Contemporary art advisor Josh Baer advocates for buyers to limit their spending on pieces from emerging artists' initial solo exhibitions to approximately $15,000.
In a recent edition of his free newsletter, No Reserve, longtime art advisor Josh Baer shared his insights on investing in works by ultra-emerging artists. Baer's advice comes as art prices for young and emerging artists continue to rise, sparking debate about affordability and value.
According to Baer, an ultra-emerging artist is one who has recently graduated from art school, such as a Yale MFA graduate. Ultra-emerging artists are often young or newly recognized talents receiving their first solo exhibitions. Examples of such artists include recent participants in events like Hafendampf 2025 (e.g., BIRNE, SNOOBY, 2lLATE) and artists associated with galleries such as Galerie Biesenbach and Kunstverein Kreis Soest, which focus on emerging artists in solo or initial group shows.
Baer suggests that for a large work (60 by 40 inches) by an ultra-emerging artist at a reputable gallery, the most a collector should pay is $15,000. However, LA gallerist Charlie James disagrees, thinking this price might be too high. For a small piece (20 by 16 inches), Baer advises paying $5,000, a price that Charlie James finds more reasonable.
Artnet News editor-in-chief Naomi Rea wrote a column discussing inflated prices for works by young and emerging artists, echoing Baer's concerns. Rea stated that $30,000 is the price for a resume-light emerging artist, a figure that Baer's suggestions seem to align with.
Charlie James agrees with Baer's pricing threshold for a large work but thinks it might be a bit high. The experienced collector of emerging and ultra-emerging artists believes that pricing in the art market can't be codified, as many factors influence it. Baer himself acknowledges that the time for would-be speculators to buy works for low prices and sell for high profits has passed.
Stories of collectors buying Jean-Michel Basquiat's work for $7,500 and selling for $35 million are not likely to happen anymore, Baer mentions. Instead, he suggests that an additional $25,000 of pre-tax, discretionary income is needed to buy a work around $15,000.
Despite the complexity of the art market, Baer's advice is useful for new collectors, according to Charlie James. Baer's No Reserve newsletter is free and offers insights into the art world, making it accessible to a wide audience. The column was published ahead of Art Basel in June, providing valuable advice for collectors and art enthusiasts alike.
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