Each month we like to highlight the new artworks that are released on the Masterworks investing platform. This way, you can get a sneak peak at the artworks made available to new and current members.
All artworks acquired by Masterworks are registered with the SEC, with shares in its ownership starting at $20. A minimum investment of US$2,000+ is recommended (across any number of artworks) to skip the Masterworks waiting list.
November Investments:
Yayoi Kusama
Infinity Nets (2017)
Initial Offering Price: $3.44 million
This Painting, executed in 2017, is a vibrant, medium-scale example from Yayoi Kusama’s iconic “Infinity Nets” series, which features a field of repetitive crimson loops on a stark, black ground.
As of June 1, 2023, red “net” examples from the 2000s have achieved prices in excess of $1.3 million: “Infinity Nets (BSGK)” (2015), which is larger than the Painting, $2,522,301 in July 2022, “Infinity-Nets (KPEU)” (2016), $2,516,085 in August 2021. “Infinity Nets” (2000), $1,373,652 in March 2022.
Pierre Soulages
Peinture (2008)
Initial Offering Price: $985,000
This Artwork is a horizontal monochromatic black painting with thick, glossy black stripes of paint that reach approximately halfway across the canvas from either side. The left-side of the Artwork’s canvas features nine tightly condensed horizontal lines while the right-side features five, evenly distributed stripes. The Artwork is signed and dated on the reverse.
As of June 14, 2023, other examples similar in scale to the Painting have achieved prices at auction in excess of $1.2 million. Peinture 102 x 165 cm, 16 Novembre 1994 (1994) sold for $1,789,679 in June 2022 and Peinture 130 x 92 cm, 9 janvier 1989 (1989) sold for $1,241,870 in December 2022.
Bridget Riley
Dauphin (1982)
Initial Offering Price: $2.50 million
This Painting is a prime example of Bridget Riley’s ongoing use of line and color to explore optical sensations of vibration and movement, achieved through various changes in color, scale, and composition of repetitive stripes.
Vertical line paintings created 1980 to present have achieved prices in excess of $3.1 million. As of May 26, 2023, these include: “Cupid’s Quiver” (1985), which is similar in to the painting sold for £2,242,500 ($3,109,723) at Christie’s, London on March 23, 2021, “Delos” (1983), which sold for HKD20,945,000 ($2,668,163) at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong on October 7, 2022 and “Praise I” (1981-82) which sold for £2,202,000 ($2,495,238) at Christie’s, London on October 13, 2022.
Kerry James Marshall
Untitled (Woman Looking Left) (2016)
Initial Offering Price: $4.33 million
This Artwork is a three-quarters view portrait of a Black woman turned to the left, her skin painted in Kerry James Marshall’s signature black pigment.
Due to their high demand, portrait paintings by Kerry James Marshall do not frequently go to auction, and when they do they have achieved prices as high as $7.5 million, including: “Nat-Shango (Thunder)” (1991), which sold for $7,500,000 in May 2021, followed by “Untitled (Painter)” (2008), which sold for $7,325,800 in May 2019, and “Untitled (Masked Boy)” (2014), which sold for $5,734,800 in May 2023.
Mark Bradford
Maquan (2015)
Initial Offering Price: $2.40 million
This Mark Bradford painting and other works in his Be Strong Boquan exhibit are “referencing issues ranging from the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s and society’s misrepresentation and fear of queer identity, to the brutality and lasting outrage resulting from the race riots in Los Angeles during the early 1990s.”
As of May 25, 2023, works which are similar in scale to the Painting, have recently achieved prices in excess of $5 million at auction, including: “Speak, Birdman” (2018), which sold for $6,776,200 in May 2018, “Spinning Man” (2007), which sold for $5,845,100 in November 2019 and “Amendment #1” (2013), which sold for $5,070,000 in May 2021.
Ed Ruscha
Manual Mobility (1994)
Initial Offering Price: $3.55 million
This Painting is a characteristic example of Ed Ruscha’s text-based work, which often explores the evolving nature of language, meaning, and expression.
As of September 15, 2023, atmospheric examples similar in scale to the Painting have sold in excess of $4.9 million at auction and include: “Cold Beer Beautiful Girls” (1993) which sold for $18,823,400 in May 2022, “Brave Man’s Porch” (1996) which sold for $6,550,400 in November 2017, and “Dear Friend” (1989), which sold for $4,928,500 in May 15, 2019.
If you have any more questions about investing in art funds, like that offered by Masterworks or Yieldstreet, please reach out to mark@easelinvesting.com, and we would be happy to set you on the right path. Additionally, you can learn more about Art ETFs here.
