Street Art has
been grabbing a lot of attention among mainstream art aficionados in recent
years. In part, that’s thanks to the growing popularity of Banksy, the nom de
guerre of a U.K.-based graffiti artist, filmmaker and painter.
Art experts
say the movement is truly global. Typically, the rise of a new artistic genre
would create opportunities for collectors and investors. On the other hand, Street
art, creates some obvious challenges.
It is
difficult, albeit not impossible, to collect art that is stenciled or painted
to a public wall or sidewalk. Still, art experts say, the act of relocating a
piece of street art can change its meaning and value.
Collectors
who go that route must understand how the change in context will affect the
work itself—for example, a work of protest stenciled onto the wall of a bank
might lose its power when relocated to a gallery. Buyers should be careful to
work with a gallery that understands the medium, she says.
Others
think that public art shouldn’t be moved at all. If someone wants a large piece
of street art to display at their private home or office, Mr. Mauri says, they
should hire a street artist to create it for that site, rather than take an
existing piece out of its intended location. “
Collectors
looking for short-term investments should emphasize on small pieces by newer
artists, whose work often doubles in two or three years. But Mr. Scialom “won’t
encourage this type of attitude,” because it could be wrong for artists looking
to build long-term relationships with collectors.
The medium has
been grabbing a lot of attention among mainstream art aficionados in recent
years. In part, that’s thanks to the growing popularity of Banksy, the nom de
guerre of a U.K.-based graffiti artist, filmmaker and painter.
Art experts
say the movement is truly global. Typically, the rise of a new artistic genre
would create opportunities for collectors and investors. On the other hand, Street
art, creates some obvious challenges.
It is
difficult, albeit not impossible, to collect art that is stenciled or painted
to a public wall or sidewalk. Still, art experts say, the act of relocating a
piece of street art can change its meaning and value.
Collectors
who go that route must understand how the change in context will affect the
work itself—for example, a work of protest stenciled onto the wall of a bank
might lose its power when relocated to a gallery. Buyers should be careful to
work with a gallery that understands the medium, she says.
Others
think that public art shouldn’t be moved at all. If someone wants a large piece
of street art to display at their private home or office, Mr. Mauri says, they
should hire a street artist to create it for that site, rather than take an
existing piece out of its intended location. “
Collectors
looking for short-term investments should emphasize on small pieces by newer
artists, whose work often doubles in two or three years. But Mr. Scialom “won’t
encourage this type of attitude,” because it could be wrong for artists looking
to build long-term relationships with collectors.
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