The Orange Balloon Dog: Bubbles, Turmoil and Avarice in the Contemporary Art Market

Trying to make sense of the art market, especially when I think of all the good that money could actually do!

This book, Don Thompson, aims to go beyond shaking one's head about the apparent confusion in pricing happening in the global art market. I am an Artist working and living in New York City, arguably the center of art industry and the repository of global histories, and I concur with what I see before me, the ethos of the art market is rather confusing, is that not part of its allure? The book suggests that there is a base level value system in play and the art of those artist who sell, and sell big, is to cater to those who spend unimaginable amounts of money. Has it not always been thus? Talent is reflected in the work mirroring intention and expansiveness? Or are these values exhausted and up for reform? I feel the dialogue in the "The Orange Balloon Dog" stimulates the enthusiasm of an art lover and the sublime certainty of a mystic that art will not be a servant to money but its guide. This book presents the idea that Art Industry is tirelessly changing, ripe with competitive and shifting spirits. The dialogue seems to focus on revealing success stories that illustrate our society and help us to understand the spending power that looks to be its real producer. Personally my take-away is that the new role of artist is not only to create art but also to create collectors. The hope the Book presents is that this World of Art is an expanding world, and generally welcoming albeit industrial now. And if one is able to forget being rewarded one can participate and feel connected to an industry that is still seemingly limitless.

Yet another book by Don Thompson about the super-wealthy end of the art market. Too bad he doesn't seem interested in exploring the other 99%, which would actually make for a much more interesting and relevant topic. He's clearly a good researcher and excellent writer, and although he touches briefly on some of the important issues facing the art market, he chooses not to explore them in depth, which is unfortunate.#1 - What does the future hold for the 90+% of galleries which sell art in the $500-$50,000 range and which focus on actual collectors, especially in light of growing online platforms like SaatchiArt?#2 - What makes an artist "successful"? Why do some get noticed and become famous while others do not? Does this have any relationship to the quality of the art they make? It would be fascinating to see the author track an entire cohort of MFA's, for example, and examine who made it, who didn't, and why.#3 - Are there enough new collectors entering the market to support all the art being made? Why are places like Seattle, San Francisco, and Vancouver, which are full of both money and creative people, not becoming art hotbeds? Is there going to be demand going forward for physical art given that more and more things are moving towards the digital realm?Any and all of these questions would be much more interesting to read about than yet more stories about auctions houses, Gagosian, and the rich and famous.....

A very interesting read. There is lots here for anyone interested in contemporary art or just curious about the regular media stories on the topic. Personally i found the tone somewhat uneven - is the author offering an art critique, an economist's analysis or a prediction on direction of contemporary art market? That said i read it through and with great intetest. Thoroughly recommended.

great book about the inner word of the art market

Very good - excellent value

Good read

Interesting and engaging.