Artful Eye

At a recent Sotheby’s auction, Banksy’s highly coveted “Girl With Balloon” fell halfway through its ornate Victorian-style frame, tore into shreds and transformed into a new work of art called “Love Is in the Bin,” just as a European collector placed her winning bid of $1.4 million. She bought it anyway. The stunt is a testament to the effect that art has on its viewers and the role that not only the artists themselves play in the interchange of their work, but also how vital the experts are to the process. Whether it’s been the rise in the number of guarantees at auction that have helped secure major consignments or the record-breaking shift in the market toward female artists or the celebration of African-American artists, “there is an insatiable demand to see art, buy art and learn about art,” says Sotheby’s executive David Rothschild. And to prove it, he notes the growing number of art fairs around the world. “These art fairs have been a democratizing, positive addition to the art business.” We sat down with Rothschild and two other specialists, Xiomi Murray Penn and Kate Waterhouse, for a peek at the world of art dealing. 350 Royal Palm Way, Ste. 405, sothebys.com