Month / April 2014

by Estelle Lovatt

Banksy street murals go on show in London hotel

Banksy

Street murals by graffiti artist Banksy, which have been taken off buildings, have been put on show at an exhibition in London.

The Stealing Banksy exhibition has been put on by the Sincura Group, who will then auction the artworks on Sunday.

BBC London’s Wendy Hurrell went along to the show, where she spoke to Will Ellsworth-Jones, author of The Man Behind The Wall; London graffiti blogger Joe, and art critic Estelle Lovatt who all raised concerns about the exhibition.

Previously, Tony Baxter, the director of the Sincura Group, explained where the profits of the artworks go to.

Footage courtesy of Ben Strunin.

Via BBC.

by Estelle Lovatt

World’s first homoerotic stamps produced in Finland

tom-of-finland-stamp-cropped

Finland is to produce the “world’s first” homoerotic stamps, celebrating one of the country’s most famous artists – Tom of Finland.

The collection of three stamps includes a depiction of a naked backside with a face peering between the two legs.

Art critic Estelle Lovatt told the Today programme that the stamps were a “great statement” given that the country bans gay marriage.

Philatelic trader David Bailey added that Britain has also created “ambitious” stamps in the past, including one set of “magic” stamps that aimed to trick the eye.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday 17 April. Listen to the broadcast here.

Via: BBC News

by Estelle Lovatt

Buying shares in artworks on show in east London

Invest in art

Owning work by a celebrated artist is out of most peoples’ reach, but a new gallery in east London is giving customers the chance to buy shares in the pieces it has on show.

It means you could own a bit of a Banksy for just £120 – spend a little more, and you will even be allowed to hang it on your wall.

BBC London reporter Nick Beake spoke to Tom-David Bastok from My Art Invest and art critic Estelle Lovatt.

Via: BBC