a Mexican businessman paid 140 million for No 5 1948 by the American artist Jackson Pollock. It was the most expensive painting ever sold.but is any work of art worth such an incredible price? Pollock created his abstract swirls of colour by dripping paint onto the canvas often dancing as he did it and for many in the art world he was a genius. not everyone agrees though one critic has compared his paintings to wallpaper!
at least Jackson Pollock was appreciated during his lifetime.Not all great artists have been so lucky.Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his entire career and his brother had to support him financially throughout his life.He died in poverty at the age of 37 unknown to the world.Yet a hundred years later almost any work by Van Gogh is worth millions.His portrait of Dr Gachet sold for 82.3 m in 1990
Other artists are more fortunate in their lifetime Picasso and Dali were multi-millionaires when they died. The controversial British artist Damien Hirst is perhaps the most successful lining artist of all in 2008 a sale of his work raised 198 million. however he doesn't usually make the works himself that is done by assistants. as a conceptual artist he believes it is the artist original idea that makes something into a work of art.Typical Hirst pieces include a dead shark which sold in 2004 for 12 million. however hirst claims that he always ignores money
For some people this is not art at all. There was great controversy when my bed a work by conceptual artist Tracey Emin was displayed in one of London top art galleries. Many visitors were horrified by the unmade bed complete with dirty sheets and underwear and one lady even tried to tidy it up However the artist had the last laugh-after the exhibition the bed sold for 200000.
Even graffiti makes money these days. take the mysterious graffiti artist "banksy" whose street art with its strong political and socail messages appears on walls and buildings all over the world. no one knows who"bansky" actually is but his work now sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars and celebrity collectors include Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera. However not everyone is impressed. After all. graffiti is against the law!