by Lee St. Clair

Friday, April 23rd

Please RSVP

5pm - 6pm

6pm - 7pm

The struggle to make sense of the contemporary art world and its inner workings can be full of mystery and drama. The space between the studio and the high end gallery is filled with impossible hurdles, hand-shakes greased with hair gel, a wink, a nod and an unpredictableness that no sensible mortal would wager their livelihood on. The auctioneer’s gavel drops with a sharp and precise flick of the arm as the ultra-rich spend millions swapping the classics.

My research for this project seeks to confirm or deny my own preconceived ideas about the high end art auction and those who participate in it. How does art become so sought after? Who’s buying a work that sells for a hundred million dollars? It seems only a handful of the luckiest can take part in the great art auction. In a performance that is part game show host, part used car salesman and all business, the auctioneer casually and politely entices the willingest of participants. Going once, going twice, sold!