Author Archives: Robin Starr

I get asked this question more than any other.  The short answer:  Everyone.

A single word isn’t much of a blog post, so let me give you the longer version. Skinner auctions are public auctions.  Absolutely anybody who loves art or antiques is welcome to attend. The previews are a time for potential bidders to come into the gallery and view lots first-hand; to examine the condition of a Wayne Thiebaud woodcut, or the construction of a card table or to feel the heft of a piece of Wedgwood.… Read More

Photorealism arose in the 1960’s in part as a counterpoint to the Abstract Expressionist movement. The rejection of all representation by Abstract Expressionist artists of the 1940’s was meant to allow the viewer to focus purely on emotion and expression without the need for a deep cultural knowledge. It was intended to remove elitism from art. Ironically, the very lack of subject matter, rather than being democratizing, confounded many viewers.… Read More

This article is featured in the Journal of the Print World, January 2016 issue.

“Andy Warhol is best known for his iconic subject matter: Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, and Elvis Presley. His paintings marry these motifs with screenprinting to express the commercial nature of his work; its manufacture over its customized production. His printed work encapsulates this same idea, and further heightens a sense of mass-production.… Read More

Highlights of Skinner’s May 29th  Fine Paintings and Sculpture auction included three works by modern artists that each exemplify important aspects of mid-20th century art. The artist’s international origins—Canada, Russia, and Venezuela—are fittingly emblematic of the global nature of today’s art market.

Agnes Martin, Canadian-born but formed as an artist mainly in New Mexico, was a part of the Abstract Expressionist movement, although her works were more contemplative than many of her colleagues.… Read More

Highlights of Skinner’s May 29th auction of fine prints and photographs included a number of pop art prints that speak to the trends in collecting in this increasingly popular area. Three examples highlight the diversity of artists and images that are included in the category of pop art.

Pop art takes its name from the integration of popular culture and art, and is most closely associated with the New York art scene starting in the late 1950s.… Read More

I have a confession to make.  When you’re not shoveling it or raking it off your roof, the snow is actually beautiful. You may think I have an acute case of cabin fever, but let me explain before you deem me to be a total nut job.

I grabbed two young friends and my snow shoes and headed to the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on a snowy Thursday.  Many of the smaller works near the museum’s entrance were buried beneath mountains of the white stuff, but there was still plenty to see, and all of it was transformed. … Read More

As a regular contributor to theJournal of the Print World I have had the opportunity to explore a broad range of topics of my choosing. These are often based on the works that we’ve offered here at Skinner:  some of the ones that I’ve found especially interesting. January’s  Journal of the Print World issue features several articles related to printmaking in China. On that theme, I’ve examined the career of ZaoWou-Ki, a Chinese artist who spent most of his career in France. … Read More

Works on paper are fickle, not unlike some people. We all (both people and works on paper) thrive in similar environments. The proper conditions not only keep us comfortable; they also keep us healthy. The same is true for works on paper. The wrong environment can lead to faded or damaged artwork. These tips will help you take care of your works on paper so you can enjoy them for a long time.

1. Stick it where the sun don’t shine

As much as you may enjoy sunbathing, you know it will to lead to wrinkles and worse.… Read More

In 2006, the documentary film Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? introduced the general public to the Byzantine process of authenticating works of art. Not surprisingly, this is a subject that hits close to home, as my colleagues in the Skinner American & European Works of Art department and I spend a tremendous amount of time researching works of art and reaching out to authentication experts. Since the release of that film, things have only become more complex in this high-stakes and highly litigious world.… Read More

I’ve been delighted to contribute several articles to the Journal of the Print World. The January 2014 issue features a piece I wrote on trends in the prints market in 2013 and 2014:

“The pace of the 21st century is an ever-accelerating blur with a constant push for more, faster, and better. Trends and tastes are changing so quickly that they are nearly impossible to detect before they are swept away by the next big thing. The volatile unpredictability of the present art market is a given.… Read More