WTF, Vanity Fair?

How the fuck did both Larry Gagosian and Damien Hirst make the top 40 in Vanity Fair’s New Establishment rankings. While I’m excited to see two artists represented, did they have to pick the dealer client combo? Particularly at #31 and #38? It just seems like a bit much. Throw in Bacon-buyer Roman Abramovich at #8, and you have the entire Bacon supply chain.

Of course, Vanity Fair was not cool enough to show some love to the ultimate Baconian, Nelson Diaz. That’s a damned shame, because you can look at his work and see where Bacon was headed.

Learn more about Nelson Diaz >>

Damien Hirst Insult: Thanks, Vanity Fair

Source: Wikipedia

Vanity Fair ranks artist/asshole Damien Hirst 30th in The New Establishment 2008. That part blows. But, I was happy to see that the mag called him “today’s greatest inheritor of the mantle of Andy Warhol [emphasis added].” Andy Warhol sucked. Damien Hirst’s bullshit animals are a joke, so the connection makes sense.

Don’t get me wrong, I do like some of Hirst’s work. The statue outside the Lever House on Park Ave (since replaced) was fantastic, and his installation in the Lever House gallery, recalling Francis Bacon’s 1946, was nothing short of genius. But, Hirst doesn’t do enough of this any more.

And, he promotes himself via MySpace. How low rent is that?

Source: ArtObserved

I’m just happy Vanity Fair compared him to Warhol and NOT Francis Bacon. Hirst no longer seems to carry Bacon’s torch. That honor belongs to Nelson Diaz.

$1 Auctions Come to a Close

Two and a half months after the idea arose, the project has come to a conclusion. SoHo artist Nelson Diaz finished his last $1 art auction on eBay at 7pm. The painting, Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #10, sold for $355 to a collector who had already participated in this series.

Diaz considers the project a success, having put 10 paintings in the hands of the art collecting public for a fraction of what they would have to spend normally to enjoy his work. The propagation of the aesthetic has occurred.

But, the work is not over. Diaz is currently exploring new ideas for making art accessible to those who are not absurdly wealthy. New ideas are coming, and you’ll see them here first.

Please see below for coverage of Nelson Diaz’s $1 art auction project on eBay. The world, needless to say, has been quite interested in this project.

News Coverage of Nelson Diaz’s $1 Art Auctions

Saatchi magazine >>

Digital Journal >>

OhmyNews.com (1) >>

OhmyNews.com (2) >>

Nelson Diaz in Saatchi Magazine

My first article for Saatchi magazine has finally been published!!! Check it out >>

I am pretty fucking psyched to be writing for such a prestigious publication. The Saatchi Gallery has cranked out some big name artists, including the reclusive nutjob Damien Hirst (who, like Nelson, operates in the tradition of Francis Bacon).

The story is quite interesting. It covers Diaz’s frustration with the current state of the art market and his show of protest. In order to make the aesthetic attainable to those who are not incredibly wealthy, Diaz has been selling paintings on eBay for starting prices of $1. The results have varied, with the first piece, Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #1 reaching $745, though several have only barely cleared the $100 mark.

The final piece, Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #10 is currently on the block, and the auction closes tomorrow. Place a last-minute bid >>

Keep an eye on Saatchi magazine for more coverage of the art market from me. Pretty soon, I hope to see my piece on Julio Aguilera’s “Prometheus” sculpture project.

Diaz Offers 10th and Final

The auctions for Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #7, 8, 9 closed last night with a flurry of last minute activity on the last of them (which I lost). All but #9 sold for less than $100. So, it looks as though the action has been tapering off. Early bids don’t matter, and buyers come in at the last minute, willing to go as high as the proces will take them in a very short period of time. It’s a prudent approach. I think I know who bought these three, and I’m glad he won. I know that the paintings will make them happy.

Now, the 10th paintings is under the virtual gavel, and it’s probably the best of the series. You can see the detail that typically characterizes Nelson Diaz’s larger portraits. I love this painting, and I know that another collector does, too. So, I put in my now ceremonial first bid and plan to back away. I got my painting earlier in the process (#2), and I don’t want to interfere with the story any more.

This will be the last painting in this experiment, so get ready to bid! After #10, Nelson will go back to selling his work for higher, much more appropriate prices.

Bid on Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #10 >>

Diaz Action Intensifying

When artist Nelson Diaz put three paintings up for auction this week, I was a bit worried. Pushing two paintings in one week seemed difficult enough, but three seemed aggressive. As of yesterday, none had a bid of more than $1. I have a lot of confidence in Nelson and in this project, but I was a bit frightened. What if they only went for a buck each?

Well, it looks like I was getting ahead of myself. The action has picked up today. Prices on all three paintings have shot up. Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #7 is up to $100, reflecting just one day’s action. #8 is now at $76, and #9 just made it to $81.

And, the auctions have three days left.

Historically, the action has come on the last day of the auction, so these paintings could wind up north of $400. Nelson’s goal has been to keep the auctions under $300, to make sure they remain affordable. But, my sense from the auction action is that these bidders are pretty committed.

The most recent bids on all three paintings have come from the same person, obviously interested in portraying them as a tryptich (reminiscent of Bacon’s work). The hat-trick could be spoiled though, as that bidder now has only two of the three. But, there are a few days left until the auctions conclude.

Bid on Self Portrait with Pipe, 2008, #7 >>

Bid on Self Portrait with Pipe, 2008, #8 >>

Bid on Self Portrait with Pipe, 2008, #9 >>

[Note: the paintings in the photo are not up for auction]

Auction #6 is down, Nelson Diaz keeps going

Art revolutionary Nelson Diaz has just completed his sixth $1 auction on eBay. The latest installment of Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 sold for an appropriate $203.50. I know who bought it, and I’m happy that it wound up with a collector who will enjoy the work of art.

This sale, essentially, met Nelson’s two most important criteria. The painting had to sell for less than $300. And, it had to sell to someone who would enjoy the piece rather than view/treat it as a commodity. This buyer addresses both.

This week, Diaz is stepping up the pace a bit. He has put three paintings up on eBay, all with the starting bid of $1. After this week, there will only be one chance left to purchase a Nelson Diaz original from this series. I’m not pitching, just stating fact.

Here are the latest from Nelson, with links to help you participate in this new movement. For a change, art is defining history rather than merely recording it!

Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #7

Bid on this painting >>

Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #8

Bid on this painting >>

Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #9

Bid on this painting >>

Interesting search tearm used today

Somebody searched for “migrant blogger new york city nelson diaz”. Hell, if you want to find Nelson, just ask me. I’ll let you know. By the way, his sixth painting is now being auctioned on eBay, and it is amazing. The bidding is currently at $51.

It is interesting to see how the colors have evolved through this series. Installments #5 and #6 are considerably more vibrant than their predecessors. Also, the colors used in #6 remind me of the “negatives” of #2 (which I own).

I am interested to see where this one winds up. Painting #5 from this series fetched close to $400, making it the second most expensive so far in Nelson’s “grand experiment.”

If you are at all interested in art and appreciate Nelson’s work, I’d encourage you to participate in these auctions. You won’t regret it. Few have the opportunity to hang a Nelson Diaz original in their homes, and at these prices, it’s virtually impossible. Take advantage of this situation.

Nelson Diaz #5 on Fire

Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #5 is on fire!!! The latest painting in Nelson Diaz’s $1 auction experiment is already up to $285, and there are still 5 1/2 days of bidding left. I have no idea where this is going to wind up, but I have a feeling that this auction might be able to pass the $745 price tag that #1 fetched. I don’t want to discourage anyone from bidding, though. Keep in mind that #2 and #4 went for just over $200, and #3 sold for only slightly more than $100. But, this one could go nuts! Only this morning, the bidding was at a hair over $100. Now, it’s shot through the roof.

I have to admit, I am jealous. I do think this is the best of the series so far, and I’m not shocked to see that the bidding has shot up so quickly. I just hope that whoever buys it does so because he loves it.

Place your bid >>

Diaz #5 under virtual gavel

Auctions for Self-Portrait with Pipe, 2008 #3 and #4 closed late last night, making two eBay users incredibly happy. Each painting normally would fetch several thousand dollars. But, as a result of a Grand Experiment by Nelson Diaz, #4 fetched $112.50 to what appears to be a user in France. #3 sold for slightly more, $203.50.

The first painting in this series sold for a substantial $745, but this appears to have been an isolated incident. Two bidders engaged in a last-minute battle to win Self-Portrait with Pipe #1. The second installment in the series, which I own (!!!!!) sold for only $202.50. At this point, the auctions stabilized.

The fifth piece is now going under the virtual gavel. The auction began last night, almost as soon as the third and fourth ended. The action is already hot. Though it only became available last night, #5 is already at $102.50, and I’m betting that user’s maximum bid is actually higher (I bid it up to $100, and it turned over to an awkward amount, which means there’s probably more financial muscle behind this bid).

Learn more about the $1 auction experiment by Nelson Diaz >>

See the artist explain the concept in his own words >>

Bid on Self-Portrait with Pipe #5 >>