Sounds like what financial advisers say, but for our art gallery too-diversification is important. I got an e-mail from a European gallery that specializes in Chinese art. I had been in contact with them before and could not get any work from them–they were all sold out, but now they have a ton of stock and it is hard to sell what they have.
Thinking that when things were good, they could do very well but with the downturn in Chinese art, they must be having a hard time. That said, there were many beautiful and strong works available.
We did not get hit too badly when the Chinese market tanked since we have a variety of works–different countries, range of artist styles and range of artists. I think that is important.
Some gallerists whose artists are all over 60 or dead, tell us that they wish they had younger artists. I think the younger gallery staff want someone to talk with.
Why don’t the gallery owners seek them [younger artists] out? I think it is because they just became comfortable dealing with their usual array artists> It is different working with younger artists than older artists. All artists need some feedback, some encouragement, some opportunity to talk about their work, but the younger artists also need help with their resume, assistance in talking with customers, ideas on pricing and shows, and a chance to bring their exciting and interesting friends to the shows and openings.
Maybe some gallerists would rather their openings be quiet events just sitting around chatting, but I like it when the artists bring their friends. Sometimes they drink too much and jokingly say, “Give me a show”, but it adds to the color of the gallery.
Younger artists often appeal to younger people and it is also good for us to appeal to a diversified range of customers.
Case in point: Yesterday, a young banker dropped by the gallery-he had never bought art before, but was interested in seeing what we have. I left him alone as he walked around the gallery. If his place was bigger, he would have liked to get the beautiful painting we have called American Portrait by Toru Tohiguchi who won the first prize in the Japan Print Association Exhibition last year.
His favorites were two of our younger artists: Joji Shimamoto and Atsushi Takahashi-artists that we added within the last year. I wrote about Joji before–Japanese guy who went to art school in SF and then spent time in NY. He has a great eye. Spends a lot of time with skateboarders and does shoots for youth clothing brads. His one man show will open in March.
Atsushi Takahashi does these whimsical portraits and then drizzles paint on top of them Jackson Pollock style. For Valentines Day, we are keeping Atsushi busy painting portraits of children that their parents have bought for them.