Urban Art Association

I think these are the most appreciated and followed artists here:

Banksy
kaws
Shepard Fairey
Space Invader
Os Gemeos

Thanks for the input so far guys! I love the work of many of the artists mentioned.

I hope we get more responses. Could be a great reference.

My top 10 living artists -in no particular order- (in my humble opinion of course and mostly artists of whom I own something, not to hype them but just because they pop in my mind since I look at their art ervery day):

*Banksy
*Invader
*Dran
*Vhils
*Shepard Fairey
*GOIN
*JR
*Yayoi Kusama
*Cleon Peterson
*Hirst

Andy Warhol, one of the most collected artist of all times

Be careful or you might get steered toward buying someone's unsold stock. Most of these artists are mostly unknowns in the main art world and many has beens within the Urban art world. Check out art publications and you'll find out about the newer popular artists, although you'll be behind the 8ball as the publications are generally 2-3 years late.

Yes, I really like MW’s work.

Anyway...this is my top 10 in no particular order

Banksy
Space Invader
Blu
Seen
kaws
Ron English
Martha Cooper
Faile
Takashi Murakami
Mark Ryden

No mention of Bäst 😳

An easy place to start is by checking out which names are included in the nav at the top 😂

Ha! Good hack!

If the objective is to one day find your own vision, then a shift in mindset may be required.

Your current approach seems to be that of a follower. Someone looking to buy with their ears.

But sheep are never great collectors. And they're always most vulnerable to the ubiquitous manipulators, keen to exploit the easily-led and uninformed.



Such a path can lead to a home filled with the likes of Mr. Brainwash, Martin Whatson, Mason Storm, JJ Adams, the Connor Brothers, and other impostors whose works may turn into embarrassments as you start to become more savvy and discerning — i.e. someone able, almost instinctively, to distinguish the innovative from the hackneyed or trite.


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Be exceptionally wary during the early years of your journey as an art collector. This is quite often a perfect-storm confluence period of (a) high enthusiasm / puppy-dog excitement, (b) recklessness, and (c) nescience.

It is a time when you are likely to make the greatest number of mistakes. And potentially very expensive ones.



My best advice to someone new is twofold:


1.  Exercise self-discipline, restraint and patience, by not purchasing anything for at least a year.


2.  Resist the temptation to be lazy. Avoid falling back on the self-limiting, and ultimately self-defeating, "I like what I know".

Use this interval year instead to:


(i)  experience more art first-hand, in order to train your eye — by being proactive and visiting as many museums as possible, along with art biennials, art fairs, art festivals, galleries, auction house viewings, street art hubs, student degree shows, and artist studios;


(ii)  keep asking yourself (and keep answering) the most basic of questions, such as:

    -  Why exactly is this piece any good?

    -  What makes it interesting?

    -  What are its weaknesses, conceptually or technically?

    -  To what extent is this idea, theme, subject matter, style or technique just a rehash of what has already been done ad nauseam by other artists?;


(iii)  invest in acquiring and reading far, far more books;


(iv)  seek out art programmes, documentaries, films, panel discussions, debates, and art-show reviews; and


(v)  generally put in the time and hard work to make yourself more educated than the average dealer who's looking for their next mark — whether this learning is about the art-historical canon, art criticism, artistic mediums and techniques, or the art market.

You will be rewarded for your efforts. And the efforts alone are likely to be rewarding, if not enjoyable.



Among other things, the above tips should help you to avoid a couple of undesirable outcomes:

First, too frequently being a patsy to random salespeople.

Second, turning into one of these insular "urban art" fans who have been collecting for two decades, know almost everything there is to know within their comfort zone, and yet remain tragically clueless about any art movement prior to the 1950s.



The following thread started in 2016 contains additional recommendations you may find useful, ADVICE FOR NEW COLLECTORS:

urbanartassociation.com/thread/141059/advice-new-collectors


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To illustrate what passion, dedication and thoughtfulness can achieve, check out the posts by Feral Things, which have consistently inspired me, even pushing me to up my own game.

[And if this member had a Martin Whatson, Gonefellow, Ted Patrick or Bambi in their art collection, I would eat my hat.]

Sadly, they haven't been active here since 2016, which I consider a grave loss to the forum:

urbanartassociation.com/user/12704/recent


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At least for novices who are often impatient and overly keen on building their art collections quickly, I take the view that, unless qualified, the above mantra is terribly flawed.

Prioritising buying over knowledge and acumen sounds like a recipe for future tears. Again, one can imagine homes filled with works by Mr. Brainwash — in all of their unapologetically vacuous, formulaic and derivative mawkishness.

A few more contrived paint splatters and drips around Charlie Chaplin? Yes, please! Let's include Albert Einstein too. Along with Marilyn Monroe, of course. And a happy chimpanzee, spraypainting "Follow Your Dreams".

Ooh, baby, now that's what I call ART!



Below is a 2015 thread that might also be of interest, JJ Adams Muhammad Ali:

urbanartassociation.com/thread/132009/jj-adams-muhammad-ali


And here is an extract from a post therein, relating to how our tastes can change, sometimes dramatically, as we become increasingly well-versed and rounded as collectors:




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Happy New Year. And good luck with the adventures that await you.

Sorry, you'll have to do your own homework. Art collecting is a competition and if you enjoy art, it won't feel like homework.