Art & Commerce

Reality is not Always Probable, by TROIKA
(25,542 colored dice)

A recent art fair in San Francisco, FOG Design + Art, shows how a spirit of genuine artistic innovation can generate commercial success.  

FOG has its roots in San Francisco’s history of technological and scientific innovation, yet it hasn’t been easy to combine that heritage with art that is visually compelling and original.  For years I’ve been disappointed in FOG, thinking it an awkward mixture of art and furniture. This time I was stopped in my tracks again and again by beautiful innovative work that illuminated the connections between art and design.

The best art at FOG was based on imaginative use of materials. For example, the image highlighted above seems from a distance to be some kind of textile, an  abstract geometric form full of movement.  Aptly named “Reality is Not Always Probable,” this work is subtle and intriguing.  As you move closer you realize that it is made entirely of colored dice. Three women in London, an artist collective called TROIKA, created this piece.  

While experimental works seemed to dominate the fair, there was still a place for traditional painting.  These works were often monumental, seeming to make up in size for their lack of quantity throughout the fair.  One of the most popular painters was Hopie Hill, who uses the Dutch still life tradition to explore contemporary themes.

And then, let’s just say it:  FOG made a lot of money for the artists and their galleries. Reported sales during Opening Night topped 8.8 million. While many sales were at mega-galleries like Hauser & Wirth, smaller galleries also did well.  Jessica Silverman (San Francisco) reported strong sales, and Hopie Hill’s still lifes (Charles Moffatt, NY) sold out at relatively modest prices ($8-16,000). 

This combination of excellent art and strong sales is cause for optimism.