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- 🔥 Alvaro minutes: Flex or Finesse? + Richard Hambleton
🔥 Alvaro minutes: Flex or Finesse? + Richard Hambleton
Plus, bids, bets, and bravado
Alvaro from Frame & Flame
December 04, 2024
-In a Minute-
🔥 Words I Like: flex, finesse, trophies, whispers, ripple effects
Why Some Art Is Bought to Brag—and Some to Bet
Some buyers want the loudest piece in the room. The Basquiat. The Koons. The Magritte. These are trophies—status symbols with commas in their price tags and clout baked into their provenance. Owning one says, Look at me—I made it. It’s not just a painting; it’s a public statement.
Then there are the whisper collectors. The connoisseurs. The ones hunting for that under-the-radar piece, guided by instinct or sheer love of the work. They’re not chasing headlines; they’re playing chess. Slow moves, deep cuts, future wins.
Ali Banisadr
Auction houses? They’re not new to this game. A trophy piece (not a banana I promise)? All spotlights, champagne flutes, and a packed bidding room. But that sleeper pick? It’s dangled just enough to catch the eyes of those who see the potential others miss—an insider’s move, served on a silver platter.
Why it matters: Collectors are the market. Trophy hunters set records, turn artists into household names, and solidify legacy. Connoisseurs keep it honest—championing the overlooked, fueling discovery, and ensuring the art ecosystem doesn’t spiral into monotony. One inflates the bubble; the other keeps it from bursting.
The moral: Art isn’t just decoration. It’s a mirror reflecting who you are—or who you want people to think you are. Whether you’re flexing or finessing, the message is loud and clear.
P.S. Richest guy on the planet drops $100M on a Basquiat? Total flex. Nerdy collector grabs a $10K painting from an MFA grad? Pure finesse. Who’s winning? Depends on who you ask.
Smart Money, Smart Machines
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-Today’s Catch-
Richard Hambleton
Richard Hambleton, Shadowhead, 2015
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💭 My 2 Cents: Hambleton’s Shadowhead is raw power on canvas. Forget the figure, it’s the shadow that matters, the one that creeps into your thoughts and doesn’t leave. This is Hambleton at his best, turning chaos into something unforgettable. It’s got the DNA of his famous Shadowmen, but feels quieter, more personal, like he’s letting you in on a secret.
🔑 Key Numbers: Hambleton’s market is climbing. His auction sales have been growing 17% a year—steady, not flashy, but solid. His 1980s work gets the most love, with a 48% premium, but pieces like Shadowhead are starting to shine. This one’s estimated at $15,000–$25,000, and similar works have sold for around $40,000. Post-Shadowman documentary, his late stuff is getting way more attention, so this could hit above its estimate.
🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: If you want Hambleton without selling a kidney, this is the play. It’s got the grit and darkness he’s known for, but it’s smaller, more personal—like a quiet thunderstorm. Plus, it’s got Bob Murphy provenance, which adds weight. Street art’s been holding its ground, and if Hambleton keeps rising, this is the kind of piece you’ll wish you grabbed.
-Whenever You Are Ready-
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See you next Wednesday!
-Alvaro (@theartmarketguy)
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