ALICE SIELLE
WHAT’S THE PRICE OF A POEM?
Artists should keep their eyes open and their mouths shut. Anon
This portrait project is my way of saying thank you to all the people who have liked my work enough to want to own it, and to celebrate the unsung heroes of the art world.
We only ever hear about collectors with world famous collections, but small collectors who own work by unknown artists make life possible for the majority of artists. I’ve never done portraits before; it was something I was saving for my old age.The drawings were intended to be made into a book and a video.
I have tried to draw everyone who owns my work, but sadly this hasn’t been possible as some have died, others could not be traced, and some I have had to give up on because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but I drew 153 people from 1st January 2018 - 17th June 2020
The title of the project is simply a reflection on the eternal dilemma for artists of the artificiality of the art market.
Alice Sielle 2020