PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY TREPANIERBAER GALLERY
“Don’t buy into hype,” says
Trépanier. “That’s really dangerous. I
can cite you many, many examples
of auctions I’ve been to where a
painting goes for a third or a half
or 75% more than its retail value.”
Then it comes down to finding a
reputable, honest dealer.
“I can tell you 90% of the art
world is buyer-beware,” says Green.
“Very rarely do you get galleries
that own inventory, that support
their clients and their artists, and
will go to bat for their clients who
want to collect. The auction world
is a whole other dimension where
you really need to know your stuff
and if you don’t have the time,
expertise, or the knowledge then
you need your friends who are
knowledgeable and educated to
help you make those assessments
of paintings at auctions.”
Calgary artist Chris Flodberg is
a contemporary artist who has
been painting full-time for 20
years and selling his works all the
while to private, corporate and
public collectors across Canada.
He says he feels very lucky to be
represented and supported by a
gallery like Masters Gallery.
“That gallery has really stood by
me and I’ve always got the feeling
I’m special to them and they’ll
do anything to make that work,”
says Flodberg who has been with
Masters Gallery for more than
ten years. “I’ve dealt with other
galleries that are sociopathic in the
way they deal with artists. They
steal from you, lie to you.”
If not for investment, then what
is a good motive for collecting art?
“Pure pleasure,” says Trépanier.
“Collecting art is like buying a
great suit you like wearing all the
time or having a beautiful object
in your home. It’s intellectually
and emotionally stimulating.
It’s pleasant to be around. It
breaks down the everyday, the
mundane, the routine of life. It
challenges one’s thinking. It breaks
stereotypes. It does all those
things. The whole art world is
about that. It’s about ideas. There’s
value in that.”
(Counter clockwise from top left) Installation view of
Chris Cran: Candidates and Citizens, 2013; Installation
view of Luanne Martineau: Luanne Martineau, 2012;
Installation view of DaveandJenn: This Sinking
Feeling Could Keep You Afloat, 2014; Installation view
of Ron Moppett: CONSTELLATION(S), 2015; all at
TrépanierBaer Gallery
(Opposite page, top to bottom) Double Image
Catharsis; Valley Creek, Dusk; Pure Breed, all by Chr