The Week in Prints: 30th September - 6th October 2024

British artist Grayson Perry has teamed up with Avant Arte to release a limited-edition silkscreen print, with proceeds supporting the Contemporary Art Society. This collaboration is part of Avant Arte’s ongoing mission to make art collecting more accessible to younger audiences, and it promises to be one of the year’s most highly anticipated releases.

Perry, a Turner Prize winner and one of the UK’s most provocative contemporary artists, is known for his sharp social commentary and explorations of class, identity, and masculinity. Through his distinctive use of media - from ceramics to tapestries - Perry has continually pushed boundaries, using satire and humour to challenge societal norms. This new print, expected to reflect Perry’s signature themes, offers collectors not only the chance to own an exclusive piece but also to support a crucial cause: placing contemporary art into museum collections across the UK.

This week brought a significant legal update as Brian Alec Light agreed to plead guilty to charges stemming from his attempt to sell a stolen Andy Warhol print. The print, part of Warhol’s Vladimir Lenin series and valued at $175,000, was originally stolen from a private home in Los Angeles in 2021. It resurfaced when Light tried to consign it to an auction house. Thanks to the keen eye of a West Hollywood gallery - who had sold the print previously - the piece was identified, and authorities were notified.

Warhol’s Vladimir Lenin series, particularly his trial proofs, are coveted in the art market, making this case a reminder of the complexities and risks involved in buying and selling high-value works. With Light facing up to ten years in prison, the print will be returned to its rightful owner. This incident highlights the importance of thorough provenance checks and the role galleries play in maintaining the integrity of the art market.

A new documentary celebrating the life and work of Niki de Saint Phalle, Viva Niki, premiered last week at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Directed by Michiko Matsumoto, the film offers an intimate look at the French-American artist’s colourful career, while also exploring the personal challenges that shaped her visionary public art. De Saint Phalle, known for her monumental sculptures and installations, is perhaps best remembered for her Tarot Garden in Tuscany and the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris.

The documentary dives into the artist’s struggles with mental health, showing how her trauma fuelled her often whimsical, yet deeply personal, artistic style. It also touches on her influence in Japan, where her sculptures - including her famous nanas - continue to captivate audiences. Viva Niki sheds light on De Saint Phalle’s ability to transform pain into bold, joyful works that resonate with viewers worldwide, reinforcing her legacy as a fearless and influential figure in contemporary art.

In an effort to foster visual literacy among the next generation, UK schools are participating in a new programme organised by Art UK. The Visual Literacy Week aims to teach primary school students (aged 7 to 11) how to “read” and interpret visual imagery, equipping them with essential skills in today’s image-driven world. With art history being offered in fewer than 8% of state schools, this initiative is seen as vital to ensuring children have the tools to engage with art and visual culture.

Through webinars, online adventures, and teacher training, Art UK hopes to make visual literacy a core part of the national curriculum. By helping students understand the meanings behind everything from classical paintings to emojis, the programme aims to cultivate future art historians and creative thinkers. Art UK’s ambition is to ensure every schoolchild in the UK becomes visually literate by 2030, a timely goal as creative subjects are often sidelined in the current education system.

The Artists for Kamala benefit sale launched this week, featuring contributions from some of the biggest names in contemporary art, including Jeff Koons, George Condo, Amy Sherald, and Shepard Fairey. The sale is raising funds for U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, with a portion of proceeds also supporting the Democratic National Committee.

The online auction, hosted on Artsy, includes around 50 works priced between $250 and $300,000, with additional pieces available at fixed prices. The sale is expected to raise over $1 million. For collectors, this presents a unique opportunity to acquire works from high-profile artists while supporting a political cause. The involvement of such prominent names in contemporary art is a testament to the intersection of art and politics in today’s world.

Stay tuned for next week’s roundup of the latest in prints.