Odds on Artists

New York Magazine’s Erica Orden wrote a lovely art market package this week aimed at identifying steals and bargains in the current depressed market. She picks some Impressionists (Sisley), some Contemporary Masters (who knew Donald Judd was undervalued?) and some auction opportunities (Stella, Fischl.) She also runs this funny tout sheet giving odds on which current artist will survive the crash and emerge with meaningful work and strong sales on the other side:

1. Dana Schutz
Nearly everyone surveyed concurred with Powhida’s odds for Schutz.

2. Ryan McGinness
Most thought Powhida was too generous. “20-1. His work seems quite hollow and about branding imagery.

3. Terence (correct spelling) Koh
Some thought more like “5-1.” Others said Powhida’s odds nailed it: “Emperor’s new clothes.”

4. Dan Colen
Responses were all over the place. “2-1,” said one. More like “100-1,” countered another. “Dan Colen is in the same vein as Dash Snow. His work seems less significant as time goes by.”

5. Matthew Day Jackson
“2-1” said one respondent. “25-1,” said another. “Took the wrong exit off the Whitney Biennial highway.”

6. Jules de Balincourt
Respondents gave a general thumbs-up for Powhida’s prediction.

7. Adam Cvijanovic
“Going to pass on answering because he is a close friend. But it should be noted he survived the last market crash and came back strong with his anti-gravity series, one of which New York magazine called one of the best paintings of 2005.”

8. Kehinde Wiley
Respondents generally agreed with these odds, but some gave Wiley much better chances. “2-1: Wiley is totally great. He merges art-historical context into contemporary culture.”

9. Assume Vivid Astro Focus
All kinds of odds were offered up for avaf, the alias of Eli Sudbrack. His highest rating: “5-1. Imagery aside, avaf tackled a very significant formal issue of the dematerialization of the art object. The owner of avaf artwork has a voice in the objects’ physical reality. Never has this happened before.”