I think two factors - the size is a massive issue for most - me included - what's a standard wall these days floor to ceiling is around 2.5m I think.

I know a lot of his work is pretty dark but this is another level darkness and I imagine the market for it as a result is pretty niche.

A while back someone on here was selling a Dale Grimshaw piece that was stunning but at the same time there is no way I could have hung it at home

@superguy, I am also a huge fan of Micallef, old and new work. I think that the image and size might (very slight might) be one explanation, but also think that the condition also plays a factor. Its unstretched, which means the buyer will have added costs (how ever small or large) to get it to the point to be ready for display.

In my opinion, its this particular older piece that has dropped in value, which isn't representative of his current market. He definitely has more iconic paintings and originals.

truth be told it's an absolutely dreadful image

I’m still hoping to buy a canvas.

Who has a 1m x 1m Micallef for 2k?

Two things:
1. There's interesting story somewhere there about (mis)managing an artist.
2. This is a nice cautionary tale on a forum ofter focuses way too much on a current hot/hype artist

Also the artist was sponsored by the big pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline to produce this image.

GSK obviously being guilty of literally thousands of federal criminal offences including fraud, bribery, coverups and loss of human life...

I didn't know that ... Anymore info on that would be appreciated.

..the slightest mention of N e s t l e.. brings head shakes and thoughts of ffsno..

Cranio and Red Bull did something similar.

Buy the art you really like, as they say.

A very fine artist who was a significant part of this scene and the buzz around it in the mid to late 00’s.
His work from that era still resounds for me as that of the best artist (well, him and Matt Small) discussed here.
Dirty delux remains one of my favourite paintings from that time. Utterly superb.
I find the tittle of this thread rather sad and unnecessary, with all due respect to the OP. Seems a little like revelry in someone’s diminished success, though I accept this may not be intentional.
The man has been such a huge part of the scene that we have cherished, it’s sad to get the impression that he doesn’t garner the respect he once had.
I am not that surprised this canvas did badly. It falls neither in the style I’ve been mentioning nor in his later impasto style.
I had understood that those later paintings sell for decent sums, though I can’t recall where I read that, so I say it without confidence.
All that having been said, I have seen a few older canvases sell for sums that I thought low. The upside is it gives collectors who love his work, of which I believe there are still many, the opportunity to own what previously they could not.
I do hope the continues to command respect for his fine work.

Agreed 100%!!

[i

i love Micallef

Yeah regardless of the rest of the thread that really is a beauty, artist at the top of his game when that was done

I loved him then , what a great canvas by the way ,
But his new style is even better for me

I’d rather have one of those massive impasto pieces than a banksy print
They are off the scale good. No one else comes close in the way he puts the paint down and has evolved , some artists regurgitate the same old same old

Judge him on something else not this result
I don’t know why he peaked and then sort of secondary prices fell off , no idea but he has always remained one of my top 5 full stop

That Grimshaw was fantastic. Showed it to my wife and that was the end of that. Rookie mistake.