Artist of the week: Anselm Kiefer. How much are the artist's works
ARTinvestment.RU   31 мая 2017

The name so loud that the prices seem a priori a fabulous account for many millions. It is not so. Many of those who have the opportunity today to gather the best work of the sixties the first row, if desired, can aim at Kiefer

With some important reservations. But more on that later.

And first holiday in St. Petersburg. the Famous German expressionist, an intellectual, a humanist, an artist and a sensitive lover of literature, created a new project especially for the space at the Nikolaevsky hall of the Hermitage. Especially so that in the Studio Kiefer was the original layout of the hall, to accurately plan exposure. Work brought a lot. Yes there — huge amount. In this case Keefer writes it all himself. Assistants only help him only with the organizational and business issues. World star is not enough that did a project for our Museum and a key statement was selected on the subject of the Russian literary avant-garde. The exhibition is called "Anselm Kiefer — Velimir Khlebnikov". Our "budetlyanin" father "snobbishness" — one of the heroes of Kiefer, which is not the first time dedicates an exhibition. Those collectors who have already seen the "Khlebnikov", note that on the level of something extraordinary. Peter came back very impressed.

Before the opening along with the master came to St. Petersburg about fifty important foreign collectors. This is only the beginning. Then they will be much more. The fact that 72-летний Anselm Kiefer, in the opinion of experts, instead of resting on their laurels, upped the tempo and reached a peak of creative forms. About 2-3 years ago, he radically changed his style and came to the level that forced to admire even seasoned connoisseurs of art. Kiefer dealer told me that the last work of Maestro was a line almost out of the hundreds of collectors. It seems to be for them to ask for millions (referred to as much as $10 million for some things gigantic proportions). But notice that because of the big difference in class to compare the new prices with the works of previous years is incorrect. With a reasonable correction factor dealer — Yes, it is possible to accept it as an explanation. Can not be verified. Of Kiefer's works 2015-2017 in the auction market do not yet been met.

But the paintings of earlier periods were sold in abundance.

On their auction prices and will focus.

we Should note that Anselm Kiefer's works formed a large and well-developed secondary market. "Artprice" was the auction of 493 episodes for pictures, 91 on the chart, and another 42% were sold by its features. It's only for auctions. Excluding gallery sales, although Kiefer has long been one of the most marketable artists on unauctioned the market.

however, contrary to popular belief Kiefer is not included in top-10 the most expensive living artists. The entrance ticket to the club is worth almost $20 million And Kiefer's auction record yetis $570 3 727. Gave up so much in the nearly three-meter canvas, "Let a thousand flowers bloom!" (1999) sold at Christie's in February 2007. The record is not very good. That Kiefer's work at the peak of the market and I bought a large overpayment, so after 7 years resold in the same place, at Christie's, much cheaper — for $1 916 785. In addition to this, there were several auction transactions in the neighborhood of $2 million And it, in my opinion, the real ceiling. What does it mean? Roughly speaking, auction records Kiefer comparable the records our of the sixties the level of Kabakov and Bulatov. Even lower.

Unexpectedly.

But let us put aside the records. Why are we dust in the eyes? Let's see how much usually cost for an auction on the paintings of Anselm Kiefer? The schedule does not consider its share in the structure of the market offers is very small, the prices high and special sense to buy figures I don't see.

thus, the most advantageous for abstractions Kiefer size — two to three meters — requires a budget of $800 000-2 000 000. Half meter (on the larger side) the painting was sold in recent years at prices from $250 000. There are options and cheaper. So, according to the auction statistics, even with a budget of about $130 000 you can buy work with a class size of 60 × 80 — normal oil, enamel, shellac, mixed media on brand Kiefer, but (!) the basis is not the canvas and the photo collage. And this is a big minus. Obviously, this painting will take glass, and generally there is a risk that this material will behave in the future is unpredictable.

What happens? It turns out that the money conventional painting Kiefer less than a meter ($130 000) are already comparable with the budget for collecting our sixties. Clearly, for this money you can buy a few oils of Russian non-conformists. But if the collectors will be patient and will miss two-три-четыре progress in respect of purchases of the sixties, the "saved" enough money even on classic European postvanguard. However, this is the case when it is better not to buy "instead of" and "together". German sixties in a private collection quite get along with the Russians.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

What else to read on the topic on AI:
"In the Hermitage opens exhibitionAnselm Kiefer"
"Anselm Kiefer – Velimir Khlebnikov"
"the Hermitage will hold the first in Russia exhibition of Anselm Kiefer"