“Blue Chip” Art – Warhol’s Business Mind

As stated by the acclaimed pop revolutionary Andy Warhol himself, “being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art.” Warhol took the traditional perception of fine art and reshaped it to create a commercial Pop Art culture through his unique production strategies and understanding of upscale consumerism. His efficiency in the production of his work was the turnaround of the pop movement in the Western art world.

Warhol had a fine grasp of the market and the importance of pop icons, so it comes as no surprise that he has dominated art sales with a constant upward progression throughout the years. Fine arts can be an unconventional investment for some, since profitability and ROI can often be unpredictable. However, Warhol works are an exception. In 2010, his works totaled up to be 17% of sales in the fine art sales market and during 2012, he was one of the world’s top selling artists. Warhol also had a 24% increase in sales between 2013 and 2014. (Appleyard, Bryan. “A One Man-Market.” The Economist. The Economist, Nov. 2011. Web. Sept. 2016.)

An analysis of the trends in the Warhol art market indicates that his works are among the most valuable pieces to collect and sell. In 1998, one of Warhol’s Marilyns sold for $332,500 and in only a little more than a decade’s time, that same painting was sold for $3.746 million dollars. Warhol’s gold Marilyn was sold to architect Phillip Johnson in 1964 for $2,000, which was then donated to MoMA. If that painting were to be sold now, it is estimated to garner up to $60 million.

screen-shot-2016-06-13-at-3-25-59-pm

The versatility in his work makes him accessible to a diverse group of investors, with a price range that begins in the low thousands and climbs to the millions. Warhol market analysis predicts a 25% value growth per annum. This trend is due to the phenomenon of “blue chip” art. Blue chip is a term that denotes work that is expected to appreciate in value, despite any changes in the general economy or the art world itself.   

warhol-vs-wall-street

Revolver Gallery holds prestige as the largest “gallery-owned” collection of Andy Warhol’s works. With over 200 prints and paintings, we have the largest gallery-owned collection in the world. While we cannot make investment advice, we have followed the trend of Warhol sales in the market and will always offer the best price for his works.