🔥 Artists to Watch - Works of Loie Hollowell, Syed Haider Raza, Vivian Springford, and 2 other finds

Sign Up | Instagram | Advertise | Work With Me

HEY Y’ALL! 🔥

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

📈 Top Picks from the Last Issue:

1. Anna Weyant, Drawing for Uh Huh Honey, 2019

2. Ivy Haldeman, Full Figure, Head Leans on Bun Edge, Leg Akimbo, Bottom Enfolded, 2021

3. Susumu Kamijo, The Gathering, 2020

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

Today's issue is brought to you by Vinovest, offering you the chance to grow your wealth with high-end whiskey investments projected to hit $81B by 2025, with 5-12% annual returns.

WORK WITH ME

Want me to work with you to source on and off-market pieces, assist with acquisitions, and help you grow your collection?

👉 Learn more and book a call

1) Loie Hollowell

• 📍 Bio: American, 1983

• 📊 YOY Growth 2023: -10%

• 💰 Record Price: $2,292,150 for Standing in Red, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2023.

• 🌎 Main Market: Hong Kong & U.S

💭 My 2 Cents: You know those rare finds that just hit all the right notes? Well, Loie Hollowell’s In the act of conception from 2021 is one of them. Let’s start with the medium. It’s made with acrylic and high-density foam on linen, and her approach gives the painting this almost sculptural feel. The way she plays with texture creates depth you don’t often see, and I’d say that’s part of what makes Hollowell’s work stand out. This piece, with its organic shapes and vibrant colors, is a perfect example of how she mixes abstraction with really personal themes—in this case, conception. You look at it, and it’s unmistakably hers.

Now, let’s talk numbers. The estimate is 700,000 to 900,000 HKD, which is about $90,000 to $115,000 USD. Honestly, that’s pretty much in line with her market right now. Back in 2021, her average price hit a peak of $692,000, and in a place like Hong Kong—where her works tend to fetch around $880,000—I wouldn’t be surprised if this goes for even more. To me, this price range feels like the sweet spot: exclusive enough to be special, but still with room for growth. And the auction house matters, too. Christie’s Hong Kong has been a strong market for Hollowell, and they know how to bring out the best in these sales.

Of course, there’s the recent dip in her prices, and that’s something to keep in mind. But I actually think that makes this an interesting opportunity. The market’s cooled a bit, and that means buyers might score a deal at the lower end of the estimate. This is still a strong piece from a key period in her career, and if you ask me, the demand for her work—especially the ones about motherhood and conception—isn’t going anywhere but up.

The Rising Demand for Whiskey: A Smart Investor’s Choice

Why are 250,000 Vinovest customers investing in whiskey?

In a word - consumption.

Global alcohol consumption is on the rise, with projections hitting new peaks by 2028. Whiskey, in particular, is experiencing significant growth, with the number of US craft distilleries quadrupling in the past decade. Younger generations are moving from beer to cocktails, boosting whiskey's popularity.

That’s not all.

Whiskey's tangible nature, market resilience, and Vinovest’s strategic approach make whiskey a smart addition to any diversified portfolio.

Schedule a call with a Vinovest advisor to learn more.

2) Syed Haider Raza

• 📍 Bio: Indian, 1922 - 2016

• 📊 YOY Growth 2023: +72%

• 💰 Record Price: $5,619,900 for Kallisté, sold at Sotheby's New York in 2024.

• 🌎 Main Market: India & U.S

💭My 2 Cents: You know that feeling when you walk into a room, and it just feels like it has a story to tell? Well, that’s exactly what comes to mind when I think about Syed Haider Raza’s Terre chaude (1966). This piece isn’t just another pretty painting—it’s packed with history and culture. Created during Raza’s Paris years, it shows his shift from the more traditional landscapes he was known for to the abstract, geometric work that ended up defining his later career. It’s kind of like a turning point, where you can see Raza exploring new ideas. If you’re someone who’s into art that has more than just aesthetic appeal, Terre chaude offers a chance to own a piece of that journey.

Now, I don’t want to dive too deep into numbers, but with an estimate of £90,000 to £160,000 (about $118,000 to $209,000 USD), this one sits right in the range you’d expect for his mid-career pieces. And with Raza’s hammer ratio jumping to 1.95 this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if it surpasses that high estimate—especially in a Sotheby’s auction where people tend to get competitive. To me, the 33% increase in his average sale price in 2024 alone says that buying this piece now might pay off down the road.

But hey, it’s not all about the numbers. I think Terre chaude is valuable beyond just its price tag. It represents a big moment in Raza’s shift from Western modernism toward a deeper connection with his Indian roots. Collectors are really starting to go after pieces from this phase, and I get why. These works are timeless, culturally rich, and honestly, they’re becoming harder to find. If you pass on this one, you might regret it when the next one comes around at three times the price.

3) Vivian Springford

• 📍 Bio: American, 1913 - 2003

• 📊 YOY Growth 2023: -26%

• 💰 Record Price: $241,300 USD for Untitled (Tanzania Series), sold at Phillips New York in 2023.

• 🌎 Main Market: U.S

💭 My 2 Cents: So here’s something worth paying attention to: Vivian Springford’s Untitled from 1968 is coming up for auction at Phillips New York on September 25, 2024. The estimate? Around $35,000 to $50,000. Now, I’ve gotta say, that price range feels like a real sweet spot, especially when you consider the buzz around her market lately.

Let me walk you through it: This piece was painted during a major shift in Springford’s work. It’s from the same period when she was really nailing down her signature soak-stain technique. This makes it a standout, because collectors are always drawn to works that come from such pivotal moments in an artist’s career. And at 45.75 by 65 inches, it’s got the size to really command attention without going into the higher price bracket of some of her bigger sales.

Now, here’s something interesting—Springford’s market has had its ups and downs. Prices spiked 939% in 2022, but things have cooled off a bit since then. That said, I think that cooling off could actually be an opportunity. If you’re looking for a solid entry point, this might be it. After all, she’s in major collections like the Guggenheim and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and her work keeps showing up in some pretty important exhibitions this year. She’s definitely not fading away.

So, if this piece lands anywhere near its estimate, I think you’re looking at a great deal. But, of course, the real question is: will it stay in that range? Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if it goes over $50k. We’ll see.

4) Henni Alftan

• 📍 Bio: Finnish, 1979

• 📊 YOY Growth 2023: +26%

• 💰 Record Price: $88,900 for Nightvision, sold at Sotheby's New York in 2024.

• 🌎 Main Market: U.S

💭 My 2 Cents: Let’s talk about Henni Alftan’s Flies (2021). If you’re into tracking what’s hot in contemporary painting, this one’s worth your attention. It’s up for auction at Phillips New York, with an estimate between $25,000 and $35,000, which seems like a fair range. Especially when you look at the way Alftan’s work has been trending upward over the past few years. I mean, her prices shot up by 26.9% just this year. And sure, her hammer ratio slipped a little compared to last year, but there’s still plenty of interest when it comes to bidding on her pieces.

What I really like about Flies is how it taps into that quiet, everyday magic Alftan is known for. It’s a modest-sized painting, but it’s packed with that intimate, cinematic vibe that makes you want to lean in and take a closer look. Her ability to create something that feels familiar yet a little mysterious? That’s what keeps collectors coming back. And when you’ve got museums like the Hammer and LACMA already snapping up her work, it’s pretty clear she’s a serious player in the art world. So, not only is this a beautiful piece, but it’s also a solid investment.

Now, there is one thing to keep in mind—her sell-through rate did dip this year. But I think that’s more about buyers being pickier, not because people are losing interest. Honestly, this might be your best shot at getting your hands on an Alftan before her prices climb even higher. If you’ve been on the fence about adding her to your collection, this could be your moment.

5) Robin F. Williams

• 📍 Bio: American, 1984

• 📊 YOY Growth 2023: 9%

• 💰 Record Price: $428,400 for Ice Queen, sold at Christie's New York in 2023.

• 🌎 Main Market: U.S

💭 My 2 Cents: So here’s something worth keeping an eye on: Joggers by Robin F. Williams is coming up at Phillips New York this month. It’s a painting from 2018, and I’ve got to say, there’s a lot to be excited about. Williams has been on quite the upward trajectory lately—her prices at auction have been skyrocketing. In 2022 alone, they jumped by a staggering 519%. I mean, that’s pretty wild. Now, with an estimate between $100,000 and $150,000, this piece feels like it could be a really good buy, especially when you realize her larger paintings have been averaging around $224,000.

Joggers fits right into what Williams does best: stylized, bold female figures that play with pop culture and gender themes. But this time, she adds something unexpected—a male figure. That’s pretty rare in her work and it changes the whole dynamic. Historically, the male was the viewer, not the subject, but here Williams flips that around. The male in Joggers isn’t posed as some idealized object of desire—he’s caught in the middle of physical effort, almost rejecting our gaze. It’s a cool twist on classical nudes, and it gives the piece this really uncanny, almost humorous vibe.

If you’re someone who’s looking to jump in while Williams is still on the rise, this piece could be a smart move. She just had a big institutional show at the Columbus Museum of Art earlier this year, and she’s got more global exhibitions coming up, so her profile is only getting bigger. That said, her sell-through rate did dip a bit in 2023—it was down to 57%. So, there’s a bit of a risk here. But honestly, I think it’s the kind of risk that could pay off in a big way. She’s definitely an artist you don’t want to sleep on.

-Whenever You Are Ready-

Here are 3 ways I can help you:​

1. Want me to work with you to source on and off-market pieces, assist with acquisitions, and help you grow your collection? Book a call

2. Get in front of my audience - With more than 10,000+ newsletter subscribers and 200k+ Instagram followers, my team and I work with dozens of partners in unique ways to help them grow. Interested in a partnership, tap here.

3. Interested in selling works from your collection? I'll help you connect with buyers from the Frame&Flame Community.

See you next Wednesday!

-Alvaro (@theartmarketguy)

Find Me On Instagram
Find Me On LinkedIn

P.S. Wanna get your product or service in front of my audience, start here
P.P.S I'd love your feedback. Tap the poll below or reply to this email.