You know you arrived when someone like Banksy has commented on your blog:

Banksy
said...

Your blog and art are equally as sh1t. Give up, get a job!

That's a real slap in the face to all the artist's I collect : D Face, Bast, Date Farmers, Mr Brainwash, Faile etc etc etc. I guess I should be flattered that someone so highly regarded even looked at my blog.

Banksy was probably commenting on my opinion of Cartrain. Do I detect jealousy ? Maybe it wasn't him who wrote the comment ? LOL. Whomever doesn't like Cartrains work that's fine. One thing I am sure of, it has generated a lot of controversy. In in the art world that's a good thing!! It was controversy that got Warhol, Haring, Schnabel and Mr. Brainwash noticed. Love goes out to all you haters !!

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN ART DEALERS AND COLLECTORS RUN FOR THE EXIT ??

2010-03-05T14:57:00.028-05:00

This weeks entry should be of interest to every art collector here and abroad. I couldn't stop thinking about this topic for over a week now. An artist I loved was being dumped by a lot of collectors and dealers alike. I asked myself, why? Did this artist fall from grace ? Did he become an alcoholic and his work was no longer desirable? Why were all these people selling his pieces ? I couldn't figure it out. I even tried calling the people who were selling the work but no one wanted to give me a straight answer. Finally I called a my good friend Jason at Art Asylum Boston and he gave me a plausible reason why they might be selling this artist. Apparently the artist was going to have a show at the British gallery LAZ.inc and that they are going to be releasing a print for @ 1200 dollars. He thought that price to be astronomical and I agreed. I asked myself why would anyone pay 1200 dollars for a print when they could buy an original for between 900 and 1400 dollars ? To make matters worse, original art works by this artist weren't selling on Ebay at any price ! Maybe that's why the people in the " know" were running for the exits ? Now I don't find this reasoning to make any sense, nothing had changed with this artist's body of work. He is still producing wonderful images which made me even more perplexed than ever.

The artist I am writing about is Bast: http://www.bastny.com
His collages are incredible and he is one of the more noted artists in this street art movement. Ill never understand why dealers and collectors collectively dump a work of art, if at one time they were great fans of the artist. Bast is a great street artist and long term he should remain important. Art should never be bought and sold like a stock where your purchases can be based on hype. You should love art, appreciate what you own and treat it as a life long investment. When dealers start controlling the market by buying and selling works to manipulate prices you have step back and wait for the carnage to happen. If the market is too high, wait for it to come back, never chase anything. When no one wants a previously popular artist, it's time to buy if the price is right ! BAST is an extraordinary artist and now may be a good time to accumulate his work. Look to Ebay as a good tool to scoop up selected works. Contact sellers who are desperate to get rid of something they perceive as a losing investment.You might pick up something special.

BANSKY AND DAMIEN HIRST MOVE OVER, THERE IS A NEW GUY IN TOWN AND HE IS ONLY 18

2010-02-23T14:17:00.014-05:00

Psst, can I tell you a secret ? I haven't been this excited about anyone in the art world in over 20 years. He is 18 years old and he has taken London by storm ! His name is CARTRAIN. That's his street moniker, his real name is a mystery to me This boy is a genius. He has challenged the world's most famous conceptual artist to date, Damien Hirst , and that's no small feat. Hirst has threatened to sue the young artist for stealing his image of a diamond encrusted skull . Whether that's legal is up to the courts to decide but if you think about it, thousands of artists have stolen Warhol's Marilyn or Disney's Mickey Mouse and have gotten away with it.

Cartrain also "borrowed" some very expensive pencils from a Damien Hirst's exhibit at the Tate for which he was arrested. He was brash enough to sign a series of prints related to that incident with the stolen pencils. Forget all the hype, Cartrian's work is superb. His works comment on today's society and the art world he so much a part of. Remember this boy is 18 years of age and has been creating artwork since he was 11. Unlike Mr Brainwash who may be here for only 15 minutes, Cartrain has real talent.He incorporates his unbridled youthful mind into each piece he makes no matter how simplistic it looks. His work provokes the viewer to think and in the end makes them smile. You can purchase what is left from his show that started Feb 19 2010 at Guerilla Art Gallery.

I seldom see such insight from someone so young. His take on the world around him, although left winged, makes serious commentaries. His artwork is strong almost obnoxious but thats why I like it. It screams here I'am, take notice. Oh the joy of youth, this artist makes me reminisce about my own coming of age. Even with his simple graffiti pieces you can see the message he is delivering by use of simple symbols and scribbling.That's what makes his creations so brilliant, Did you think like that at 18?? I think the art world will take notice of this upstart even if he has to push his way in !!

CHECK THIS OTHER BLOG OUT AND SEE WHAT CEDRIC MNICH HAD TO SAY:
The Art of Cedric Mnich » Damien Hirst / Cartrain feud

SICKBOY, A YOUNG STORM COMING FROM ACROSS THE POND !!

2010-02-18T17:04:00.001-05:00

SICKBOY is a brilliant young lad from Bristol England who has made a mark as a graffiti artist. His images of temples, pop culture and fluid figures are brilliant. They are completely unique . His most famous image is his flying temple which has been reproduced many times on buildings and walls all over Bristol. What amazes me about this young artist is his technique. It is masterful. He pulls from a world of fantasy which translates beautifully on paper, canvas or board. His colors are rich and vibrant and he reminds me a little bit of Francis Bacon. SICKBOY is closing his studio in Bristol and moving to London for the next chapter in his career. If you catch the new Bansky film on graffiti artists, there is a segment on this young upstart. I expect big things from this young man as he matures. You can check him out on his web site: Logopop

SO MANY GREAT PROSPECTS OUT THERE, THE MORE I LOOK, THE MORE I FIND !!

2010-02-14T12:24:00.005-05:00

This week I found three great new artists, Date Farmers (top) , Michael De Feo (middle) and Paper Monster (bottom). All very affordable and easily purchased on the net.

Date Farmers are Armando Lerma and Carlos Ramirez joined artistic forces after meeting at a Coachella Valley art gallery in 1998. They take every day found objects and create these incredible works of art either on wood, metal or paper that portray American Pop Culture intertwined with their Mexican American heritage.Their works take from traditional Oaxacan sign painting, traditional Mexican street painting and Mexican Revolutionary posters. These two have been friends since high school. They burst onto the scene almost three years ago with great acclaim .I feel very strong about them. Their interpretation of American history as it influences our current society is seen throughout their body of work. It is both strong and whimsical yet it challenges the mind to go further and question parts of our past. The have had shows both in Los Angeles and New York. You can see more of their work here: www.TheDateFarmers.com

Paper Monster is another interesting artist , very young @ 25 , who has studied under the renowned French street / stencil artist Blek Le Rat. Paper Monster creates beautiful works using stencils to create voluptuous woman in all sorts of exotic poses. His stencil work creates a rich 3 dimensional effect through layering image upon image. His work is heavily influenced by American pop culture. You can see the images of Roy Lichtenstein have played a role in influencing this artist's development. His first major show will begin in May 2010 in Paris. You can still pick up some of his early work at reasonable prices here: Dirty Pilot

My last find for the week is Michael De Feo. He has paper the streets of New York with cut out flowers and other organic objects. His work has graced the cover of New York Magazine several times. This artist is a fixture in the New York street art scene. Not as well known as his counterparts such as Faile and Bast, Michael's work is strong and vibrant. I like it because its different. It doesn't depend on the pop icons to make it stand out. His strong brush strokes, great use of color and individual style insures this artist along fruitful career. - Michael De Feo -

JUXTAPOZ MAGAZINE'S READERS CHOICE ; 5 TOP ART GALLERIES IN THE NATION

2010-02-06T19:38:00.000-05:00

Subliminal Projects -owned by Shepard Fairey
BOLD HYPE
FECAL FACE DOT GALLERY
Welcome to Brooklynite Gallery
WWA gallery

They are showing great art , check them out !

THIS MOVEMENT ONLY GROWS STRONGER

2010-02-06T02:31:00.000-05:00

I am convinced that the street / graffiti art movement is here to stay. Britain's acceptance of this new art form is far ahead of America . Collectors and museums alike are gobbling up the works by the best British street artists like Bansky, Paul Insect or Mr Brainwash. Two years ago a Bansky's work sold for a record 228,000 pounds at auction. Even celebrities are becoming collectors buying up the best this movement has to offer. However for the most part, they seem to be focused mostly on the British movement .

Here in America there is a wealth of talented street / graffiti artists. In this writers opinion, they are as good if not better than their British counterparts. Our cities have given birth to artists like Shepard Fairey, David Flores, Saber, Bast, the print collective Faile,Swoon, Peru Ana Ana Peru Doze Green and of course who cant forget the grand daddies of the movement Kieth Haring and Taki 183. We are at a very important crossroads in the art world where new important art will be created outside and than brought inside for the critics and collectors alike to view.

As the turn of the last century gave us the impressionist, post impressionist and the expressionist movements, this millennium's graffiti and street art will develop into a movement possibly several movements. I know that's a big call but you can see it in the work that is being produced and shown in galleries today.Many artists are feeding off one another's ideas and styles. While that can be construed by some critics as copying, it is really the development of a style or period of art. To ignore this trend I think would be a big mistake and only time will prove me right.

HUNTING DOWN AN ARTIST YOU FOUND ON A WALL

2010-02-05T14:03:00.000-05:00

"It's easier said than done, trying to find an elusive artist who made a masterpiece you found on a wall in a warehouse district."

I have a bad addiction. I am always looking for new artists whose works I want to own. I must have a piece by every single one of them. My closets are bursting with work. My apartment is overloaded. I constantly stress out thinking of the day I will have to frame all this art work . The cost will probably bankrupt me.

To make things even worse I run my business from where I live. The art competes for living space with the antiques I sell in Ebay. I often say to myself I have to stop but I am always finding new and exciting images. Is this a sickness or a passion ?

Last week I was surfing the net and came across this artist Push. He creates his work on buildings and walls in the Los Angeles area. His work speaks to me. Its vibrant, colorful and crisp and reminds me of Ellsworth Kelly. Push is a sophisticated graffiti artist with great understanding for color and line placement. His work is both fluid and sophisticated It almost doesn't belong on a wall but don't crucify me for making that statement.

As a picker I shop all the downtown thrift stores in Miami to supply my Ebay online business. On my route I always pass this building with a painted colorful mural on it's exterior . I never paid much attention to it until I found it on Push's website, Known Gallery . . I wrote him immediately but got no response. I laid in bed each night after that thinking about whether or not he received my email. Finally one following morning I got the courage to run downtown to visit that business.I guess my addiction kicked in and my desire to own one of his works was too great. The owners were very nice to me and were happy to give me the artist's business card. It was right therein the reception area on top of a table. I was thrilled, it put a smile on my face, I was finally closer to making an acquisition. I have since written him an email explaining my craziness. I'll let you know the outcome in a few days. Do you think his business card will be worth something one day ??? LOL

PASSIONATE YOUNG ARTIST EMERGES FROM THE SHADOWS OF SHEPARD FAIREY

2010-02-04T20:40:00.000-05:00

Ernesto Yerena has worked as an assistant to world famous Shepard Fairey. He has just recently come into his own by creating print images that are both powerful and intensely beautiful. Yerena is very poignant about his culture. Young and fiercely driven, he may be construed as a bit radical at times.In reality it is that passion that has enabled him to provide a body of work, that although small , has great depth and beauty . Only 23 years old, Ernesto Yerena should have a long fruitful career. Many of his print images can be bought for under 100 dollars and are a very good value. They are stepped in Hispanic / Chicano culture and provide an true insight into one part of American society that is often overlooked.

PATRICK MARTINEZ EXCITING YOUNG TALENT FROM LOS ANGELES

2010-02-04T17:20:00.000-05:00

Patrick Martinez is an exciting young Hispanic artist that portrays life in the barrio. His images are real and vibrant and indicative of the WPA or Ash Can school with a modern sensibility. His body of work is rich with symbols and sarcasm and gives us an insight into barrio culture. It is refreshing to see such young talent portraying parts of American culture that most of us never see.

LINK: patrick martinez

The following bio comes from the artist's home page:

Since the vivid days of Patrick’s childhood he was drawing or scribbling on something. In his teenage years circa early 90’s, he was introduced to Hip Hop culture and exclusively to one of its elements, graffiti. Graffiti remains a vital influence in his work. Hip Hop has influenced his art ever since he understood what it was about, movies like “Wild Style” and “Style Wars” turned him onto the Hip Hop movement in his earlier days. In 1994 he attended Pasadena High School Visual Arts and Design Academy where he learned and practiced his image making skills.

Patrick graduated high school and moved on to Pasadena City College. Patrick spent three years at PCC experimenting, developing his artistic skills and trying to find a hint of himself at the same time. He kept a steady career doing illustrations and design work mainly for underground and mainstream record labels that catered to the Hip Hop community. He art directed for Concentrated Entertainment for two years as well as other projects that came to him from other companies like Stones Throw and Seditious Beats (now Divine Forces). In 2001 he was ready to take on the next stage of art discipline. This led him to apply to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where he received a bachelor of fine arts in illustration.

Patrick focuses on the phenomenology of his surroundings. He brings sublime beauty to things that aren’t thought of as conventionally beautiful. He uses subject matter such as everyday people that aren’t usually painted into the limelight and elements of the city that would be thought of as objects we take for granted. He uses these objects as communicative mediums. Patrick works with intellect and intuition in creating pieces of art that reflect and document situations that are ever present around him. Vitality and rhythm are the essence and energy in his artwork.

WHAT TO BUY AND WHERE TO BUY IT

2010-02-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

There are thousands of print makers. How do you know which ones to buy ? You must first love the image. It has to really speak to you. Once you have found an image , research the artist. See if the artist has other images on the internet. Explore the artist's web page, gallery or print site. A lot of times an artist will have made a public work with a political or social statement that gets a lot media attention.This drives many collectors to buy prints. Artists that are considered hot today; Shepard Fairey, Bast, Space Invader, Ron English, Bansky, D Face, Saber, Mr Brainwash, Handiedan, Faile, David Flores, Patrick Martinez and Push among others.

Although each of the artists I mentioned make superb prints and original art , they all come from different backgrounds. Some are in the graphic arts field and produce toys or sneakers while others are street artists who make huge works of art on public buildings. If you are wondering how this entire movement began , we can thank Leo Castelli , Andy Warhol and the entire pop art movement of the 1960's. Prints became a way of getting art to the masses at a reasonable price. The same holds true today.

When buying a print, besides considering the image and the artist, it is always important to look at the print run. The lower the run the bigger the probability the print will sell out in a short period of time. Prints from artists who are featured in the media always sell out very quickly. It is prudent to bookmark that artist's web site or gallery and check back frequently to make sure you get one of their highly sought after works. Two sights in particular that features a lot of new print releases are Feed Your Wall and Jetset Graffiti . You can also check out the print maker themselves Two print makers which I would highly recommend are Modern Multiples Los Angeles and HECHO CON GANAS both located in California.

THERE IS AN EXPLOSIVE RENAISSANCE IN PRINT MAKING

2010-02-04T08:23:00.000-05:00

Every where you turn there are artists, web sites and galleries showcasing limited edition prints over the internet. Not since the turn of the 20th century has there been such a proliferation of art prints being offered to the serious collector. Not all prints will be good investments but there is a big enough print pool to cull through to find the right ones. For art lovers and collectors alike there is finally a way to collect art for little money with a great possibility of making handsome profits years down the line. Many prints by better known artists sell out immediately and than are offered on Ebay for two to three times there original cost.

Within the next 20 years you will find auction houses devoting entire sessions just to this field. There is such a wealth of material being created and collected, this prediction must become a reality. With artists like Faile, Bansky, Fairey and Bast selling into the mid five figures for one of a kind originals, this art form is here to stay.