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- 🔥 Alvaro minutes: Auction Houses Go Luxe + John Kacere
🔥 Alvaro minutes: Auction Houses Go Luxe + John Kacere
From Warhol to profit
Alvaro from Frame & Flame
December 11, 2024
-In a Minute-
🔥 Words I Like: pivot, asset-light, brand-equity
Auction Houses Go Luxe
Big auction houses aren’t just about pretty paintings anymore. They’re investing in sleek showrooms, high-end handbags, and real estate endeavors—basically anything with a luxe price tag and a touch of cool. Meanwhile, many are streamlining their teams, swapping mega-salary art experts for more agile, brand-savvy players who can generate buzz. It’s less about holding stockpiles of art and more about flexing that name recognition like a global brand boss.
Sue Williams, Notes on Nature, 2019
Smaller players and old-school purists, on the other hand, are rolling their eyes at this turn, still hanging their hats on deep scholarship and old-fashioned connoisseurship. They claim it’s a distraction—something that dilutes the true essence of the art world. For them, the hustle is real but hardly glamorous.
Why it matters: A shift toward asset-light models and brand-based revenues hints that the art world is chasing a more sustainable, diversified future. Markets love flexibility and low overhead, and this pivot could shape not just how we buy art, but how we think about culture, taste, and status. Think of it as the art world’s spin on a start-up’s growth hack.
The moral: Adapt or get left in the dust as traditional markets chase fresh streams of revenue and cultural relevance. The luxury ecosystem is expanding—so strap in and ride the wave.
P.S. Picasso prints and Birkin bags—who knew they’d end up in the same sales pitch, making your closet as coveted as your art wall?
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-Today’s Catch-
John Kacere
John Kacere, Tracy 1987
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💭 My 2 Cents: Kacere’s dialing in that photo-real mojo big time. This piece—silky sheets, delicate flesh tones, a figure sprawled in quiet repose—is classic Kacere. Dude’s a virtuoso at making everyday moments feel cinematic. In my view, he’s hitting that sweet spot between sensuality and serenity.
🔑 Key Numbers: Kacere’s price range has been drifting in the $60,000-$80,000 zone lately—stable, but not screaming-hot mania. Hammer ratios at around 0.78 mean you won’t face a gladiator pit at auction. And guess what? Collectors still shell out more for his hallmark big-scale pieces. The market’s basically whispering: “Pick a strong example, and you’re golden.” Well, this one checks that box.
🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: You want timeless, subtle, and sophisticated? Kacere’s got you. He’s evergreen—no cheap gimmicks, no flavor-of-the-month trickery. Museums and seasoned collectors keep circling back for a reason: these works never go stale. If you’re aiming for a piece that’s a sure conversation starter, expertly crafted, and rooted in a slow-burn market momentum, this is it.
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See you next Wednesday!
-Alvaro (@theartmarketguy)
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