Art Market Monitor

With the proviso that it is a third-hand story told by a man who made millions making up more elaborate non-fiction tales, Artnet‘s Charlie Finch retails this story about Alberto Mugrabi:

Half Gallery partner and bestselling novelist Jim Frey told an amusing story about Tiger Woods. It seems that, a couple of years back, uber-collector Alberto Mugrabi declared to Jim that, “I am going to turn Tiger Woods into a collector!” Mugrabi flew to Woods’ Florida compound with a suitcase full of Basquiat paintings. He unveiled them in Tiger’s living room and Woods loved what he saw. Then he asked the prices. . . seven figures, of course. Tiger turned red and politely invited Mugrabi to leave.

Zham Bam! (Artnet)

Also of Interest:

• Mugrabi Maneuvers
  Sarah Thornton zeroed in on the Mugrabi family while at Christie’s the other night reporting for ArtForum: The Mugrabi family...
  
• Today in Damien Hirst: The Prediction
  With Only A Few Hours Until the Sale . . . . Late on Friday, Josh Baer sent out his...
  
• A Basquiat Goes Walkabout
  The Court House News Service records this case where a Basquiat the owner valued at $500k was mysteriously sold: Lio...
  
• When Night Becomes Day
  Often overlooked during the marquee sales are the day sessions where lots of art changes hands. Here’s where the real...
  
• Who Owns Basquiat’s Legend?
  Linda Yablonsky covered ABMB for The New York Times’s The Moment blog. She was moved by the screening of  “Jean-Michel...