My painting, Painting Number One, is a study of value. I've been thinking along the lines of an art piece that looks at value for some time. We value rarity, we value preciousness, we value ideas. Paintings have traditionally expressed value, and have traded for astronomical prices at times. Some paintings, probably considered to be traditional paintings, were painted to represent reality and beauty, horror, or the everday things that we don't bother to take time to notice.
Abstract art has conveyed feelings in ways that conventional or classical art never did, and in the 20th century art went further, to explore more unconventional ideas which resulted in art works that became controversial. Works by artists such as Andy Worhol broke new ground by making us look at everyday things in a new light. His paintings became famous because his idea - to point out the obvious - hadn't been done before, or not to the same degree. Others have made works of art that have become conversation pieces over the years because their value was, to some, non existent.
But they plainly have value. Art which is considered by some to not be art trades for fortunes. Works by some artists can fetch millions, and become immensely popular and well known for their value alone. This series of paintings will, I hope, be trading for such sums. The first, "Painting Number One" is valued at One Million Dollars as of today. That is my own valuation. It's my painting and I did it and I own it. It's mine, and I won't let it go - for now, at least - for less than a million.
Other paintings will sell for less. Once "Painting Number One" sells, it will belong to whomever owns it. They may sell it, keep it, destroy it, sell it for less, sell it for ten million, if someone wants to pay that much for it. Whomever buys Painting Number One may be making a wise investment. Then again, they may not. It will be up to whomever pays out money in exchange for it, how the piece stands over time, it's value as a talking point, etc.
Others may be buying my other paintings, of course, which will have their own lives as well. "Painting Number Forty Seven", for example, will sell for $88. One day it may be worth much, much more. It'll be a talking point in someone's home, perhaps, as will the limited numbers of lithographs that'll be available from some point. In addition to the sale of Painting Number One and others, I will be offering the opportunity for buyers to discuss the painting, its value, why I'm painting it, and anything about the painting.
Any future owners of Painting Number One and others will be encouraged to share their thoughts on the purchase of the piece, their sale of it, their reasons for buying or selling it, and so forth. I hope that my painting will continue to live their own lives by continuing to be the subjects of discussion and thought about value.
Jack Lee, March 2023
