🔥 Artists to Watch - Works of Camilla Engström, Wes Lang, Petra Cortright, and 2 other finds

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HEY Y’ALL! 🔥

Thanks for all the great feedback from the lots I shared last Wednesday!

📈 Top Picks from the Last Issue:

1. Erwin Wurm, Fat Car, 2001

2. Ayako Rokkaku, Untitled, 2010-2011

3. Carlos Cruz-Diez, Physichromie Nro 2549, 2009

I’m excited to share 5 pieces worth checking out for this week.

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1) Camilla Engström

• 📍 Bio: Austrian, 1954

• 📊 YOY Growth: -43%

• 💰 Record Price: $150,000 for Smoky Water, sold at de Pury in 2023.

• 🌎 Main Market: Hong Kong

💭 My 2 Cents: Let’s get real—Engström’s “The Earth Knitter” isn’t just cute or quirky; it’s an unapologetic middle finger to the polished, pretentious art scene. This piece doesn’t care about looking “serious”—it’s got guts, personality, and isn’t afraid to be playful while making a statement on nature and femininity. To me, it’s like Engström’s saying, “Yeah, art can be fun and meaningful. Deal with it.”

🔑 Key Numbers: Her market is rock-solid with a 93% sell-through rate. Large-scale pieces like this one, they’re the cash cows, raking in higher bids because collectors want that “in-your-face” impact. Sure, her average sale price dropped from $73K in 2022 to around $24K this year, but her volume hasn’t budged. The message? Engström’s fans are loyal, and they’re still buying even when the prices fluctuate.

🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: This piece taps into that sweet spot of nature, empowerment, and humor—Engström’s trifecta. Got that rare mix of cultural relevance and collector loyalty, making this piece a bold choice for anyone who’s tired of “safe” art.

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2) Wes Lang

• 📍 Bio: American, 1972

• 📊 YOY Growth: +2%

• 💰 Record Price: $252,000 for The Unity Within, sold at Phillips New York in 2022.

• 🌎 Main Market: U.K & U.S

💭 My 2 Cents: This piece mixes raw American grit with a twist of psychedelic nostalgia. Not the typical “fan art” gloss; it’s messy, introspective, and dripping with both admiration and critique. Lang knows how to capture that in-between space—the line where homage meets a gritty, no-BS portrayal of icons.

🔑 Key Numbers: Lang’s recent auction average for paintings has landed around $62,000, with significant upward momentum. In 2024, his market saw a +104% spike from prior averages, suggesting collectors are increasingly tuned in to his Americana-meets-pop icon vibe. Portraits tied to cultural legends, especially with Lang’s edge, have consistently outperformed their estimates—this isn’t just speculation; the data backs it up.

🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: Lang’s growing reputation, plus the nostalgia boost from an icon like Garcia, makes this a sharp acquisition for those craving substance with their aesthetic. In a world flooded with pretty pictures, Lang offers grit and history—two things that don’t depreciate.

3) Petra Cortright

• 📍 Bio: American, 1986

• 📊 YOY Growth: -5%

• 💰 Record Price: $65,259 for DEATHKARZ "australia" and "songlines" and "dreamtime"_ 102.12018, sold at Sotheby's London in 2021.

• 🌎 Main Market: US

💭 My 2 Cents: This piece is digital art without the digital gimmicks. It’s like she took a cheap screensaver, dragged it through some deep art theory, and turned it into something you actually want to look at. The pastel smudges and hazy flowers scream nostalgia, but not the cheesy kind—more like a pixelated daydream that’s half-glitch, half-genius. In my view, Cortright’s figured out how to make digital art feel human, which is no small feat.

🔑 Key Numbers: Cortright’s pieces are climbing, and fast. Her digital paintings on aluminum—yes, even the “I could’ve made that” kind—have jumped around 20% in value over the past year alone. Her auction appearances have skyrocketed since 2020, so clearly collectors aren’t just taking a chance on her—they’re betting she’s a staple in this new wave of digital-native art.

🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: If you’re tired of the same old “traditional” art, this piece is a no-brainer. Cortright is redefining what digital art can be without pandering to the tech-obsessed crowd. This work is fresh, a bit irreverent, and genuinely collectible.

4) Lucy Bull

• 📍 Bio: American, 1990

• 📊 YOY Growth: +25%

• 💰 Record Price: $2,381,467 USD for 18:50, sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2024

• 🌎 Main Market: Hong Kong

💭 My 2 Cents: This piece doesn’t politely ask for your attention—it grabs you by the collar and drags you into its chaos. Bull’s layered brushstrokes and hypnotic swirls practically taunt the viewer, daring you to make sense of them. I’ll say it: Bull’s got that rare ability to throw viewers off balance while keeping them hooked. It’s raw, unapologetic, and it’s not here to play nice.

🔑 Key Numbers: Her average sale price blasted from $180K in 2022 to over $770K in 2024, driven by a 25% annual growth rate. And with an 84% sell-through rate, nearly everything she touches is snatched up. Bigger works like Weatherman only fan the flames—collectors want statement pieces, and they’re paying top dollar for them. Similar works are hitting $500K and up, so don’t think you’re the only one eyeing this.

🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: Bull’s work is leading the charge in a red-hot market for female-led, sensory-driven art. Institutions are already in line, and collectors are grabbing her pieces like they’re afraid she’ll suddenly disappear. Weatherman is a bold choice for anyone who’s not just in it for the art but knows the market game.

5) Will Cotton

• 📍 Bio: American, 1965

• 📊 YOY Growth: -4%

• 💰 Record Price: $572,500 for Beatrice, sold at Sotheby's New York in 2012.

• 🌎 Main Market: U.S

💭 My 2 Cents: Will Cotton’s art is the visual equivalent of a sugar rush. This piece is a monstrous, excessive stack of cakes that’s teetering on the edge of “too much.” Imagine if Marie Antoinette had no self-control. It’s indulgent, yes—but that’s the whole point. Cotton shoves our obsession with sweetness and excess right back in our faces. It’s pretty, but also a bit grotesque, like consumer culture dressed up in frosting.

🔑 Key Numbers: Cotton’s market isn’t exactly booming, with a -4% CAGR recently, but he still boasts a respectable 83% sell-through rate​. His average price hits around $29,814, with peak pieces reaching $165,938 when the timing’s right​. His big, crazy pieces—like this one—tend to fetch more. People are clearly paying for the drama and detail. If you’re gonna buy Cotton, go big or go home.

🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: Cotton’s work is a punchy critique of our love for overindulgence, dressed up in pastel frosting. For collectors, it’s a trophy that pokes fun at consumer culture while looking gorgeous on a wall. With his recent gallery moves and European shows, Cotton’s got enough momentum to make this a sweet (pun intended) addition to any collection with taste—or a sense of humor about it.

-Whenever You Are Ready-

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See you next Wednesday!

-Alvaro (@theartmarketguy)

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Disclaimer

Not financial advice. Frame&Flame is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions.