Collecting Art Outside the State

by Mark Kever

We are very fortunate, as art collectors, to have numerous auction firms right here in our backyard. Both David Dike and Heritage offer dedicated Texas art auctions and others like Dallas Auction Gallery and Miles Autry Auctioneers frequently have Texas Art consignments. What about buying Early Texas Art from out of state auction firms? I thought of this recently when noticing that a few favorites in my own collection had been acquired in this manner.

As is often the case, it can be a learning experience. Let me share.

To start with it takes time to search for art in out-of-state art auctions. Askart, Google Alert, and other resources are helpful, but plan on spending time searching for the proverbial 'needle in a haystack'.

Keep the following in mind:

• You may have to pay sales tax, and you will pay shipping and packing.

• Have high resolution images sent, obtain a condition report, and talk to an auction representative about the piece. Ask the representative to share their observations while looking at the artwork.

• Often the art will arrive needing conservation, cleaning, or a new frame; keep that in mind when bidding.

• Sometimes you can get a bargain, but the better-quality pieces are normally being bid on by other TACO supporters.

After I acquired two of the three best pieces in my collection through out-of-state auctions I learned the underbidder was a fellow TACO collector.

If the painting is important and rare, strongly consider flying to look at it in person. Great art by a great artist, almost always looks better in person. A personal viewing gives you an edge and confidence as a bidder.

I was the underbidder on a wonderful Julian Onderdonk in a Chicago auction a few years ago. A couple of months later I saw the painting at a TACO meeting in Dallas, it was so much better in person. I was sick. Again, I was the underbidder on a large Seymour Fogel back before Texas Modernism was well known. A year or so later I saw it in person in an Austin collection. The piece was a solid 10. In both cases I bid without confidence because I did not personally view the piece before the auction - big mistake.

Enjoy the hunt, there is nothing better than scoring a quality piece of art in an out-of-state auction and getting it below market due to lack of competition - it happens!