Michelangelo Inspired Jeff Koons Sculpture of Michael Jackson

Jeff Koons, an Art Marketing genius, say he thought of Michelangelo’s Pieta when he created his iconic 1988 Michael Jackson and Bubbles Porcelain Sculpture, which shows Jackson with his Pet Chimpanzee.

Jeff Koons was interviewed by Farah Nayeri of Bloomberg on the occasion of his first UK Public Exhibition of his Popeye Series, at the Serpentine Gallery until September 13, 2009.

Jeff Koons said he "wanted to give the viewer a sense of a spiritual authority and intended the sculpture as a way of paying homage to the greatness".

“The type of adulation, the type of support that’s given to pop artists -- this was the contemporary type of support that I thought that Christ would have received in his time,” explains Koons, who says he executed the sculpture in a Renaissance style, its triangular shape reminiscent of Michelangelo’s Pieta.

Robert Indiana EAT Sculpture Gets LOVE 44 Years Late

A Museum Exhibition of Robert Indiana Art, mostly from the Artist's personal collection, is on view at the Farnsworth Museum through October 25, 2009.

The Exhibition explores the vast range of Indiana’s work from the 1950s to the present, focusing on what he has done since 1978,

In addition to showing Indiana's 20 Foot EAT Sculpture with 400 flashing LED lights, the Farnworth Museum is Exhibiting 80 Robert Indianas, mostly from the Artist's Collection.

The Exhibition includes the Robert Indiana's iconic LOVE and new HOPE Sculptures, recently featured at the Democratic National Convention.

Robert Indiana's EAT Sculpture is now installed on the roof of Farnworth Museum after not being seen for 44 years.

Containing about 400 flashing LED lights, Indiana's EAT Sculpture was originally commissioned by Phillip Johnson for the New York State Pavilion at '64 World’s Fair in Flushing, New York.

When installed at NY State Pavilion, Indiana’s EAT Sculpture created huge confusion at the '64 World's Fair. Because of the flashing lights, long lines of fair-goers lined up outside the New York State Pavilion, thinking, wrongly, that there was a restaurant inside. As a result, after just a few days, the lights were turned off permanently.

In addition to the EAT Sculpture, the Museum Exhibition includes Art Indiana considers critical to his development, many shown for the first time.

Jasper Johns: 6 Decades Iconic Art

A 2009 Jasper Johns primer recently appeared on artinfo.com.

Although Jasper Johns Paintings and Works on Papers are priced in the millions, Jasper Johns Prints continue to be affordable, but difficult to locate in excellent condition, especially for Collectors not well versed in understanding the intricacies of the prints and works on paper.

Jasper Johns has had a consistent International presence since the 50's when Alfred Barr, the Director of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), acquired 4 Jasper Johns Paintings for the MOMA Permanent Collection.

Each Jasper Johns Painting in MOMA's Collection has an important iconic theme; the 4 Paintings:

• Flag, 1954-55, Encaustic, oil, and collage on fabric mounted on plywood
• Green Target, 1955, Encaustic on newspaper and cloth over canvas
• Target with Four Faces, 1955, Encaustic on newspaper and cloth
• White Numbers, 1957, Encaustic on canvas

The primer establishes "the most valuable works are monumental paintings for Johns, who is basically an easel-scale painter."

"In the 1960s, Johns further developed some of the key themes he established in the ’50s, such as the Numerals, Flags, Alphabets and Targets. All of these, says Paulson, deal with counting, measurement and repetition."

Johns found a way to make the mundane beautiful and expensive! Three of his top 10 auction records are held by works dealing with Flags."

Curiously Jasper Johns stated "One night I dreamed that I painted a large American Flag," Johns said, "and the next morning I got up and I went out and bought the materials to begin it." Using the Flag, Johns said, "took care of a great deal for me because I didn't have to design it."

Few Unique Jasper Johns Works of Art make their way to Public Auction, especially missing are the Artist's most important Paintings which are in prestigious Museums Collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum, Tate Gallery, Whitney Museum of American Art, The National Gallery, Walker Art Center.

In the latest round of Contemporary New York Auctions at Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips, no Unique Jasper Johns was offered at auction, not surprising, considering Johns has created fewer than 500 Paintings.

However, while few unique Jasper Johns Works appear for sale, Art Collectors with a good eye or with the help and guidance of a Professional Art Dealer are still able to purchase Jasper Johns Prints with significant upside potential.

In May 09, Jasper Johns' iconic Simca Target Color Screenprint achieved $182,500., indicative of its importance and excellent condition.

Jasper Johns is an extraordinary Printmaker who has made approximately 500 Print Editions exploring many of the same iconic themes the Artist also explores in Paintings and Works on Paper. Iconic Jasper Johns Print themes include Targets; Flags; Seasons; Numbers; Savarin; Crosshatch.

Creating a Print is not an afterthought to Jasper Johns, as he won't create a Print for the sake of just making money.

"According to Anthony Grant, at Sotheby's, Jasper Johns’s Prints go for anywhere from $5,000 to $300,000 for Alphabets or Targets or some Map prints, and Monotypes can be even more expensive. Sotheby’s has auctioned “Color Numeral” lithographs — 10 prints, from circa 1968, featuring the numbers 0 through 9 — for as much as $770,000."

The Article further states "though Johns’s auction history is illustrious, it consists of remarkably few sales, especially considering the length of his career. Paulson suggests that more material gets traded privately than on the block. Both the Artist and Matthew Marks, she points out, "are very careful about how his works go into the world."

Those who have seen one of the many Jasper Johns Museum Exhibitions recognize the Artist's importance.

250 Andy Warhol Portraits: Famous & Not So Famous

250 Andy Warhol Portrait Paintings are being shown in Paris at the Grand Palais Museum Exhibition until 7/13/09.

In addition to iconic Paintings of Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, Elvis Presley, Brigitte Bardot and Marlon Brando, Andy Warhol created over 1000 Portraits of the famous and not so famous.

The comprehensive Andy Warhol Grand Palais Exhibition is larger than the 1979 Whitney Museum Exhibition, which included about 250 Paintings.

The Grand Palais Museum Exhibition includes Andy Warhol Portraits of:

Artists
Man Ray, David Hockney, Joseph Beuys, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol Self-Portraits

Art Dealers
Dominique de Menil, Bruno Bischofberger, Ileana Sonnabend, Leo Castelli

Jet Setters
Gianni Agnelli, Lee Radziwell, Princess Grace of Monaco, Gunther Sachs

Politicians
Willy Brandt, Edward Kennedy, Ronald Reagan

Actors
Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Sylvester Stallone, Elvis Presley

Singers

Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry

Andy Warhol first started creating Portrait Commission Paintings after Fred Hughes, Warhol's Business Manager, decided that anyone could have Andy Warhol create their Portrait for a $25,000., commission for the first Painting, and $5,000., for multiple Paintings.

As a result, Andy Warhol developed a systematic commission process for the Commission Portrait Painting. Before creating the Commission Portrait on a 40 x 40 inch canvas, Andy Warhol photographed a series of Polaroids with the Big Shot Polaroid, and after selecting the desired shot/shots, Warhol then screenprinted the Commission Portrait Paintings.

Today, with the sky rocketing prices of Andy Warhol Paintings, Commission Portrait Paintings of even someone not so famous starts at $500,000., and even more if the Portrait is of a beautiful woman with sweeping blonde hair with red lips!

Time has been good to these Portraits, and many Collectors hang several Andy Warhol Commission Paintings next to other Pop Art.

Pricey Richard Prince Art Most Vulnerable

Alexandra Wolfe's Portfolio Analysis of the Richard Prince Market demonstrates the Artist's multi-million Art is eroding in value.

Richard Prince's Nurse Paintings and Marlboro Men Photographs have been sought out by Hedge Fund Buyers like Adam Sender, Daniel Loeb and David Ganek because of the huge gains realized by flipping.

Richard Prince Series of Nurse Paintings were initially sold for prices ranging from $45,000 to $85,000 in 2004 by Barbara Gladstone Gallery, New York.

Overseas Nurse, a Painting from the Richard Prince Nurse Appropriations achieved $8.5 million at Sotheby's London in 7/08.

The hype stopped when the Artist's Everglade Nurse sold for $3.4 million in 11/08 at Sotheby's London.

Not bad, considering Richard Prince has created over 100 Nurse Paintings, remarkably, each is an ink jet print with acrylic paint!

Christie's Refunds $3 Million For Fake Art

Bloomberg NY reports "Christie's New York has returned $3 million paid in 2005, for a fake Russian Painting by Boris Kustodiev."

The buyer of the Fake $3 million Boris Kustodiev Russian Painting was able to obtain a refund as Christie's Terms of Guarantee allows a refund within 5 years of the original sale to the original Auction buyer.

According to the Bloomberg, “Every month I’m asked to look at 10 paintings and nine are fakes, said London-based Russian art dealer James Butterwick. Many Russian collectors buy without asking competent experts. If a work is credible then it has a provenance that can be easily checked out.”

Both Christie’s and Sotheby's provide Auction Buyers with a five-year Terms of Guarantee for Authenticity.

Within that five year window, if the Original Auction Buyer proves the Lot is deemed Not Authentic by a Legitimate Art Expert, the original purchase price is refunded. However, the five year period can be extended if the Buyer proves fraud.

Similarly, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) mandates United States Art Sellers (Merchants) are required by law to stand behind a documented Work for a period of at least 4 years. According to the UCC, Buyers can obtain a refund if Authenticity can be disputed.

However, no formal protection exists for Internet Buyers. The Internet is essentially the "Wild Wild West" as there is:

• No Internet Code of Ethics
• No protection for United States Buyers from Foreign Sellers

We recommend Internet Buyers of significant Art, Antiques, Jewelry, Collectibles obtain:

• Sellers Complete Business Name, Address, Phone Number.
• Detailed Invoice documenting in full the Purchased Art/Collectible

In the event your Internet purchase turns out to be counterfeit, you won't stand a chance of a refund if you don't have an Invoice describing what it is you "thought you purchased".

In other words, "good paperwork".

We doubt the eBay Buyer of this Heart Drawing will obtain an official "Certificate of Authenticity" that is only issued by the Estate of Keith Haring, nor a refund from the UK Seller who should know better.

Everyday we are surprised at the many Counterfeit Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtensteins, offered and sold on eBay.

Contrary to PR, eBay does not enforce meaningful anti-fraud measures to halt Fake Art posting.

No anti-fraud measures were put in place by Meg Whitman nor by current eBay Management.

While most eBay/Internet Counterfeits are obvious, that doesn't deter US and Foreign Internet Buyers, and importantly:

• Google won't stop Seller fraud
• eBay won't remove a fake unless the request comes from the copyright owner

Savvy buyers know the Estate of Keith Haring does not and will not Authenticate Keith Haring Subway Drawings, yet 24/7 Internet Sellers still claim a "so called Certificate of Authenticity" accompanies the Keith Haring Subway Drawings for sale.

Since there is no authority to stop Internet Sellers who offer Counterfeits, the deceit continues, and some Buyer somewhere will end up with a financial mistake.

Terms of Guarantee protects Buyers at Sotheby's and Christie's; the Christie's Buyer received a $3 million refund because Christie's sold a Fake within 5 years of the original purchase.

Most Auction Houses, with the exception of Sotheby's and Christie's, however, Do Not Offer Authenticity Guarantees for anything.

The UCC protect Buyers in the United States.

Internet Buyers deserve similar protection from the purchase of counterfeits now that Internet sales are in the billions.

Buyers deserve an "Internet Code of Ethics" from Google, Yahoo, eBay, PayPal, etc.

NY Times Reports High End Buyer Active, Low End Slows

According to 5/7/09, NY Times, "Antiques Dealers Still Scoring Big Sales". especially from high end buyers.

“There’s still plenty of money,” said John Keith Russell, a dealer in Westchester County, N.Y., who specializes in Shaker goods and is president of the 100-member, invitation-only Antique Dealers’ Association of America. “We obviously have seen a slowing in the market, but we have not noticed any weakness in the highest end of the market. The commitment by collectors is still as aggressive as it was two years ago.”

Recent auction prices confirm that the high end is holding up well, said S. Clayton Pennington, editor of the monthly national trade publication Maine Antique Digest. “I think the middle market has been down for a while, at least a year,” he said.

“The business has changed,” agreed Ronald Kinney, owner of R & S Antiques in Houston, a 30-year-old firm. “The lower-end buyers are getting squeezed out, generally speaking. Those who used to spend that kind of money either don’t have it anymore or aren’t willing to spend it.”

Joe Ley, who has been selling antiques for 43 years in Louisville, Ky., said, “It’s a wonderful time to buy.” Mr. Ley has seen a 20 percent drop in revenue of late but is relieved that business has not been even worse. Wealthier buyers, he said, still pay for top-quality pieces, but clients who once eagerly spent $1,000 to $1,500 have disappeared.

Perspective helps, the antiques veterans agree. “We’ve weathered a lot of storms,” said Mr. Ley. “When eBay started, we really saw a downturn in the market. When gas was $4 a gallon, we saw a big drop-off in traffic.”

Savvy Collectors recognize the importance of Quality.

Amazon Reverses Collectible Book Listing Requirements

Amazon has decided against requiring special Seller Qualifications to list Collectible Books on its site.
This Policy reverses an earlier decision made by Amazon to only allow Collectible Book listing from pre-approved Sellers.

Judge Dismisses the Murakami Fraud Lawsuit

According to the Los Angeles Times, Clint Arthur's class action fraud lawsuits were dismissed by Judge William Highberger.

Mr. Arthur alleged "L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and Louis Vuitton North America violated the Fine Prints Act" when it published Takashi Murakami's signed and numbered "purse material" Multiples.

Judge Highberger decided Mr. Arthur was without cause to sue MOCA "because Arthur didn't accept MOCA's offer to refund the $2,655 he paid for three prints by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami at the regular museum store."

"The separate federal case against Louis Vuitton concerns two different Murakami prints Arthur bought for $12,000" from the Louis Vuitton Retail Boutique that was in place at MOCA during the midst of a 2007-08 Murakami MOCA Exhibition."

In an April 23, 2009 "The Fine Art Blog" post titled "Murakami Art: Limited Edition Multiple or Louis Vuitton Fraud?", Joseph K. Levene felt Arthur's lawsuit was baseless and that Mr. Arthur was actually bitter since the value of his Murakami "wallpaper" Multiples has drastically declined.

Serious Collectors were always aware MOCA and Vuitton "Murakami" Multiples were never destined to become Blue-Chip Art, but rather were published as "high priced" Museum Souvenirs.

Amazon Steps Up Fraud Protection

Amazon continues Internet fraud protection by tightening Collectible Book Seller Requirements.

Unlike eBay, Amazon continues to demonstrate care for its customers by adding meaningful steps to eliminate fraudulent Sellers.

Amazon introduced key measures to "ensure customers are able to buy with confidence on Amazon.com, and reflects buyer concerns about product condition assessments and descriptions provided by sellers."

Most importantly, Amazon requires that Collectible Book Sellers abide by the following conditions:

• "All products must be authentic. We do not allow any counterfeit, replica or knock-off products."
• "All books listed in "Collectible" condition must be signed, limited first editions, or have other desirable qualities that could reasonably be assumed to increase the book's value to a collector."
• "Sellers must have low order defect rates and high seller performance ratings on Amazon.com or an Amazon site to be consider for approval to list in the Collectible Books category."

By comparison, anyone on eBay can list Art in the Professional "Dealer & Reseller sub-category", which is the main reason counterfeit art continues to perpetuate.

The bottom line is eBay Management is more concerned about revenue, even if it means the site is compromised, as anyone can put up anything they like, even if a fake.

What this means is that Sellers describe purported Keith Haring Subway Drawings as being authenticated, even though knowledgeable collectors know that the Estate of Keith Haring won't authenticate any Subway Drawing, so the statement is clearly a sign that "that eBay Seller Is not to be trusted".

Does eBay care?

Not in the least.

It is appalling eBay condones fraudulent Sellers to continue seller obvious counterfeits even after numerous paypal/eBay buyer complaints.

For instance, eBay will condone an obvious fraudulent seller even buyer feedback indicates the Lot was "Returned after paypal intervention; dubious transaction".

Instead of eliminating the fraudulent Seller from its site, the Seller retaliates by countering "the buyer was complicated or difficult', thereby giving the Seller a "free pass" to harm more buyers financially without incident.

Yeah! the Seller forgot to state "yes difficult because they only wanted to buy something authentic.".

When will eBay wake up?

Murakami Art: Limited Edition Multiple or Louis Vuitton Fraud?

According to the Los Angeles Times, Clint Arthur has added a Fraud Accusation to his Louis Vuitton lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed after Arthur read that his $12,000 Takashi Murakami Multiples that he purchased from the "Copyright Murakami" Exhibition at MOCA's Geffen Contemporary building were created from "repurposed" materials used to make Louis Vuitton purses.

Mr. Arthur's Louis Vuitton added fraud claim after he read the 2007 Paul Schimmel Artinfo.com interview which stated theprints were created from the same materials as the Louis Vuitton handbags.

The lawsuit vs. Louis Vuitton contends "$4 million worth of limited-edition prints by artist Takashi Murakami" were repurposed from "handbag material as 500 collectible art prints priced at $6,000 and $10,000 crossed the line from commerce to fraud because Louis Vuitton allegedly hid the fact that the prints were made from the same fabric sheets as the Murakami-designed bags and accessories selling nearby for almost $1,000."

Mr. Arthur's fraud claim seems baseless since Murakami' s Art, even repurposed, would still be documented as a limited edition Multiple; Arthur's "purse material" claim moot since the Murakamis were sold in Editions of 500, each signed and numbered by the Artist.

In a 2007 Artinfo interview Mr. Schimmel states: "He took the materials that he had printed for various [Vuitton] products—the white one, the cherry one, five different sorts of patterns—and he had them stretched like paintings and made into a very large but numbered edition. He’s sort of selling this rather high-end multiple up in the Louis Vuitton boutique."

The 2007 Paul Schimmel Artinfo.com interview seems to support our view that Louis Vuitton actually did nothing wrong when selling these overpriced Murakami Multiples and Clint Arthur's "fraud" claim is actually buyer remorse for buying with his ears and not his eyes.

The fact is buying quality Fine Art does pay-off, and Art Collectors, like Mr. Arthur, would benefit from seeking the advice from knowledgeable, Professional Art Dealers, and don't always concern themselves with buying the latest "flavor of the month".

UBS Elimination of Art Advisory Unit Is Smart Business

Bloomberg reports UBS AG will eliminate its Fine Art Advisory Unit, but continue sponsorship of the Miami Art Basel Art Fair through 2011.

Aside from a $50 billion write-down due to the economic crisis, UBS AG recently agreed to a $780 million IRS fine for providing inappropriate tax shelter advice to United States taxpayers.

The IRS fine covered the six year period from 2002-2007 when UBS instructed Clients on tax evasion techniques to hide $20 billion to evade $300 million taxes.

The decision to eliminate the UBS Art Advisory Unit is smart business.

Why would anyone seek Art Advice from a Company guilty of tax evasion?

The additional scrutiny is unnecessary as there are many qualified Art Adviser's who have proven track records.

UBS, the largest International Private Bank, has had a string of recent bad news including:

• A $780 million Fine from the IRS because UBS was found guilty for showing Clients ways to hide $20 billion to evade $300 million taxes from 2002 to 2007.
• $18.3 billion operating loss in 2008, which makes it the largest loss ever posted by a Company in Switzerland.
  
• $50 billion in write downs and losses.
  
• Personnel cuts of over 11,000

Dueling Lawsuits Undermine Robert Motherwell Authenticity Decisions

Two recent dueling lawsuits undermine Robert Motherwell Authenticity decisions made by the Dedalus Foundation, and are certain to add further instability to Robert Motherwell prices.

The two lawsuits underscore the Dedalus Foundation frequently flips flops on Authenticity decisions concerning Art created by the late Robert Motherwell, adding further tension to Collectors and Museum with Art by Robert Motherwell.

The dueling Dedalus Foundation Robert Motherwell lawsuits raise these key issues:

• Is the Dedalus Foundation is providing impartial Authenticity decisions concerning purported Robert Motherwell Art?
• Is the Foundation acting in the best interests of Robert Motherwell?
• Or, is the Foundation operating in the best interests of individual Board Members?
• Are Authenticity decisions made by the Dedalus Foundation made unilaterally or by committee?
• How frequently does the Committee meet?
• Is there a formal procedure?

According to the New York Times, Joan Banach, cataloguer and curator for Robert Motherwell, was fired by the Dedalus Foundation because she "abused her access to Motherwell’s studio, stealing his work, some of which she sold for her own benefit in a breach of fiduciary duty."

The complaint adds Ms. Banach, was “caught secretly trying to sell undocumented, unrecorded Motherwell works that have no studio inventory numbers and for which Dedalus Foundation has no records.”

Ms. Banach consigned two Motherwells to Christie’s in July 2008, gifts by Motherwell. According to Banach's lawsuit, Mr. Flam, who did not realize the two Motherwells had been consigned by Ms. Banach, told Christie’s the two lots were not authentic.

Mr. Flam subsequently flip flopped on his initial opinion, Ms. Banach’s lawsuit states, and subsequently then assured Christie's the two Motherwells were actually now "Authentic Robert Motherwells".

Asked why she sold the two Robert Motherwells, Banach responded by stating “I needed the money.”

In its lawsuit, the Dedalus Foundation acknowledged the incident, but admitted that it made Mr. Flam “appear unprofessional and incompetent, inasmuch as Dedalus and its president did not even know of the existence of Motherwell works consigned by one of its own longtime board members.”

This episode underscores the importance of the Banach lawsuit; just how careful has the Dadalus Foundation been regarding Authenticity decisions concerning Works of Art created by Robert Motherwell.

In fact, other recent Dedalus Foundation flip flops concerning Authenticity decisioins have made some Dedalus Foundation Board Members so concerned, the Foundation purchased a $2 million liability policy.

According to the Banach lawsuit vs. the Foundation, in 2007, Mr. Flam made conflicting determinations about "two purported Robert Motherwell’s "Elegy" Paintings without Committee input."

Initially, Ms. Banach asserts, "Mr. Flam stated both "Elegy" paintings were Authentic but later reversed the decision, declaring two Paintings as forgeries."

Asked later by Mr. Flam and Morgan Spangle, the Foundation’s Treasurer, to review the two "Elegy" Paintings, Ms. Banach reversed the opinion, and now found them to be "Authentic Art by Robert Motherwell".

In another instance, Ms. Banach said that Robert Motherwell himself had in the 1980's determined that a work on paper that purported to be his, was actually fake, but that Mr. Flam later said this purported "fake" was now "authentic".

Common sense indicates the Dedalus Foundation should know whether a purported Robert Motherwell Work of Art was created by Robert Motherwell is Authentic or not.

The Christie's episode is inexcusable, if Art Professionals and Collectors want to rely without equivocating on Dedalus Foundation documentation for the pending Robert Motherwell Catalogue Raisonné.

A Judge's impartial decision will decide these questions.

Andy Warhol Prints

The Added Value of an Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board Stamp

Joe Simon-Whelan, owner of a purported Andy Warhol Self Portrait Synthetic Polymer Paint on Canvas Painting has asked Judge Laura Swain to allow questions of aging witnesses in his $20 million lawsuit, Simon v. The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc., 07-CV-6423, Southern District of New York.

Without an Authentication Opinion from the Andy Warhol Warhol Art Authentication Board, Mr. Simon-Whelan's purported Andy Warhol 1964 Canvas Self Portrait is essentially worthless and not salable.

By contrast, with an affirmative Authentication Opinion, the 24 x 20 inch Synthetic Polymer Painting will instantly green light a multi-million dollar sale for Mr. Simon-Whelan.

Mr. Simon-Whelan has owned the purported Andy Warhol Painting since 1989. Simon-Whelan paid $195,000., for the Self Portrait purchased from Michael Hue-Williams, a London based Art Dealer.

In 1989, Mr. Simon-Whelan purchased the well documented Painting as a bona-fide "Andy Warhol", and had no reason to think otherwise.

In the 20 year interim, the Art Market in general and Andy Warhol, specifically, has experienced extraordinary growth with record prices.

In May 2007, Christie's NY sold the Andy Warhol Green Car Crash Painting, for a record price of $71 million, the highest price ever paid at public auction for an Andy Warhol Painting.

Simon-Whelan's purported Andy Warhol Self Portrait was initially Authenticated by Fred Hughes, the Executor of the Estate of Andy Warhol, consistent with the Authentication procedure in effect by the Warhol Estate.

In fact, the Painting had not only been inspected by Hughes, but also Authenticated. Mr. Hughes, confirmed the initial Authentication by the Estate of Andy Warhol by placing his "signature hand written legend" on the canvas overlap, which states "I certify that this is an original painting by Andy Warhol completed by him in 1964.”

The Fred Hughes Authentication was created prior to the creation of the formal Authentication Opinion Procedure administered by the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board.

It is not uncommon for certain Andy Warhol Paintings to have multiple Authentication on the verso; including any of the following: Fred Hughes; The Estate of Andy Warhol; The Andy Warhol Foundation For the Visual Arts, NY and the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board.

Subsequent to the Estate of Andy Warhol Authentication by Fred Hughes, the Canvas was later submitted for an Authentication Opinion to the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, in 2001 and 2003.

Each time the Simon-Whelan Self Portrait was submitted, the Painting was also stamped with a “Denied" Legend, indicating the purported Andy Warhol is not, in its opinion, a Work of Art created by Andy Warhol.

As a result of these unfavorable decisions, the market value of the Simon-Whelan canvas is paralyzed. As claimed in his lawsuit, Mr. Simon-Whelan lacks the requisite Authentication confirmation to allow and confirm documentation as an "Andy Warhol Original Work of Art", so that he may transfer title for $2 million.

A positive ruling by Judge Swain would have enormous impact. It would immediately add several million dollars in market value, and give Mr. Simon-Whelan the necessary validation to sell the painting.

The Simon-Whelan Warhol lawsuit demonstrates the necessity of establishing a relationship with a Professional Art Dealer, similar to the process of determining the right Lawyer, Nanny or Real Estate Broker.

Jasper Johns Included in ULAE Exhibition at Heckscher Museum

An Exhibition of 35 Editions from Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) is currently at the Heckscher Museum through April 5, 2009.

Titled Robert Rauschenberg and His Contemporaries: Recent Prints from Universal Limited Art Editions, the Exhibition pays homage to Robert Rauschenberg.

Included in the Exhibition are Cecily Brown, Helen Frankenthaler, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.

Jasper Johns began his Universal Limited Art Editions collaboration in 1960.

For over 50 years, Jasper Johns has created an extraordinary body of Art that incorporates familiar themes such as Flags, Numbers, Savarin Cans, Targets, Seasons.

Mr. Johns has acknowledged his Art incorporates "things the mind already knows," like the familiar United States American Flag and the Mona Lisa.

Not only has Jasper Johns created an extraordinary body of Paintings, Works on Paper and Sculpture, but the Artist's enormous body of over 450 Limited Editions demonstrate that creating Prints is not just an afterthought.

Jasper Johns is a true legend; a Contemporary Master Artist who improves with age!

President & Mrs. Obama Want A Major Jasper Johns Painting

According to the London Times, President and Mrs. Obama want a Jasper Johns Painting for their White House private quarters.


Ed Ruscha and Robert Rauschenberg join Jasper Johns on the President's Blue-Chip Art short list, replacing the Western palette favored by President and Mrs. Bush.

Blue-Chip Art hasn't been in The White House since Mrs. Clinton selected a Willem de Kooning Abstract Painting for their private areas.

Borrowing the right Jasper Johns Painting in The White House signals President and Mrs. Obama's understanding the importance of connoisseurship.

IRS to get $20 Billion Names from Miami Art Basel Sponsor

Sponsor of Miami Art Basel to provide IRS with a list of United States taxpayer names, suspected of hiding $20 billion to evade $300 million taxes from 2002 to 2007.

UBS, Miami Art Basel Sponsor, agreed to pay $780 million to settle an IRS investigation.

According to the NY Times, "UBS urged some American clients to destroy records and to stash watches, jewelry and artwork that they had bought with money hidden offshore in safe deposit boxes in Switzerland."

"UBS also encouraged them to use Swiss credit cards so the IRS could not track purchases."

Unsold Jeff Koons Auction Lot More K-Mart Than Blue-Chip Art

Scott Reyburn, in the 2/13/09 Bloomberg News reported a "Jeff Koons Sculpture that was expected to fetch at least 1.8 million pounds ($2.6 million) didn't get a single bid" at Phillips De Pury Februrary '09 London Contemporary Fine Art Auction.

Titled "Encased", 1983-1993, the unsold Jeff Koons Sculpture is more "K-Mart than Blue-chip Art".

With Five Rows of Balls, 24 Basketballs and 6 Soccerballs, the Jeff Koons Phillip's London Auction Lot looks more like a Store Display, and not in a good way!

Phillips had an unrealistic auction estimate of 1.8- 2.2 million pounds ($2.6-$3.2 million).

Without question, Jeff Koons is an International Contemporary Master Artist who has created such important Masterpieces such as Yellow Balloon Dog, recently exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum Roof and Aluminum Rabbit, but "Encased" is just not in similar company.

Jeff Koons

Yellow Balloon Dog, 1994–2000

High chromium stainless steel with transparent color coating

121 x 143 x 45 inches

The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Collection

© Jeff Koons

Bidders agreed Encased just wasn't an iconic Jeff Koons, so there was no reason for it to fetch a bid of even $1 million.

Experienced art buyers know auction estimates are often wrong and are only as good as the Specialists who make them. In this case, the Phillips estimate of $2.6-$3.2 million didn't come close to reflecting the Sculpture's current market value.

The weak economy has had a serious impact on the entire Art Market in general, and auctions in particular can be severely affected by inaccurate auction estimates by Specialists not in touch with actual market data.

Auction Houses have to be especially careful; an Auction with a string of lots with wild estimates will contaminate remaining lots in a particular auction so bidders just sit and watch the remaining lots pass.

Phillips is vulnerable for more auction disasters, especially at the 7 figure level, if Specialists don't get the estimates right.

In a fragile economy, Serious Collectors know Professional Art Dealers are often a better and more discreet source than buying at Public Auction.

Click to View Andy Warhol Unique Art

"Focus: Jasper Johns" MOMA Exhibition: A Must See Event

Focus: Jasper Johns" is "an exhibition of 87 paintings, drawings and prints at the Museum of Modern Art that focuses on a handful of motifs that Mr. Johns has recycled over the years, including the target, the numbers, the flag, the can of brushes and the so-called cross-hatchings."

This important Jasper Johns Exhibition is a must see for anyone interested in Art. This rich Exhibition presents important selections from the Museum of Modern Art's Permanent Collection of first-rate Jasper Johns paintings, drawings and prints.

The quality and depth of Works is superb. This well organized exhibition is a must see for anyone interested in Art; an important Exhibition for both the novice collector and the Jasper Johns aficionado.

"Focus: Jasper Johns" is organized by theme; included in this Exhibition are Museum Selections from the Artist's important series of Flags, Numbers, Savarins, Maps, Targets, The Seasons, as well as Works of Art from the Johns' recent Catenary Series. Jasper Johns has been exploring many of these important themes since the mid-fifties, and continues to explore and challenge the boundaries of Art everyday, without hype.

Joseph K. Levene Fine Art, Ltd., has impressions of several of the important Jasper Johns Prints included in the Museum of Modern Art's Collection showcased in "Focus: Jasper Johns", including several examples published by Universal Limited Art Editions. Flags (ULAE 42), 1968, is a stunning Color Lithograph the Artist created on Handmade Paper during the Op Art period and The Seasons (ULAE 238-241), 1987, a Suite of 4 Color Intaglios Johns created as mini retrospective.

Adept at all mediums, Mr. Johns is Internationally recognized as the most important living Contemporary Artist who is equally skilled whether creating Paintings, Prints or Watercolors. Even today an important canvas by Johns, if available, sells for tens of millions. However, iconic Limited Edition Jasper Johns Prints are highly desirable and affordable.

We recommend anyone serious about Art get themselves to see this first rate Exhibition. He is an Artist that has been appreciated, and will continue to be appreciated for centuries.

Anyone thinking about seeing the "Focus Jasper Johns", Exhibition should run to the Museum of Modern Art!

PayPal Is Specially Designed To Maximize User Frustration

Saul Hansell, in his 11/7/08 New York Times Blog, describes, with painful accuracy, the unnecessary ordeal when someone tries to use a charge card when paying for something at the PayPal website. More alarming is the disingenuous explanation that keeps appearing as to why using a credit card isn't a good thing.

Clearly PayPal Management has implemented this selfish strategy to maximize the bottom-line. PayPal saves millions by reducing credit card processing fees by implementing this deceptive practice.

Funny thing, PayPal has introduced a branded "PayPal Credit Card"; does a similar warning appear when someone attempts to use the PayPal Credit Card?

I don't think so!

Saul Hansell writes "It’s not easy competing with Google. But a few minutes trying to buy my daughters their school lunches showed me why I think eBay’s PayPal will lose ground to Google Checkout."

"Pink notes came home in the girls’ backpacks last week saying that the new way to give them lunch money was to put funds into their accounts on a Web site. It’s never too early, I guess, to learn how to say, “Charge it.”

He goes on to write "I hadn’t used PayPal in a while, so I needed to update my credit card number, and I clicked a button indicating that my newly entered card was my preferred payment method."

"Here is where PayPal really got me. It said my payment method would be deducting the funds from my checking account. I pushed a button saying no, I wanted to use my credit card, and it displayed a whole screen trying to convince me why I was wrong and it was better to pay by electronic transfer."

Anyone who regular uses PayPal will instantly recognize this bizarre and unnecessary ordeal. The fact is every time you try to use a credit card for a PayPal purchase, "PayPal won't allow anyone an easy way out", and everyone is required to accept the "PayPal Dance Script".

And if you ever try to make a phone call or send an e-mail to eBay or PayPal, you will never get a reply to your inquiry since no one at either Company understands the need to actually answer a consumer's question.

A key reason eBay has experienced a double digit decline in business in the last year. A classic case of Management that doesn't understand why it is important to ensure satisfaction of both buyer and seller without penalty to the other.

Tony Rosenthal "Alamo" Sculpture Deface Request Denied For Same Reason MOMA Won't Allow Drawing On A Picasso.

The Villager: Volume 78 /Number 9

Crappy idea or fun public art? Artist rolls dice at Astor Place
By Gabriel Zucker

Twenty-five years ago, Arnie Charnick took a look at “The Alamo” Sculpture on Astor Place and saw more than one large black cube. He saw two dice.

Two weeks ago, the East Village artist discovered an old sketch of that idea “by accident” and decided, “This is a pretty funny, good idea.”

Charnick, who attended Cooper Union in the 1960s and has lived in the neighborhood 44 years, presented his proposed public artwork to Community Board 2 last week.

He would attach white Velcro dots to the existing cube sculpture and pair it with a similarly patterned Masonite structure. Then, he would paint the Astor Place island sidewalk like a craps table — complete with paintings of manhole-sized chips, one of which would be a manhole.

Finally, he would string a 17-foot-high banner between two lampposts at the eastern end, depicting a casino-like scene. The piece would take two or three days to create and would remain there two weeks.

“It’s all about the visual pun,” Charnick explained of the work, which would be called “Crapshoot.” “It’s just the most obvious thing to think of: Cube, dice.”

But, Charnick reported as he sat by a small-scale model of the artwork at his East Village apartment on Friday, not everyone at C.B. 2 seemed to get the joke.

“At the meeting yesterday, the very first woman said what I knew they were going to say: ‘This piece promotes gambling,’” said Charnick. There were also concerns about blocking the eastward view from Astor Place.

Charnick hoped he had defused some controversy with his financial plans.

“A lot of people are sort of up in arms now about the four waterfalls — $15 million,” he said, calling that installation “kind of cool.” “This entire piece is made from $3,500, and I already have somebody who will give me the money.”

He would also sell a poster of the Astor Place artwork in the neighborhood, with a majority of the proceeds going to an organization selected by the community board.

Charnick’s work can be seen on the walls at Veselka restaurant and at the McBurney Y, where he did the swimmers mural, temporarily located on the jogging track but which will eventually be moved to above the pool.

He’s now just waiting on approval from C.B. 2 and the city — not to mention Tony Rosenthal, creator of “The Alamo", the 15' Cor Ten Steel Sculpture, that was one of the first Public Art proposals selected by Doris C. Freedman, a champion of public art who served as New York City's first Director of Cultural Affairs during the Lindsay Administration and as the President of the Municipal Art Society, on behalf of the New York City's Public Art Fund.

“We sort of need him,” said Charnick, spinning the Astor Place cube in his model. “But if an artist says no… .”

Charnick admitted the C.B. 2 members “were taken by surprise.”

“The majority of people will think, ‘That’s cool,’” he said of his proposed sculpture. “And there will be a group of people that goes, ‘That promotes gambling,’ ” he sighed. “But, what’s art? Controversial, right?”

Brad Hoylman, C.B. 2 chairperson, said Charnick told the board he would consider the board’s feedback and return if he decided to pursue the project.

“I don’t think there was a lot of enthusiasm” for “Crapshoot” among board members, Hoylman said. “It was certainly unexpected. Someone thought three-card monte might be more relevant,” he quipped.

The debate, however, may be moot. According to Joseph K. Levene, Rosenthal’s art agent, Mr. Rosenthal will not grant permission to alter Mr. Rosenthal's Public Art. Like all Artists, Tony Rosenthal owns and controls the copyright to the Art that he created, whether in the public domain or not.

“Can you go into the Museum of Modern Art and draw on a Picasso painting?” wrote Joseph K. Levene in an e-mail. “I don’t think so."

“What is the point of allowing someone else to capitalize on Mr. Rosenthal’s important and famous Work of Art by letting someone else modify or change or revise this Sculpture?” he asked. “Why not be an Artist, and create your own Art?”

Levene felt that Charnick was trying to capitalize on an already-famous work to gain fame himself, and thought he had an apt metaphor to describe it.

“If you want to be famous, all you have to do these days is " just say you want to do something eccentric with Britney Spears and you’ll get a lot of press and attention,” he said.

FBI Seize Counterfeit Picasso, Chagall, Miro & Dali Art

Now isn't it time the FBI start to similar put a stop to the high amount of Counterfeit Picasso, Haring, Warhol, Miro, Chagall, etc., sold 24/7 on eBay?

eBay just told me in an email "that as an online marketplace, eBay isn't directly involved in transactions that take place between buyers and sellers.

We're simply not in a position to authenticate items, or make any judgments regarding copyrights and trademarks on items offered for sale on eBay. For this reason, we rely heavily on our members to report problematic listings."

It is for that reason eBay is a art forger's dream website, which why serious collectors should purchase Art from Reputable and Professional Art Dealers.

Why doesn't the FBI shut down the eBay art site until the necessary steps are put into place to protect buyers?

Is There A Free Site To Obtain Historical Auction Prices?

Want a free and also reliable website to determine comparable Historical Art Auctions prices without any obligation whatsoever?

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Artvalue.com is a great site to find historic auction prices for the Jasper Johns, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Keith Haring, Pablo Picasso, Damien Hirst, Marc Chagall, Richard Pettibone, Thomas Ruff, David Hockney you want to buy or sell.

Once you register, you can also get alerts when an Auction around the world is about to offer Fine Art that may be of interest.

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A great site!

A free reference source for any Art Professional or Collector.

Joseph K. Levene Fine Art, Ltd., has relied on artvalue.com for many years.

Artvalue, it shouldn't be a secret anymore.