The Fragile 6 © Louise Bourgeois 
Leah Mentzis, Partnerships Managerleah@myartbroker.com
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French-American artist Louise Bourgeois is celebrated for her deeply introspective approach that emphasises psychological insight and feminism throughout her work. While her sculptures have achieved record-breaking prices, there is increasing interest in her print market, offering a more accessible entry point for collectors while still reflecting the core themes of her artistic practice. This seller's guide provides essential insights for navigating Bourgeois' print market, offering key information for both collectors and investors.
How Much Do Louise Bourgeois Prints Sell For?
Bourgeois' artistic achievements were immense, with a career spanning eight decades, from the 1930s to 2010. She is most renowned for her large-scale arachnid sculptures and conceptual textile works. In 2022, the Hayward Gallery hosted a major retrospective that showcased the breadth of Bourgeois' work, marking the first major exhibition to focus solely on her use of textiles and fabric. In 2023, a new auction record was set by a bronze spider sculpture standing over 3 metres tall and selling for £26.4 million.
Amidst the acclaim of million-dollar auction prices and an esteemed exhibition history, Bourgeois' print market has gained momentum. Her editions, which echo her fascination with using subjects as metaphors for psychological and emotional experiences–often evoking ideas of shelter and containment–offer more accessible price points. Notable works like The Olive Branch (2004) and Untitled No.5 (1990) highlight her interest in organic forms. In 2018, her complete set He Disappeared Into Complete Silence set a record auction price of £367,960 at Christie’s, further demonstrating the growing demand for her prints and editions market value.
How Do You Authenticate a Louise Bourgeois Print?
The Easton Foundation
Authenticating a print is essential for sellers to instill buyer confidence and maximise its market value. For blue chip artists like Bourgeois, a comprehensive paper trail often exists, including records from her foundation, affiliated dealers, and prominent exhibitions. While a full catalogue raisonné of her works is not yet available Bourgeois was deeply committed to preserving her artistic legacy, leading to the creation of The Easton Foundation in the 1980s. The Foundation, originally based in her townhouse acquired with her husband Robert Goldwater in the 1960s, became its headquarters after her passing. Though not directly involved in authentication, the Foundation, under the leadership of her long-time assistant and friend Jerry Gorovoy, collaborates with institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and provides invaluable resources for her works. One example is The Complete Prints & Books of Louise Bourgeois, an extensive online publication cataloguing her entire print collection. This archive, categorised thematically with detailed photographs, edition numbers, and signatures, is an indispensable tool for verifying the authenticity of Bourgeois' prints in the art market.
Dealers and Exhibitions
Bourgeois was often written about for her charisma and maintained close relationships with her dealers and collectors, including Robert Miller Gallery, Karsten Greve, and Cheim & Read, the latter of which continues to oversee her estate in the US. Hauser & Wirth became her principal gallery in 1997, along with Kukje Gallery in South Korea and Xavier Hufkens in Brussels, expanding her international presence. Works, including prints, often trace their provenance back to these locations or dealers enhancing the value and legitimising the authenticity of your Bourgeois work.
Bourgeois also boasted an illustrious international exhibition history since her career's inception, including a landmark retrospective at New York's MoMA in 1982 and the recent Artist Rooms: Louise Bourgeois, a recent exhibition hosted at Dorset Museum in Spring 2023, which featured works from the final two decades of her life. These prestigious exhibition connections can greatly enhance both the value and authenticity of the artwork you are selling.
Has Your Louise Bourgeois Print Been Kept In Good Condition?
When selling artwork, potential buyers will inevitably inquire about its condition–a key factor in determining value. Preserving art prints requires meticulous care, protecting the work from environmental risks such as sunlight and humidity. Proper framing is crucial; avoid methods like taping or mounting prints directly onto the frame, as this can cause damage when removed.
Bourgeois was deeply engaged in printmaking throughout her career, from the late 1930s into the new millennium. While older prints may naturally show signs of wear, even newer ones can be damaged if not properly maintained. If your Bourgeois print shows any signs of deterioration, it's essential to consult a professional conservator for restoration. MyArtBroker can connect you with these experts, offering assessments and guidance without any obligation.
Get in touch for a free valuation and explore our comprehensive guide on print restoration and care.
When Is the Best Time to Sell My Louise Bourgeois Print?
Market Demand
Timing the sale of your artwork depends on understanding market demand. In 2023, Louise Bourgeois' market turnover reached £34 million, largely fueled by her sculptures. While Bourgeois explored various sculptural materials, her iconic spider sculptures remain the most coveted, often fetching millions at auctions and art fairs. For collectors seeking more accessible entry points into Bourgeois' work, her prints and editions provide a distinct representation of Post-War feminist art at more affordable price levels. Prints like The Fragile 32 offer an accessible alternative to Bourgeois' monumental spider sculptures, capturing her signature nurturing symbolism. Similarly, works like Untitled No. 12 and Untitled No. 11 draw on themes from her Personages series, further enhancing her diverse market appeal.
Gaining an understanding of the top prices achieved for Bourgeois' diverse sculptural works and the feminist themes woven throughout her art can offer valuable insights into market demand. This knowledge helps identify the most sought-after prints and determine the ideal time to sell, ultimately optimising the selling process.
Where Can I Sell My Louise Bourgeois Print?
Selling A Louise Bourgeois Via Auction House
There are various avenues available for selling your Bourgeois print, with one of the most prominent being through auction houses. Auctions can create a theatrical atmosphere, potentially boosting demand and increasing the artwork's market value. However, consigning with auction houses comes with drawbacks such as high seller's fees, typically up to 25%, and reliance on a sales schedule, which may delay the liquidity release. Additionally, there's a risk of unsold works affecting their value negatively. When considering auction houses, assess their expertise in post war and contemporary art and the Bourgeois market, their reputation, and their sales history of similar artworks. Following selection, your piece will undergo authentication and receive a pre-sale estimate. For more information on selling through auctions, consult our Auction v Private Sale guide.
Selling A Louise Bourgeois Via a Broker
For sellers seeking a more confidential and tailored approach to selling Bourgeois prints, engaging a reputable broker is a viable option. Upon requesting a valuation, the broker will engage with you to understand your objectives and establish pricing. Subsequently, they'll embark on marketing your prints and attracting international buyers. Once a suitable offer arises, the broker manages the transaction seamlessly, sparing you any hassle.
Utilising a broker offers several advantages, including enhanced privacy, especially in volatile market conditions, personalised sales strategies, and the potential for achieving higher sale prices.
Selling A Louise Bourgeois Via Online Marketplace
In the burgeoning digital landscape, online marketplaces offer sellers convenient access to a global audience. Platforms like MyArtBroker facilitate connections with potential buyers worldwide. Similarly, platforms such as Artsy and ArtNet provide avenues for sellers to exhibit their artworks and engage directly with interested buyers. However, navigating these platforms introduces the nuances of what's termed as a primary marketplace. Opting for the right online platform with dedicated sales specialists can ensure a comprehensive grasp of fair market value in a fickle marketplace, maximising returns on your print.
MyArtBroker's online platform boasts a dynamic live trading floor and a comprehensive MyPortfolio collection management feature. This includes cutting-edge Art Tech tools like the AI-Value indicator, which utilises our bespoke algorithm to assess the real-time value of Bourgeois prints based on auction and private sales data. These invaluable resources empower collectors, whether seasoned or new to the market, to navigate market fluctuations effectively and gain a precise understanding of fair market value in today's rapidly evolving art landscape.
Read Case Study: How To Value Prints & Editions With Art Tech to learn more about our technology.
Browse Louise Bourgeois prints on the Trading Floor and find out more about the print market growth on the MAB100 Print Index.
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Why Sell Your Louise Bourgeois With MyArtBroker?
A DEDICATED BROKER
MyArtBroker offers a distinctive service connecting clients with their dedicated personal broker, ensuring a secure transaction through our online digital platform. Our specialists excel at sourcing direct buyers for consigned prints via our live trading floor, where users within our extensive network can express interest in specific prints and multiples by particular artists, whether they intend to sell, buy, or simply desire a specific print. Our team is approachable, passionate, and consistently provides updates on the art market and artists. We guide sellers through a seamless transaction process, establishing a fair market valuation based on realistic sale prices and offering free advice on the optimal timing for selling, leveraging our extensive knowledge of the art market.
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MINIMISE RISK
At MyArtBroker, we prioritise transparency and security in every art sale. Our stringent due diligence process ensures the authentication and verification of artwork provenance, drawing upon our in-house expertise and collaborating with professional external contacts when needed. This approach effectively mitigates the risk of trading counterfeit or stolen art pieces. Additionally, we minimise the risks associated with public sales. While public auctions may seem appealing, unsold prints can harm an artist's market. Private sales eliminate this risk and enable quicker liquidity release for your artwork compared to adhering to strict auction schedules dictating when your work can be offered for sale.
Read our cohesive report to navigate the art market as a seller: A Guide to Selling Prints in the Current Market.
0% SELLER’S FEES, 100% OF THE TIME
Our team of specialists offers tailored services to procure rare and special edition prints, catering to both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the market. As part of our standard practice, we provide complimentary valuations and charge zero seller's fees, setting us apart from other private brokers and traditional auction houses. By minimising overhead costs, we allocate resources towards digital innovation and targeted marketing strategies within our network and house magazine.
When it comes to selling artwork, achieving the best price hinges on accessing a niche market with an established collector community. If you're looking to sell a print, turning to a specialist in the print market, like MyArtBroker, yields superior results compared to approaching an auction house, which caters to broader categories of artwork.
OUR NETWORK
Through our live trading floor, we empower our network of collectors, fundamentally reshaping the art investment and trading landscape in the digital era. Offering real-time market data and insights gleaned from worldwide collectors, we establish value based on convenience, accessibility, and the exceptional level of transparency and security provided to over tens of thousands of users.
Explore our Art+Tech Report to discover everything we've built.
Louise Bourgeois Collection Management with MyPortfolio
In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection, while tracking its value in real-time. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real-time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.
Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jameison, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.
Emerging art tech tools are vital in navigating the current, and evolving, digital art market landscape. For instance, by adding Louise Bourgeois prints from our website to the MyPortfolio dashboard, users gain insight into unique sale opportunities and observe market performance and fluctuations in real time, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our pioneering technology has revolutionised art portfolio management, making it more accessible and equipping users with data-driven insights for informed decisions. MyArtBroker harnesses cutting-edge technology driven by data, coupled with a team of industry experts, to deliver an exceptional experience. Our professionals work closely with clients, utilising the MyPortfolio dashboard, to provide personalised guidance for creating a profitable art collection. By merging technology and expertise, we are committed to offering unparalleled curation and customer service.
Leah Mentzis, Partnerships Managerleah@myartbroker.com
Interested in buying or selling
Louise Bourgeois?
Get a valuation
