Brilliant retailers created Black Friday in the early 2000’s — the idea? Offer ridiculous sales to generate a frenzy of opportunistic buyers. On Thursday you give thanks. On Friday, you beat up your neighbor for cheap Spanx… and a flatscreen. Not to be outdone by it’s food court counterparts, in 2005 the online retailers said, “Have your Black Friday, we’ll offer Cyber Monday with better deals and free delivery.”
And on goes this thing we call Capitalism. But what about Art? Where does it fit into the prism of holiday deals? Nowhere. That’s where.
You see, Art isn’t a commodity, nor is it a necessary good — rather, Art is a long term, appreciable Luxury Item. Now, Luxury Items go on sale all the time. Visit Bloomingdales or Nordstrom Rack, or log-on to Gilt. If you want that $2,345.00 Alexander McQueen (RIP) Padlock Studded Leather Duffel, but at the highly arbitrary figure of $1,524.25 and don’t mind the price-shaming of your wealthier peers — viva la Cyber Monday. Want that Alfa Romeo for a song? Stroll into a dealership between now and the New Year for a deal that will blow your socks off.
How about that Jasper Johns “Three Flags” piece you’ve wanted for your living room? Try finding that for 20% off at the Whitney on Black Friday, or Artnet on Cyber Monday. Not a chance. You can, of course, try to counterfeit a Johns… but I wouldn’t recommend it.
I’ve acknowledged these dubious holidays in 2011, 2012, 2013 and today. There have been charitable contributions, but never discounts.
Sales have a place, just not in art. Imagine you are a collector who just spent $10,000 on a painting in a specific series. Then, two months later, you see a similar piece is going for $7500 on Black Friday (ACT NOW!!!!)? You are going to be pissed. Further, the artist is doing greater damage to the bigger picture beyond ruining a valuable collector relationship. The strength of ones art market depends on pricing integrity day after day, year after year… and so, there will be no Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales here.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season… enjoy, come back often, exit through the gift shop and always remember: price list available online.
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