Warhol vs. Fischer. (Photo on right via ccho's flickr.)
There's a lot of buzz going around in the art publications about Andy Warhol's "Sixteen Jackies" going on the block this week, which experts say will take in an estimated $30 million. The hammer will come down on that one tomorrow night at Sotheby's. Meanwhile, Urs Fischer's "Untitled (Lamp/Bear)"—the giant yellow bear currently stationed on Park Avenue that looks like it's in the electric chair—will find a new owner on Thursday, when Christie's is expecting to take in over $10 million for it. But can we place these two in a metaphorical cage match for a minute? Buying a Warhol right now is reportedly a bad investment—a rep for one art-market research firm just claimed that "as an investor, you’d be better off putting the money into a mid-tier category." Sure, with the Warhol purchase you'd get sixteen more Jackies than with the bear (which has zero, but the bear weighs in at 35,000 lbs, so basically you'd be getting 34,990 lbs more art if you went for the yellow guy. Think about it, rich people.
Check out all of the top lots from the Spring 2011 New York Contemporary Art Auctions right here... then head over to 20x200 for something you can actually afford.
