The Carnegie Museum has found a novel way to be able to afford works by active artists: commission them for the museum’s show, the Carnegie International, then help pay for their production, like the Phyllida Barlow (above:)

“We are purchasing 80 percent of the artists whose work was exhibited in the show,” said Daniel Baumann, who curated the exhibition with Daniel Byers and Tina Kukielski.

Museum spokesman Jonathan Gaugler said the percentage of artists whose work was purchased from the show is “very high.”

“There’s no question that we have acquired more art this time than we have in past internationals,” Mr. Gaugler said. […] Mr. Baumann explained why it makes sense to buy artworks from the International.

“The museum invests in production. So when we buy out of the exhibition, we can reduce production costs so it makes the acquisition cheaper,” he said Monday in a telephone interview.

“It’s a great opportunity to buy works that have never been shown. Many of these works premiered in Pittsburgh. It also makes sense to keep these works in Pittsburgh rather than send them to New York and buy them in a gallery.”

Art haul nets Carnegie Museum 80 percent of International show (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)