Of course, I know there are some very knowledgeable members here but most of the real content is erased so fast at times by the more common threads. I have learned plenty in here I just think with the current format and traffic of sale and print release threads, its tough to get a good grasp for people looking for the real info sometimes.

"lady luck happens to follow those that work the hardest"

The fact that you entertain the thought of artists not being around after you or anyone else is gone is so far from the truth.

Banksy did not and does nto create hype. He generates momentum towards his works. What you say comes form people like ... who call it hype and feed into the greed that fuels the hype is so far fetched when you start calling out artists.

Truth is, I truly believe most of the artists mentioned and those not, truly do it for the love of what they do. Invader has been arrested multiple times but continues to invade the streets and put up mosaics. What hype does he create there when he is putting up free art for the public? The guy who takes it is creating the hype, cause now the street piece became a rare and desirable piece of art.

Banksy puts up a piece in response to a current event, a cause close to his same ideology, a statement about something he either agrees or disagrees with or just wants to take a piss on something. Where in as Connor Harrington and others mentioned are not street artists or graffiti writers out to provoke thought, they are artists who saw an opportunity and seized it by using legal walls to recreate images from canvases to walls for others to enjoy.

I totally disagree with the statements made about Martin Whatson by neatemichael. I have been a buyer and supporter of Martin's work since the first ever print release with edgeart titled: " All White " I then began to sees his work on the ctrl84 site and I ended up buying protest, ticket, photographer(x2) , eternal reflection and a few others. ( Cost from source i might add )I feel like Martin progressed from just doing the stencil thing to adding the oversprays and embellishments. Question: Are you a fan of Dolk and not Martin Whatson? Is it because the value of Martin's work isnt commanding the same as Dolk? TBH, Dolk is just as talented as any other stencil artist using images found on the net and recreating them to his unique style. Is this what you would call derivative or is it sort of like what MBW does but only not him doing it? Thoughts?

Fact is, none of us ever know whether the artist is creating any publicity or hype for himself other than himself. Making a documentary (and getting it submitted for Oscars), getting into NY and creating interest before BOTI on his website (knowing the number of people who visits it) feeds into the publicity engine for banksy in my opinion. If not, why does he have to do it? It is to drum up and increase one's exposure. But that's only if you possess talent and creates good works in the place. Even the best talent needs to brand himself to get his name known to a wider audience.

Object if you disagree.

the term "boy" also has connotations as a racist slur. So happy for you to call daft names if that's your things but please choose your insults better and use those that don't have racist over tones

Duhh......  "I did, I did...I called him boy and said go to sleep boy....he he aren't I clever!!"

God, boys will be boys !!!!!!!!!! (note the use of 10 exclamation marks to show support to nephews being called idiots, never let down family)

Back on topic, whatever people said, at the end, it's all about artist being promoted and thus hyped by an inner circle of people in art business. And don't forget also that art is one the most unregulated business after trading and thus full of shady practices and shady sales organised by pseudo-philanthropist entrepreneurs who are mostly working in trading and banks (and we are going back full circle).

But then as someone says before, there are plenty of unknown artist selling in auctions at crazy prices that we never heard of... and you wonder if there is really an interest for the work or if it is just arranged to maintain steady prices.

Errrm so what do you expect Connor Harrington to do stay at home and do a show in his living room, use a smaller gallery etc etc. there is a difference between promotion and Hype.

Connor Harrington has worked his arse off for years and built his rep up long before his last show etc. Connor Harrington does not need Lazarides to move him up the ranks he is moving up the ranks quite well on his own. One could suggest they need him more for their profile these days more than he needs them
So sorry you really are just talking out of your rear.

Id guess 99% of artists would jump at the chance to be supported, exhibited and marketed by galleries, its easy for people to bitch and moan about galleries being greedy etc etc but most artists want their work to be seen by as many people as possible, galleries help make that happen, i get approached by a lot of artists every week, theres millions of artists and only a small fraction are showing in galleries, the hardest thing for an artist is getting into galleries, competition for wall space is tough, once an artist is exhibiting in 1 gallery their chances of exhibiting in others greatly increases. In general the 2 work hand in hand, galleries wouldnt exist without artists and many artists wouldnt be able to make a living doing what they love without galleries, there are of course a few exceptions, most collectors look at galleries to see what work they are showing, running a gallery isnt as easy as many think, sit back and scavenge off the talented artists, 60% of galleries have closed in ireland in the last 5 years. The 2 go hand in hand generally.

So are Baked Beans hyped or advertised?

I dont get why people are so concerned with an artist Hyping, marketing, working, sharing, and exhibiting their work or saying that Hype builds art. Artists paint and in todays society artists do all of the things above as well as you have stated. This is something normal, the issue maybe is when something catches on it seems as overhyped but that is a product of success. Would you rather buy an artists work who produced great work and kept it all to himself and his collectors, arent the collected and patrons who initially buy into an artist also benefited when an artists name grows. So as this board is full of collectors isnt that a good thing for you and the artist? Or is this a chance to bash an artist and normal marketing practices because you might have came late to the party. Nothing comes easy and Luck has alot to do with things as a collector and artist, saying artists are all Hype is hating in my opinion if there is a general consensus the artwork is good. Meaning if Banksy's work is considered good by street art standards say compared to MBW whos work many have said is not good by street art standards, what does the marketing have to do with the whole picture. Both equally Hype and market their work one is bad and one is good, the hype equally effects them yet in one case people are duped into buying bad art and the other people happy they collected Banksy early.

I dont see anything wrong with artists hyping or getting hyped because the artwork created is not effected and the artwork will always be bad or good. Yes an artist can be seen as successful but time will not be as kind to the untalented versus the real talent. Show me a case in the last 50 years where a bad artist has gained recognition strictly due to hype, I cant name one yet I can name many who in there days were considered successful yet fell off the face of the earth. The real issue is people look and buy into the Hype instead of looking and buying into the Art.

I have to disagree also that only Kaws and Banksy will be remembered because they have certain qualities. There are 3 major ways to be remembered in todays age, maybe more but Ill focus on 3 Canonization by the academic and inclusion in the institutional Musuems, the Market, and the emerging Social/Media/Public acceptance much like a celebrity. For myself being remembered will depend on varying success in all 3 of these areas but the Market alone can create stars the same way academics and the Media can. For me there will be many more than 2 artists who will be remembered in history, yet you have to be specific about who's history.

I didnt read all the points of view but I was more addressing the general tone of many responses not just yours, I quoted you mainly for your last statement about Kaws and banksy being remembered only.