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- 🔥 Mona Lisa VIP + Mario Schifano
🔥 Mona Lisa VIP + Mario Schifano
Louvre fees raise collector stakes
HEY Y’ALL!
Thanks for all the great feedback on the Kwesi Botchway piece I shared last Monday!
🔥 ICYMI – Catchs from the Last Week:
Today we have a Mario Schifano priced way below market. Plus, the Mona Lisa goes VIP, an auction flop sparks drama, and Art Basel Hong Kong flexes.
But first…
A LITTLE EXTRA
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A message I got this week:

-Today’s Catch-
Mario Schifano
💭 My 2 Cents: Schifano’s Tutte Stelle hovers somewhere between a cosmic daydream and a rebellious comment on mass culture. The stars pop off that hazy background with enough flair to keep a cynic curious.
🔑 Key Numbers: Works from the ‘70s average around $55k, yet this 1974 piece sits at £14k. That gap is a red flag for some, but an open door for opportunists, especially when Schifano’s average hammer ratio is 1.73. His market CAGR sits near 7.9%, and there’s an 80% sell-through rate—solid liquidity for an artist who once partied harder than he painted.
🧠 Why It’s a Smart Pick: Logic says buy low, wait for the herd, then cash in. Schifano’s starry vibe hits right in the sweet spot of vintage revival and highbrow Pop demand. Holding it while the market adores retro-laced icons makes sense. If there’s a dip, it’s still a historically significant piece that merges cosmic kitsch with genuine ‘70s Italian Pop cred.
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-In a Minute-
🔥 Words I Like: savage, minted, meltdown
Mona Lisa VIP
Sotheby’s just handed the growth reins to Nathan Drahi, and people are already whispering about family perks fueling their next big money grab.
Across the pond, the Louvre is calling its shot on visitor traffic by shifting the Mona Lisa into prime VIP mode and charging bigger bucks for non-EU tourists.
Christie’s took a slap to the ego with that savage Einstein letters meltdown, leaving a billionaire seller frothing over so-called “fire sale” vibes.
Art Basel Hong Kong and Art SG are busy flexing Asia’s minted status, unveiling new commissions, awarding chunky prizes, and feeding that ever-restless global appetite.
The Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi is mixing centuries-old artifacts with edgy contemporary pieces, proving the Middle East art scene is too hungry to ignore.
Meanwhile, an L.A. dealer with zero fear just crashed Tribeca, flipping from scrappy artist to cunning gallery boss.
Buyers should track cross-continental moves; dealers are forging alliances and raising fees while jockeying for bigger slices of the pie.
Plenty of inventory surfaces when these expansions pop off, so hold out for fresh consignments and watch for under-the-radar talents that bigger houses might overlook.
Daily market flux means it’s never one-size-fits-all: check references, watch visitor footfall, and keep a skeptical eye on “magical” estimates.
If you see a meltdown unfolding—like the Einstein fiasco—stealthily sniff around for discounted gems.
No sense in crying over hammered-down lots when the next sales cycle can be your opening.
-Whenever You Are Ready-
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See you soon!

-Alvaro (@theartmarketguy)
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