A Seller’s Guide To STIK

STIK's editioned multiples are a good starting point and can be bought at accessible prices – many collectors aim to acquire all colourways of one multiple, then one can trade up to the more sought after limited, or unique prints as you become more familiar with his catalogue and your appetite for the work.

The price of STIK’s art on the secondary market can be affected by numerous factors, such as whether it is an original work, one of his editioned prints or a poster. An original artwork can sell for as much as six-figure sums – his bronze sculpture Holding Hands (Maquette) achieved a record-breaking £287,500 at Christie’s in October 2020.

STIK’s top editions can fetch five-figures sums for a single edition or six-figures for a full portfolio. A single artist proof of Lovers (Orange) sold for £35,000 – almost three times its high estimate – in September 2019. Meanwhile, an edition of Sleeping Baby (NHS Blue) sold for £30,000 against an estimate of just £5,000-7,000 in March 2020.

STIK has published many of his editions in numerous colourways. A complete set of a series normally has a higher value than individual works. Liberty, from 2013, is available in five colours (yellow, red, orange, blue and aqua) – a single print in the Liberty series sold for £18,812 in June 2020, but a set of five Liberty prints, including artist’s proofs, fetched up to £200,000 in September 2019 – nearly ten times the price of the individual print.

In addition to the sanctioned limited editions are artist’s proofs and printer’s proof of any main colour series. These artist’s and printer’s proofs (marked A/P, P/P) command slightly lower prices as they are trial runs to test out the inks. To give you an idea of price variation, two orange single prints of Liberty sold in 2019, one artist proof in Christie’s New York realised $13,750, numbered “AP 5/5”. One from the main run, numbered “11/25”, sold in London for £16,250.

The ultra-rares are the gold dust of the artist’s print output. Often STIK will add to the collecting treasure hunt by producing one-off special edition prints in distinctive precious inks, such as the ultra-rare copper version of Liberty, 2013, or the mother-of-pearl dust Onbu, 2013. These works are often gifted by the artist to private individuals and end up on wider market where they command high prices – particularly from collectors who have all the other colours in the set.

STIK’s prints can be signed and unsigned, and most do not come with certificates of authenticity. The exception is the digital print Dancer, which was made in a signed edition of 250 (with 10 artist’s proofs) for the Q music awards in 2011 and given to nominees – including Adele, Ed Sheeran and Tinie Tempah. This series includes the artist’s signature and edition number written in pencil, as well as a blindstamp of the publisher, Squarity. The majority of his other prints, however, are not so extensively labelled.

If STIK has signed his print, the signature is often written in pencil or pen on the lower edge of the paper, but can also be on the reverse. Whether your print is signed or unsigned, specialists at MyArtBroker can help confirm the authenticity of your STIK print.

STIK’s editions have been printed on a variety of different paper, and some are more vulnerable to damage than others. The Big Issue series was printed on thin wove paper so that they could be folded inside the magazines, whereas the Liberty series was printed on strong, high-quality Somerset wove paper.

To get the best price for your STIK print, the artwork should be in as pristine condition as possible. Anything less than perfect condition will have a negative impact on its value. Inspect your work carefully for scratches and tears, warping in the paper due to humidity, or fading from light damage. MyArtBroker experts can help you assess the condition of your STIK print and if restoration is required – contact us now to discuss.

Interest in STIK’s art usually rises when he is in the news. His bronze sculpture Holding Hands (Maquette) sold for a record-breaking £287,500 just weeks after his public art piece Holding Hands was unveiled in Hoxton Square. Likewise, the artist’s smaller spray-painting of Big Mother made an auction record price in 2018, around the same time as the demolition of his huge, 125ft Big Mother mural in West London. MyArtBroker specialists keep a close eye on art market trends and can advise you on the best time to offer your STIK artwork.

There are many options for selling your STIK print, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Some sellers turn to online marketplaces, such as eBay, as they have a large audience and a small commission rate. But these platforms have a greater risk of fraudulent buyers, and less chance of reaching the price your artwork demands. Without expert advice, bids in this space may undervalue your STIK print.

Auction houses are more credible and trustworthy but selling comes at a price. They will appraise your work for free and help you set a reserve price. On the day of the auction, however, there is no guarantee that your print will sell – an unsuccessful sale could result in the piece being ‘burned’, losing its credibility and short-term value. If the print sells, you will need to pay up to 15% of the hammer price in seller’s fees, plus cover marketing and transport costs.

MyArtBroker can give you access to a large network of collectors, much like an auction house. Whether you’re a new or experienced seller, we can help you with questions about authenticity, how to set a realistic price and supply potential buyers on your time and terms – and we offer to sell any work by one of the artists we specialise in for free – 0% seller’s fees and no hidden costs.

If you’d like any more advice on how to sell a work by STIK, you can request a valuation of your artwork any time and we will respond within 12 hours.