If your work is made of found objects and recycled materials, is it rubbish – and subject to rubbish art pricing? Or is it a work whose value far transcends that of which it is made? When it comes to art pricing and an audience’s willingness to value your art, education makes all the difference.
There are many artists who are uncertain about art pricing in today’s market.
Some are currently working with recycled materials, found objects, and rubbish, like me. Because of the object in use and prevalence of work of this nature, is it easy to doubt that the market will believe in the intrinsic value of the work. A cynical artist will assume that the general public will only see rubbish. This notion is the only rubbish here! There is no reason why an artist should reduce the value of their work because they are using these materials or because they are painting pictures about issues that confront the general public head on. I feel passionate about defending the artist’s freedom to be a social commentator, to reflect upon prevailing political or spiritual dilemmas without being categorized as a political/eco/feminist artist. These categories marginalize the artist’s role.
It is up to you to value yourself and your art. This is especially pertinent if you work with challenging materials that are easily misunderstood. Too often the general public is misinformed or uninformed about the nature of art, oblivious to the richness conveyed in complex materials. It is up to us to educate them.
