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From strength to strength. The contemporary art market, 2020
The art market is notoriously resilient, often expanding in the face of significant economic and social challenges. December 1, 2020 The art market is notoriously resilient, often expanding in the face of significant economic and social challenges. However, 2020 provided... Read more -
The Viral Art Car Boot Fair
The art world’s ability to stay flexible and translate their experience online is becoming incredibly important, and was so before the emergence of COVID-19. October 8, 2020 The effect that the coronavirus has had on physical gallery spaces and exhibitions cannot be underestimated, according to a report... Read more -
Originals: D’Stassi Art’s creative director Edward Sanders’ Favourite Art Directors
The influence and importance of art spans beyond the walls of galleries and the auction’s gavel. There is no industry untouched by the hand of a designer, artist, graphic designer or art director. September 29, 2020 The influence and importance of art spans beyond the walls of galleries and the auction’s gavel. There is no industry... Read more -
D'Stassi Art Inspired speaks to Joe Maccarone
For the second installment, we spoke to Joe Maccarone - an illustrator living and working in Baltimore, with a BFA in illustration from Maryland Institute College of Art. July 27, 2020 DA Presents: Inspired is a new article series where we ask talented individuals from various industries to explain the effect... Read more -
D'Stassi Art Inspired speaks to Janie Schaffer
For the first instalment we spoke to Janie Schaffer, a fashion industry entrepreneur who created and built the incredibly successful brand Knickerbox and held the position of Chief Creative Officer at Victoria's Secret. June 5, 2020 DA Presents: Inspired is a new article series where we ask talented individuals from various industries to explain the effect... Read more -
Buying before they're big
If you are fortunate enough to buy an artist’s work before others catch on then you may be rewarded financially; however, you have also benefited from owning a work that you appreciate aesthetically in the meantime. May 13, 2020 As in many creative endeavours, it takes a true lover of art to spot an emerging talent. Eventually, the market... Read more -
D'Stassi Spotlight: Adam Handler
Our latest addition to the Distassi Spotlight roster April 17, 2020 Adam Handler, born in Queens - NY, creates dynamic works that express naive chaos through themes of loneliness, imagination, solitude and connection. Handler studied life drawing in Italy and has shown works at exhibitions all around the world, from New York to Seoul. As Adam describes, “when these styles of works that you see were conceived I specifically turned off my mind and allowed only emotion, actions and spirit to guide the works.” This is exemplified in the bold, bright strokes that Handler employs. Read more -
Covid-19 - What effect will it have on the art market?
We asked professionals from across the art industry what their opinions were. April 9, 2020 These are difficult and challenging times, with many people around the world seeing significant changes to their circumstances. There is no doubt that the current health crisis will disrupt lives, jobs, quality of life and the economy for many years to come. It is difficult to underplay the changes that are imminent. Whilst we remain rightly focused on our health and that of those we love and care for - we wanted to look forward in order to understand what effect coronavirus may have on our industry. Read more -
D'Stassi Art partners with Age UK (COVID - 19)
"We are donating all profits from the sale of works on our Spotlight Store to Age UK for the next month." March 29, 2020 In these uncertain and challenging circumstances we’re extremely grateful for everybody who is continuing to take care of us. Frontline health workers, public sector employees, teachers and a whole host of other people are doing amazing work. We have decided to partner with Age UK to support those who are the most at risk from coronavirus, namely older individuals. "They need our help now more than ever and more money is needed to provide crucial services. We are donating all profits from the sale of works on our Spotlight Store to Age UK for the next month. Let’s be there for them, they have been there for us." Read more -
Forbes - The Art Market Is Beating The Stock Market
Barden Prisant March 27, 2020 I turned to the most objective data available: auction prices. As publicly-reported sales between knowledgeable and willing buyers and sellers, they are not unlike stock trades. I then developed the equivalent of a Dow Jones Industrial Average for art. As the Dow includes blue chip companies, this art index needed equivalently blue chip artists. To represent Modern art, I chose Picasso; for Contemporary, Warhol. For 21st C. artists, I needed to create a basket including Banksy, Yayoi Kusama, KAWS, and Damien Hirst. Read more -
D'Stassi Art - Ones to watch 2020
Ones to watch including: Anna Laurini, Rose Madone & Trevor Andrew February 6, 2020 1. Anna Laurini Anna Laurini has one of the most distinctive styles around, her street art is immediately recognisable... Read more -
D'Stassi Editions: Schoony
British artist Schoony is emerging as one of the leading talents in contemporary sculpture. September 15, 2019 British artist Schoony is emerging as one of the leading talents in contemporary sculpture. New York’s acclaimed Guy Hepner gallery has supported the Londoner, with his work appearing in publications such as The Times, The Independent and ArtNet News. Born in North London in 1974, he spent much of his life working within the film industry; turning his hand to special effects and makeup on some of cinema’s biggest blockbusters. These include movies such as Troy, Harry Potter, Gladiator and Kick-Ass 2. Schoony’s close connection to the silver screen has earned him some high profile fans; Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie count themselves as lovers of his work, as does Benedict Cumberbatch. Read more -
D'Stassi Editions: Al Diaz
The street art of 80s’ New York is of particular interest to art lovers, a period which catapulted talents such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Richard Hambleton into the heart of pop culture. August 27, 2019 The street art of 80s’ New York is of particular interest to art lovers, a period which catapulted talents such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Richard Hambleton into the heart of pop culture. Distassi Art is proud to present a limited run of editions from 80’s street art pioneer Al Diaz; half of SAMO©, alongside Basquiat, and a seminal creator in his own right. Currently, he is working on his WET PAINT series; slicing out individual letters and then reassembling them to form socially-charged messages. Always tinged with wit and an irreverent sense of humour, Diaz’s art is thought-provoking and amusing in equal measure. Read more -
The Importance of Editions
The contemporary art market is soaring, with some of the world’s best investments to be found on the walls of prominent collectors. August 5, 2019 The contemporary art market is soaring, with some of the world’s best investments to be found on the walls of prominent collectors. Given the economic turbulence of the last twenty years, art has remained a stable market - seeing gains where others have dipped. Unlike typical financial investments, art also has intrinsic aesthetic value; allowing the collector to own something that they enjoy without forgoing the fiscal benefit. Despite the fact that potential buyers encounter art almost every day, the first step into curating a collection can be daunting; with countless mediums, styles and artists to choose from, how does one know where to start? The second barrier to entry is cost, with first-time buyers reluctant to invest large sums in a market that they have no experience of. Read more -
The politics of graffiti: From street to gallery
Street art and politics are closely intertwined, whether that be in terms of inspiration, identity or institution. July 4, 2019 Street art and politics are closely intertwined, whether that be in terms of inspiration, identity or institution. In its heyday, the New York graffiti scene was subversive; an open call to arms for all those who felt marginalised, unheard and ignored. Read more -
Al Diaz - SAMO©
The 70’s and 80’s were a seminal period for New York street art, with a number of noteworthy artists emerging at the time. June 19, 2019 The 70’s and 80’s were a seminal period for New York street art, with a number of noteworthy artists emerging at the time. Amongst them was Al Diaz. Originally, Diaz cut his teeth on the New York subway aged 12 - tagging trains as ‘Bomb-One’. It was a competitive pursuit; with each kid attempting to outdo the other by plastering their name across the city. Diaz found this to be unfulfilling, and wanted to turn his hands to something more significant. Read more -
D'Stassi Art - Ones to watch 2019
An introduction to some of Distassi Art’s favourite ones to watch. Featuring Rose Madone, Endless, Malik Roberts, Bertrand Fournier, Justin Aversano and the legendary Stik. May 23, 2019 1. Rose Madone Born in 1993, the French painter has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting young talents... Read more -
D'Stassi Art and Contra Galleries brought two street art cultures together at NYC via LDN, presented by Whitehot Magazine
Between the 7th-10th March, Distassi Art put on a transatlantic collaboration with Contra Galleries in Chelsea, New York City April 30, 2019 Between the 7th-10th March, Distassi Art put on a transatlantic collaboration with Contra Galleries in Chelsea, New York City. Presented by Whitehot Magazine, the event saw Distassi bring pieces by Schoony and Hambleton over to the US; which were exhibited alongside works by Al Diaz, Delta 2 and Keith Haring. It was an impressive showing, with legendary street art in every corner of the gallery. Read more -
The Contemporary Art Market
Contemporary art sales are signalling a new period of prosperity. February 21, 2019 Contemporary art sales are signalling a new period of prosperity. With figures escalating, the market is generally accepted to have one of the most rewarding benefits from an investment standpoint. Read more -
Looking ahead - The booming art market
2018 was a bumper year for the contemporary art market, showing significant growth quarter on quarter from May 2017. January 29, 2019 2018 was a bumper year for the contemporary art market, showing significant growth quarter on quarter from May 2017. Most significantly, it marked the first fiscal year in which the market's main indicators were all positive: the global auction turnover grew by around 20%, the rate of unsold art remained steady at 39%, the volume of total transactions grew by 17% and the price index of contemporary art grew by 18%. Read more -
Distassi Art presents - 'NYC Street Legends'
In the short time since their launch in 2017, Distassi Art have carved themselves an impressive niche in London’s thriving commercial art market. November 22, 2018 In the short time since their launch in 2017, Distassi Art have carved themselves an impressive niche in London’s thriving commercial art market. Read more -
DAZE - 'A pioneer of the New York graffiti scene'
Daze, born Chris Ellis, was a pioneer of the New York graffiti scene throughout the 1970’s and 80’s. May 2, 2018 Daze, born Chris Ellis, was a pioneer of the New York graffiti scene throughout the 1970's and 80's.He began his prolific career as a high school student and flourished while spray painting subways and concrete walls around parts of NYC. His contemporaries include Keith Haring, Dondi and Lee Quinones. Daze is one of the few muralists who successfully made the evolution from the streets into the studio. Read more -
Schoony - 'Boy Soldier'
Hertfordshire-based artist Tristan Schoonraad aka Schoony is a multifaceted urban artist, his work consists of both life-casted prosthetics and special effects which encompass topics as diverse as war, mortality and contemporary society. March 23, 2018 Hertfordshire-based artist Tristan Schoonraad aka Schoony is a multifaceted urban artist, his work consists of both life-casted prosthetics and special effects which encompass topics as diverse as war, mortality and contemporary society. Schoony's film career has spanned over twenty-five years. Since the age of fifteen, he has worked on over a hundred films, with blockbuster titles including Harry Potter, Troy and Gladiator. Read more -
Retna - Art In The Streets
Marquis Lewis, more popularly known as Retna, is an American born street and studio artist primarily recognised for his graffiti murals. March 18, 2018 Marquis Lewis, more popularly known as Retna, is an American born street and studio artist primarily recognised for his graffiti murals. His work merges traditional street graffiti with a self-constructed geometric script which fuses ancient Incan and Egyptian hieroglyphics with Arabic, Hebrew and Asian calligraphy. Retna’s urban LA upbringing with his African-American heritage along with his mixing of colour, spirituality and sensuality is keeping us hungry for more. Retna is officially taking the contemporary art market by storm. Read more -
Richard Hambleton 'THE SHADOWMAN'
Richard Hambleton, also known as “the Shadowman” is a Canadian born conceptual artist predominantly known for his unnerving street art which emerged in downtown NYC in the 1980’s. March 7, 2018 Richard Hambleton, also known as "the Shadowman" is a Canadian born conceptual artist predominantly known for his unnerving street art which emerged in downtown NYC in the 1980's. "I paint the town black" he stated in an interview in 1984 to People magazine, while discussing his eerie portraits, "They could represent watchmen or danger or the shadows of a human body after a nuclear holocaust or even my own shadow." Read more
