A HARRY BENSON PHOTOGRAPH TO ADD TO A GROWING ART COLLECTION

A client/friend is shown with his Harry Benson,  James Brown, 1979 Photograph.

Harry Benson is a Scottish born photojournalist who is well known for traveling to America with the Beatles in 1964. He photographed the Beatles' first and third US tours as well as their appearances in Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Paris. He was a contract photographer for Life Magazine from 1968 until it closed, under contract for People Magazine for almost 15 years and is currently under contract to Vanity Fair and Architectural Digest.  Harry has photographed 11 American presidents from Eisenhower to Obama and was next to Robert Kennedy when he was shot.

Harry has won 12 awards from the National Press Photography Association including twice receiving 'Magazine Photographer of the Year'. He has had 42 one-man exhibitions of his photographs in the US and Europe, a 50 year major retrospective at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington. DC (2007) and more including various other honors, exhibits and 14 published books.

The Growing Blue Chip World of Investing in Photography

On Thursday, March 21 2013, a wonderful article entitled The Lens Rises in Stature appeared in the New York Times. For those of you who want the condensed version, museum photography departments across the country are attracting curators, seasoned professionals and directors who realize that photography exhibitions attract crowds.

More space, more exhibits and no fighting for wall space, photographs are appearing in one man shows like William Eggleston, Cindy Sherman and an upcoming Gary Winogrand show starting in California...to name a few.

The "Color Rush:  75 Years of Color Photography in America" is at the Milwaukee Museum.  "The City Dynamic: Representing Crisis and Renewal in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles" is opening at the Art Institute in Chicago in October 2014.

At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, whose photography department was founded in 1983 had fewer than 3,000 photographs in its collection; today it has some 15,000.

Although the Museum of Modern Art is younger than the Met, it started putting together its collection in 1930, a year after its founding- and a decade later the museum establishes a separate photography department. It now has a world-calss collection of modern and contemporary works.

Don't miss out on exploring collecting photography not only as being art in your home, but also as an investment in your future.

A NOD TO PHOTOGRAPHY-AN OPPORTUNITY

A NOD TO PHOTOGRAPHY



Photograpy and its value is continuing its rise and overlap with the broader modern and contemporary art market.

Big museums are also giving much more attention to fine art photography, which is certainly increasing its exposure.  The Metropolitan Museum show Faking It, was an exhibition devoted to the history of manipulated photography before the digital age.  The National Gallery in London show Seduced by Art, was its first major photography exhibition, looking at how past and present photographers employ fine art traditions.  The Tate, as noted in my earlier blog, highlighted the works of William Klein.  The Museum of Fine Art, Boston, paid tribute to Ori Gersht, an up-and-coming Israeli-born photographer, and a favorite in my own collection.

The exposure is boasting demand from collectors: demand that is now global, not just concentrated in the US or Europe.

"We've seen a huge increase in people that want to become serious collectors of photography and get into this market quite deep.  Photography is a language that everyone can understand.

Buying photography is an opportunity to own great art at a lower price.

Great art is great art......whatever the medium.

Images:  Ori Gersht

ON DISPLAY!!!!!

ON DISPLAY!!!!!

A client has recently purchased this wonderful William Klein photograph (Piazza).

A true beauty, a fantastic investment...an icon image from a photographer who adorned Vogue fashion magazines and most recently had a retrospective at the Tate Museum in London.

William Klein is a well known photographer and his sought after images are in Museum Collections throughout the world.

AND AWAY WE GO

We are already stepping into 2103 and that means the start of another exciting auction season. 

Beginning in March, the 3 major auction houses, Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips (along with 

Swann and Doyle) are ready to draw in the growing number of new and existing collectors to 

Photography and Contemporary Art.

I preview all of the catalogues and many of the auctions in New York for both myself and clients.

For potential purchases it is most important not only to get the condition report, but also to check the condition of each work of art in person.

I welcome your questions and interest to be a participant.

For those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to attend an auction in person, they are available to watch "live" online (for Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips).  Although they are not quite as exciting as being there in person.......they are still a thrill.

Let me know if you need any assistance.

As I look forward to a Happy and Healthy New Year, I leave you with one of my favorite images and in fact the first photo I ever purchased for myself over 25 years ago.  It is also available for purchase.

Artist:  Helen Levitt

                                             A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT



I few months ago I was at a clients house who already had many wonderful pieces of art and casually asked if if the pieces were insured.  Well maybe it wasn't so casual.....His wife happened to have been standing next to us and I saw the look. You know the look.  The look that says no and I have only been mentioning for years that we need to do that.

The collection and since that visit, additions to the collection, warranted an Appraisal for Insurance purposes.  I have since done such an appraisal for approximately 25 pieces and he is now properly insured.

Not only is it important to have art approved for insurance purposes, but also to have art Re-Appraised every couple of years.  The art market and values are constantly changing and has become an investment class of its own.

Please call me if your need any such appraisals.  Art Insurance is vital.

Artist:  Chris Payne

WELCOME TO THE AUCTION SEASON.

As many of you know we are ready to welcome not only the end of summer, but also the beginning of the Fall Auction Season.  With auctions at the larger auction houses including Christie's, Sotheby's and Phillips, and at smaller venues, there is a wide variety to choose from.

You can view lots online at each of the respective sights.

If you are interested in any of the lots please let me know.  It is always important to view the lots condition in person of which I am available to do. I am also available to help you with all parts of the bidding process.

Please continue to view my website as changes/additions are frequently made. The newest changes should be available on Monday, September 9th. The images/artists represented are just a sampling of the art market and what is available.  It is a personal process that I go through with each client to find those artists and images that they would love to live with.

Photographer: Paul Lange