I Bought Andy Warhol

I'm not a huge fan of non-fiction because I find at times the text to be dry and boring but I was so pleasantly surprised when I read this book! As a student of art history, I knew very little about the actual dealings that go on behind closed doors in galleries and auction houses, so this book was a wonderful eye-opener. This is not just a book about Polsky's quest to purchase his own Warhol but it is about the crazy personalities and deals that go on in the art world. This is a great book that gives a lot of information on Warhol himself and the kind of struggle one might face if thinking of buying a contemporary art piece. A must read for any art enthusiast!

Don't worry if you're not an art aficionado. Regardless of whether there's a Warhol - or a crush-velvet Elvis - hanging behind your own couch, this book is a fantastic read. Richard Polsky has written a brutally honest and, at times, hilarious assessment of what goes on behind the scenes in the high-stakes, high drama

In the Dark Ages, pilgrims wearing the cockleshell of St. James roamed Europe hoping to glance the true relics of Saints. Richard Polsky, an art dealer/collector who opened his first art gallery in the roaring 1980's makes his twentieth century pilgrimage in $300.00 Belgian shoes, burning up cash and frequent flier miles in his quest to purchase a Warhol Self-Portrait, a prize equivalent to a skull of St. John the Baptist. Along the way, he visits the toilet stall where St. Jackson Pollock once did pennance, is baptized in the Pacific by art dealer James Corcoran, and even scores a brief audience with Pope Andy. Polsky, whose art market guides rate artists like blue chip stocks (buy, sell, hold) is a shrewd observer of capitalist systems, and a nice guy: a rarity in the often cut throat world of art dealing. This entertaining book chronicles and lovingly caricatures the author's quest for the seemingly contradictory goals of wealth and transcendence in a material world.

When you buy "I bought Andy Warhol", you will find many "characters" named by name. I am one of them. I can tellyou that Richard's accounts of the bizarre world of art dealing are true to a fault. Richard went off the reservation when he first started writing his guides to assessing the future appreciation potential of various artists. He did not make many friends with his sell recommendations. Thus, he decided he had nothing to lose in telling the truth about what goes on behind the scenes of the art world. If you have ever bought a piece of art for more than $1000 or think you will at some time in the future, Richard's book is must reading.And yes, I still own my Warhol thanks to Richard. And no, it is not for sale.

This is a great book! I am in the process of reading it right now and taking my time because I don't want it to end. This is a must for anyone who is a collector of contemporary art - or anyone that is hoping to soon become a collector (like myself). Thanks for the insight and enjoyment Richard!