"The Art of Investing in Art" at Fay Gold

Fay Gold's current show is entitled "The Art of Investing in Art" and presents work by over 40 artists that the gallery is recommending as good investment choices.  The show consists of a mix of blue chip contemporary artists such as John Baldessari and James Rosenquist along side many artists represented by Gold. 
There is some terrific work in this show, especially the Baldessari editions and a photograph by Zhang Huan.  And Tracey Moffat's piece from her Adventure series is a treat.
The show though, presents a very confusing message about what constitutes investment quality art.  I agree that Gold took the right approach mixing famous and truly investment-grade names with lesser-known-but-promising artists that the gallery believes to be good bets for the future.
Its the lesser-known artists that I have a problem with.  Not with the work, but with the criteria for choosing them, which was non existent.  There was absolutely no reason to select the included artists over any others in Gold's stable.  If I were one of Gold's represented artists that didn't get featured in the show, I'd be pretty unhappy.  If I were one of Gold's clients that collected work by the unselected artists, I'd be pretty unhappy too.
Tell me Fay Gold, why Rocio Rodriguez and not Carolyn Carr?  Why Ruth Dusseault and not Micheal Gibson?  Why Zoe Hersey and not Tony Hernandez?  Why Rana Rochat and not Robert Jessup?
This is a no win show.  Gold has lost credibility by arbitrarily including artists from her stable while excluding others with equal skill and resumes and in turn has alienated her own artists and clientele.
I don't have a beef about the show, its actually not a bad show (although it looks suspiciously like her recent inventory clearance sale; oops I mean 25th anniversary show); but I do have a problem with the arbitrary selection of the works.  If you are buying work with an eye to investment, this show won't help you formulate a methodology one bit.

Having said all this, including a work by Ed Mapplethorpe, Robert's brother, in this type of show is just silly.  I know Fay Gold hit some home runs early in her career, but hawking Ed Mapplethorpe as investment grade art is a strike out.

Comments

[Porkney]

I couldn't agree more. Fay Gold WAS once in the know. Now she's just on lithium!!!