Not surprised at all, in fact based on recent results for parla (ie top notch 4x6 ft failing to reach $40Kusd) this small piece' estimates were on the high side. Also agree on the faile, mediocre overall and estimates way too high. You can readily get work from these artists (and many other artists) that are either better and/or cheaper.

snausages - for someone that works in the art world - you should know it's not necessarily a bad thing for Parla at all. The work didn't even make it to the block, so it didn't "fail to meet reserve." You saying the seller didn't have enough confidence is pure speculation.

I think the fact 1/2 a dyptch was even being offered on the auction block is the much more interesting topic (and questionable move on whomever the seller is). Does anyone know if the gallery owns both the pieces, were they spilt up and sold at the show, owned privately, etc?

Uh yeah, but after the poor auction showings by him and this sense of a controlling presence around his market I just put 2 and 2 together, but yes of course it's speculation. So spin it however you want, I don't care. Nor do I care if the painting is split up, it happens.

Nice to see rationalization come to the art world, looked through results at Christies and PdP and many lots sold for very fair prices — just reinforces how ridiculous (not just Parla's) but all urban artist prices were. Many paintings (comparable and larger) by artists with much longer resume's than Parla sold for less than the estimate on his painting. Again yes of course buy what you like, but in the opinion of - someone that works in the art world - I think this shows prices are still too high in these parts.

Already stated it's speculation lee, but my 'not good' comment stemmed from the idea that many people have been predicting & waiting for a Parla auction record breakthrough and for whatever reasons, it failed to happen yet again. But on the flip side it probably is good that this got yanked and didn't set the mark for another buy-in.

And about the split up of the diptych, whatever, it's not a historic masterpiece, it's just a work by a minor contemporary artist.

Imo, most likely scenario was simply that the piece wasn't going to meet the estimates, and that another auction failing to sell would only contribute further to a continuing downward valuation for the artist. His recent auction results would support this: top notch 4x6 ft failed to reach $40Kusd (who knows how far below 40?). The artist had previously priced his 4x6 ft vs 3x4 ft at a pricing scale of 2 to 1. Not sure his cv supports even these revised levels. One thing for sure, it was bsolutely absurd how at one point he was discussed (price wise) in the ballpark of somebody such as Kehinde Wiley.

Joe if you ever get too dismayed I will take that beauty off your hands.

Don't see it as a big issue either, just some banter on the internet...

But why do you think it would meet the estimate? I doubt it based on recent results for Parla as bobby pointed out and because as I mentioned realized prices on saturday for many artists with much better pedigrees than Parla were lackluster and sometimes less than his estimate even for larger works. Why would someone pay more for Parla?

"Between 2005 and 2007 I started a new series of paintings titled,
Memory Documents. In these works I combined several styles
of painting.

One of the paintings that came out of this series was to focus on
an abstract story evoked through the line of my calligraphic style;
the painting is titled: Writer's Line, Painters' History, and is a diptych
work in which the painterly gestures and its title links both pieces
as one through my history and its thematic-philosophical intent.

The first part of the painting ⎯ "Writer's Line" ⎯ refers to the
lineage of calligraphy from which I have roots in. The art and
culture that has been labeled "Graffiti art" by the media is known
from within the culture as Writing. Artist Phase 2, one of its earliest
innovators referred to the art as "Style Writing or Aerosol Art," and
was quoted saying that, "To call what we do graffiti is to call a comet
a meteorite."

Practitioners of this art, like myself, call each other Writers; therefore,
the first part of the title to my painting, "Writer's Line," represents the
culture at large and explains the significance of how the first part of
the title works together with the second part of the title, "Painters' History"
and its connection to art history.

I was compelled to write about this painting and its meaning as recently
my studio has received many e-mails asking about the artwork because
the second part of the diptych, "Painters' History" turned up without notice
at one of the world's most prestigious auction houses. After the auction
house received notice from my galleries, it recognized the truth about the
missing part and removed the half of the diptych from the recent contemporary
art sales."



Writer's Line, Painters' History ( diptych ) each panel 3 x 3 feet ( 3 x 6 feet )
© 2009, José Parlá, All Rights Reserved. Artist Rights Society.

this, as well as numerous recent dubiousness, doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the artist or his management

hey man, i'm tired of you following me everywhere mocking me and undermining my credibility by asking if i am joking. have a little respect for others.

the piece was put into the auction most likely by the gallery that exhibited the work. there's a small chance that it was put into auction by the person that purchased the work. in any case, whoever had the work decided they wanted to put half of a diptych into an auction. either those who represented the artist put it in there or someone they decided to sell the work did...not good either way.

As demonstrated by the super rapidly escalating gallery prices, they that simply want the work to go to those willing to pay the most money and now those buyers are making an escape because the work is quickly devaluing faster than they can take delivery of the pieces. parla has proven to be another quick buck gimmick of the month.

I was told that it was that shady gallery from Italy who was responsible for this mishap. Jose stepped in and handled the situation swiftly. I don't think you'll be seeing them doing any Parla shows in the near future.