Urban Art Association

hello,

i ve got this print. If you are interested PM me.

best

Hello,

I'm selling the following work and it can interest you:

Christo - Wrapped statues, Project for Die Glyptothek, München, 1988.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested.

Best regards,

P.

Do we have to post to you in Italy or can you colllect?

the reason i ask is that Italian Customs is a mess right now and nothjing is getting through

QFT

We have been following the forum for a long time and it's frequented by many people and experienced collectors. Furthermore, the forum seems well set up from a commercial point of view, with many posts related to the sale and purchase of works of art.



Simply, as we are looking for some artists, it seems like a good place to meet collectors. It is not always possible to buy directly from the artists, many galleries buy or collaborate with private individuals ... we do it in a transparent way and offering our professionalism.



We understand that not everyone can agree, that's the way it is for all businesses and we know it.

Thank you for the reply. And for its calm tone.

Your explanation was of interest and therefore welcome, since the views I often pay most attention to are those at odds with my own.


[Courtesy acknowledgement as well to the earlier post by avec art, one of the members whose comments I look out for and actually read — when, for want of time, I'm limited to quickly scanning the New Threads or New Posts.]


__________


The points you make are understood.

Where our positions seem to differ is that I don't believe those points are compelling enough, from your own perspective, to justify your approach.

In essence, any short-term benefits possibly received from your 'In Search Of' posts (such as finding a seller or consignor every so often) are in my opinion outweighed by the longer-term harm this approach may be doing to the reputation of your business.

The only way it could make commercial sense to me, and where it might possibly be sustainable, is if you view this forum and its members almost solely as potential sources to acquire stock from — i.e. ring-fenced and separated from others (outside of the Urban Art Association) who would make up the bulk of your base of buyer-clients.


__________


Breaking this down for clarity:


1.  We have been following the forum for a long time and it's frequented by many people and experienced collectors.


We're in full agreement. A caveat I would add is that the "many people and experienced collectors" becomes a double-edged sword if any of your business practices risk being perceived as misguided or otherwise questionable.



2.  Furthermore, the forum seems well set up from a commercial point of view, with many posts related to the sale and purchase of works of art.


Absolutely, and here too, we're in full agreement. [In fact, I'd say the forum is excessively focused on the sale and purchase of works of art, but that's beside the point.]


The key division I would make relates to prospective dealings:

(a)  between private individuals; and

(b)  where at least one of the parties is a professional.


With this distinction comes different collector expectations as to the appropriateness of different kinds of conduct.

Certain behaviour, for example, might get a pass (or even be considered the norm) when it's coming from a private seller or buyer. Whereas that very same behaviour, if it came from a dealer, gallery or auction house, might be deemed improper, or surprisingly clueless.



3.  Simply, as we are looking for some artists, it seems like a good place to meet collectors.


Looking for work by particular artists is a position you share with pretty much all dealers, galleries and auction houses. And, like yourself, I believe that (with a bit of discernment and discrimination) the forum can be a good place to meet collectors.

Now, how a business (as opposed to a regular forum member) would best be advised to go about this is a separate matter.



4.  It is not always possible to buy directly from the artists, many galleries buy or collaborate with private individuals ... we do it in a transparent way and offering our professionalism.


The difficulty, especially for relatively new galleries, to secure representation from established artists or their estates, is an obvious point. And of course no one would contest that many galleries buy from and collaborate with private individuals.

For me, the glaring issue is how this is being done by The Strip Gallery. And what signals such an approach sends to collectors. Professionalism is the opposite of what I myself am picking up from these signals.


A few specific points


(i)  Identities of the artists on your list


Andy Warhol
Obey
Mimmo Rotella
Mario Schifano

Emilio Tadini
Steve Mccurry
Donald Baechler
Franco Angeli

Robert Combas
Christo
Barry MCGEE
Alighiero Boetti

Agostino Bonalumi
Luigi Ontani
Tom WESSELMANN
Emilio TADINI


With the exception of one or two artists, the above list indicates you're somewhat oblivious of or indifferent to the collector focus here.

It also suggests poor understanding of the market for many of those artists, as well as a failure to appreciate the mindset and priorities of higher-end collectors — especially bearing in mind your existing roster of artists (cf. point (ii) below).

Query, for example, the proportion of Bonalumi collectors on this forum. But even if we assumed there were a small handful of them lurking, what is the likelihood they would agree to consign works to your gallery — as opposed to just dealing with Christie's or Sotheby's, or selling via a more established, credible and specialised gallery?


As a preemptive comment, it's worth adding I've factored in the "No harm in asking" argument.

However, I think there often can be harm in asking — if others interpret this as a lack of sophistication, ignorance or poor judgement. It is the kind of impression that businesses in the art world should avoid giving. Might as well try your luck by reaching out to forum members who may be thinking of selling Edward Hopper or Lucian Freud, because, "Well, you never know. It only takes one collector to make a difference!"



(ii)  Artists on your list vis-à-vis your gallery's existing roster


www.thestripgallery.com/artists/


With your current stable, we go from the neanderthal homophobe, Cope2, moving along to what I'd consider bad-joke artists like Auguste, Christophe Catelain and Jisbar. Then somewhat bizarrely on to Slim Aarons, followed next by Mimmo Rotella. Quite the rollercoaster.

And now aspiring to the likes of Christo, Barry McGee and Boetti as well?

That is certainly a hodgepodge of artists. What the discordance indicates to me is a confused curatorial vision at the gallery, if not a crisis of identity.



(iii)  Length of your list


16 names. It's as long as a grocery shopping list.

Does that say "bespoke", "refined" and "professional" to anybody (including to a hypothetical artist being courted for representation by The Strip Gallery)?

Or does it just scream "scattergun" and "cloddish"?



(iv)  The platform on which your list has been published


Admittedly, calls for consignments are a regular occurrence by galleries and auction houses.

But they're more typically done via email distribution lists. And therefore targeted at existing clients and contacts.

That is very different to posting a shopping list on the Urban Art Association — a public message board, visible to anyone and everyone. The takeaway impression one gets is also very different. It feels less like a tailored invitation, and more like spam.

Not a great look for a gallery, in my opinion. And not one that exudes an air of professionalism.



(v)  Repeated bumping of the 'In Search Of' post


A commonly-used ploy, especially by private sellers on the forum, is the frequent bumping of their unsuccessful threads.

Quite often, this is followed by the relevant member deleting previous "bump" posts — so that the overall thread looks less like one long series of seemingly evermore-desperate "bumps".

This tactic is of course understandable. But it is irritating to everybody else, especially when used excessively.

And when such conduct is coming from a gallery or other professional, I would describe it as unbefitting.



5.  We understand that not everyone can agree, that's the way it is for all businesses and we know it.


"Can't please everybody" is fair enough as a general life philosophy.

In the day-to-day running of your gallery, you're bound to take decisions or choose to do things that some of your existing and prospective customers will find annoying. I agree this is an inevitability.

Fortunately, most of these upsets and hiccups will be trivial. And ultimately inconsequential, in that they won't have a material effect on your business.

But there is always a hierarchy, isn't there? One that reflects the many different degrees of importance or significance. Naturally, the more serious the issue (i.e. the greater the risk of a possible negative impact), the sooner and more carefully it should be considered.


The layperson's advice I would have for any gallerist is that potential reputational harm to their gallery is a matter really worth paying attention to and prioritising accordingly.



__________


The Strip Gallery — Hope the above offers food for thought, and is taken in the spirit of openness it was intended.

In addition, I wanted to expressly acknowledge your earlier reference to transparency, which I fully accept and applaud.


____________________


Finally, if any other business is interested in receiving straightforward feedback and common-sense guidance, my consultant fee is £500 per hour plus VAT. That increases to £850 per hour plus VAT if your annual turnover exceeds £2 million (or currency equivalent).

I am also available for weddings, children's birthday parties, and b'nai mitzvah.

Thank you, Met for consistently doing your best to keep it real on here. Many of us appreciate your time invested over the years.

A mere pushing of the thumbs up button wouldn't do this post justice.

Chapeau !!