Ian Baguskas, Kamping Kabins, archival pigment print, 8.5 x 11 inches, $20.00, Edition 200. Image copyright 20×200.com
My piece on where to find cheap art in the city, went up today in the L Magazine’s holiday survival guide. I’ve pasted a portion of the story below, but as always, you’ll need to click through to read the full piece.
The vast majority of us work with the understanding that objects hanging on gallery walls cost more than we have. This assumption isn't entirely accurate, as there's always some piece of garbage inaccurately adorned with an “inexpensive” price tag, but finding good art that doesn't require a small loan to purchase can be a largely unrewarding task.
Thankfully, Christmas tends to inspire bounty not just in knickknack displays but art ephemera. Andreas Grimm, for example, sells one-of-a-kind, nonfunctioning objects at a temporary museum store located inside a larger installation by Jonathan Berger. An ashtray made out of paper, a ski mask too small to wear, and a shirt dyed with impermanent inks typically run anywhere from 7 to 50 dollars per piece and will last, well, probably about as long as you'd think.
Also in the ephemeral vein, BravinLee's group show, “Ornament: Ho Hum All Ye Faithful,” brings together 65 artists working in a variety of media. Ranging from less than 10 dollars to the low thousands, “Ornament” speaks to the idea of the Christmas trimmings inspiring such personal favorites as Jim Butler's gorgeous glowing glass boot and Joan Linder's nude paper dolls depicting large-breasted women and hard-penised men. Those wishing for their own nudie ornaments will need to act fast; the line for penile Christmas cheer is bound to be long, and as a one-of-a-kind work, it's not likely to stick around.
For those who are working with a very limited budget, online art remains the best place to get a deal. Gallerist Jen Bekman's newest project, “20×200”, introduces new artwork twice weekly for only 20 bucks a pop. Admittedly, the works are humble — 8 ½ x 11 inches for the edition of 200 — but Bekman offers a few more size and pricing options than are immediately apparent from the site's name. For $200, art lovers can purchase a 17 x 22 inch work in an edition of 20, or, for $1,800 more, a 30 x 40 inch print with an edition size of only two. All of this is a steal, especially when you consider the gallerist represents many of these artists and actively promotes their work offline.
To read the full piece click here.
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