The Buying & Selling of Art: Nuts and Bolts for Navigating Transactions
Series on Art World Books
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So you’ve decided to buy (or maybe sell) art. Now comes the nitty-gritty of transactions, negotiations, and that odd mix of romance and profit that defines the art market.
These picks illuminate the deals, drama, and, at times, surprising cast of characters behind every big purchase, so you won’t be blindsided when you spot that elusive piece you can’t live without.
14. I Sold Andy Warhol (Too Soon) by Richard Polsky
The Little Bookstore in Philly: Between Warhol cameos and an evolving 1970s–80s scene, Polsky’s memoir hints at how fleeting and fickle the market can be. But oh, the stories you’ll collect.
Who is in here: Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Elyssa Goodman, Olivier Zahm, and many others.
Bookshop.org Link: I Sold Andy Warhol (Too Soon)
15. The Art Collector's Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Acquiring and Owning Art by Mary Rozell
Advice from a Collector: Practical steps to go from being an art enthusiast to a major collector, minus the elitist gatekeeping.
Rozell clarifies everything from insurance to finding the type of art you are interested in.
Bookshop.org Link: The Art Collector’s Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Acquiring and Owning Art
16. Could Have, Would Have, Should Have: Inside the World of the Art Collector by Tiqui Atencio
Drama & Tragedy: Atencio’s behind-the-velvet-rope vantage is loaded with intimate art collector love stories and heartbreaks when deals fall through or auctions get heated.
Bookshop.org Link: Could Have, Would Have, Should Have: Inside the World of the Art Collector
17. The Value of Art: Money. Power. Beauty. by Michael Findlay
Value In Cultural Identity: Findlay traces the cultural significance of works from the Enlightenment to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will give you a comprehensive foundation for understanding how and why the value of a painting or NFT leaps from $1K to $1M overnight.
Bookshop.org Link: The Value of Art: Money. Power. Beauty.
18. A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art by Erling Kagge
What You Really Want: Kagge is an adventurer with a knack for explaining when to spend and when to hold off.
Think of it as your “gut check” companion for auctions and art fairs.
Bookshop.org Link: A Poor Collector’s Guide to Buying Great Art
19. The Art of Buying Art: How to Evaluate and Buy Art Like a Professional Collector by Alan Bamberger
The Checklist: Bamberger’s approach is part practicality and part aesthetic curation.
If you love checklists and need a no-nonsense purchasing structure, this is your jam.
Bookshop.org Link: The Art of Buying Art: How to Evaluate and Buy Art Like a Professional Collector
The Book List
You can view this reading list on Bookshop.org here.
Did you miss the last posts in this series? No worries, you can read them here:
Next Up
In the next series post, I’ll cover The Art Market, understanding why a piece that looks like a paint spill sells for millions.
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