I Bought Andy Warhol [Hardcover]

Richard Polsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

In 1987 art dealer Richard Polsky set aside $100,000 to purchase for his private collection a painting by famed Pop artist Andy Warhol - a process that took him 12 years. His journey, spanning the art world of the go-go 1980s to the recession of the 1990s, is recounted here. Artists, gallery owners, auction houses and collectors all play a role in this tale that illuminates not only Warhol the person - and his place in art history - but also the machinations and marketing that fuelled his celebrity, driving the price of his paintings to the top of the market. As an industry insider, Polsky reveals the relationships that make the art world go round. This book presents a behind-the-scenes look at that world - a look that reveals it to be filled with humour, hypocrisy, gossip, greed, manipulation and money.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

So what was it like to be an art dealer in the go-go ‘80s? California-based private dealer Richard Polsky drops some juicy anecdotes into an account of his quest to add a Warhol painting to his personal collection. The title of his book, I Bought Andy Warhol, is a wink-wink reference to a film about a disgruntled Factory member who shot the artist in 1968. Polsky’s attitude is wryly bemused as he recounts tales of practical jokes, petty grudges, peculiar dining experiences, and other indignities that befall a little guy in a world of sharks. The cast of characters includes heavyweight New York dealers Ivan Karp, Jim Corcoran, and Larry Gagosian as well as mid-range collectors and artists better known in California than in Manhattan. Warhol himself makes no personal appearances, though Polsky assiduously tracks fluctuations in the superstar’s market value. Along the way, there are useful nuggets ranging from questions a potential art buyer should ask a dealer to typical auction house pricing strategies. The author is a likeable character who demonstrates surprising candor about trying to make a living in the early ‘90s, when art prices plummeted. While some readers may be taken aback by Polsky’s relentless stress on the monetary worth of a work of art as opposed to its aesthetic value, his book is a gossipy account of running a unique kind of business, selling one-of-a-kind products in a highly volatile market. —Cathy Curtis

Review

"Often biting, always amusing behind-the-scenes glimpse of the heady world of art collecting." -- Kirkus

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; First Edition edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810942712
• ISBN-13: 978-0810942714
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,131,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars In Pursuit Of Pop. June 16, 2003

By F. Gentile

Format:Hardcover

Though I found this a pretty entertaining and amusing book, I don't know how interesting it would be to someone who hasn't been a "dealer" of some sort. Having myself been a dealer/collector on a comparatively modest scale for many years, I found many of the traits of the author to be homourously recognizable. Having heard numerous times from people "who cares if it holds it's value or increases, do you LIKE it??", only someone who has been there knows that the pursuit of a deal or hopeful investment is as important (sometimes more so) than any admiration you may have for the object of your pursuit. Most dealers start out as collectors, and they (at least many of the one's I've been exposed to) are a bizarre group of people, and suspicions and competitions run high. When you're dealing with someone in the league of Warhol,(which is way out of my league)you're going to be confronted by some snobby people. Author Polsky's look into this insular world is pretty accurate, and I did find his candor comical, such as his admission that he wanted to sit on Jackson Pollock's toilet. That's the kind of star-worship many feel but few would have the guts to admit to. A pretty down -to earth guy in a world of snoots. And though he is a big admirer of Warhol, this book has little to say about The Father Of Pop. But, if you're curious about the inner workings of the art world, I think you'll find this an interesting read.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars The author must be ... August 17, 2003

By "andrewcornell"

Format:Hardcover

I read this book on the red eye flight from San Francisco to New York hoping it would put me to sleep. It kept me up like NYC garbage truck at 3am.

The author is a snob, beyond belief. His tone is condescending at best. It is like a bad gossip column where he seems to ... on everyone else without ever taking a moment for self reflection. The common denominator in all his dealings is him so I suggest rather than point out everyone else's foibles take a good look in the mirror. And for god's sake where was his editor?

There are moments that are funny but in general I felt embarrassed for this guy. Yes some of his observations rang true but his "insider" point of view is obvious at best. I felt like I was being told by a self proclaimed "expert" that the sky was blue. ..P>If you want an interesting read on the art world of the 1980's read Post-To Neo, The Art World of the 1980's by Calvin Tomkins. Now that was an interesting read that actually had some research in it.

Also a good book on art and art making is Making It New: Collected Essays and Writings of Henry Geldzahler

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful lnsight into the Art World August 5, 2004

By clwinter

Format:Hardcover

I'm not a huge fan of non-fiction because I find at times the text to be dry and boring but I was so pleasantly surprised when I read this book! As a student of art history, I knew very little about the actual dealings that go on behind closed doors in galleries and auction houses, so this book was a wonderful eye-opener. This is not just a book about Polsky's quest to purchase his own Warhol but it is about the crazy personalities and deals that go on in the art world.

This is a great book that gives a lot of information on Warhol himself and the kind of struggle one might face if thinking of buying a contemporary art piece. A must read for any art enthusiast!