Toni Cogdell and Malgorzata Lapsa-Malawska
Toni Cogdell has exhibited in 3 group exhibitions already this year, including McAllister Thomas & Sarah Wiseman Gallery and she has just been longlisted for Anthology 2017.
Małgorzata Lapsa-Malawska was recently selected for the Royal Scottish Academy Open Exhibition, The Society of Woman Artists Annual Exhibition at The Mall Galleries, invited to exhibit at The Muse at 269 Gallery and also held a solo show in Poland earlier this year.
Both of these artists have characteristics that I look for from an investment point of view:
An identifiable style: Artists with an identifiable style have found a way of handling paint, approaching their subject, or working with themes that are specific to them. But I also like to see evolution over time – it makes sense for an artist to experiment in different areas while keeping a stylistic thread running through their work. Art tutors push this kind of development at college. We need to see that the artist can keep it going.
A sophisticated technique: You need to see depth in the work. It’s fine – good even – for the artist to reference other artists, but very much as re-invention within their own unique identifiable style. New and different is amazing – if rare.
Quality of materials: They use quality stretchers, canvas and paints. Using expensive, high-quality materials demonstrates a certain commitment and integrity. Often the best emerging artists make their own stretchers and carefully select the linen or canvas, and their work starts there. Some paints also have much better archival properties than others, and really good quality paints have high pigment content – works made with these will still be vibrant in decades to come. Serious art collections don’t come with cheap canvas.
Commitment: Committed and passionate artist’s who are likely therefore to be making work in ten years time. Artists who are applying for prizes, arts funding, residencies and competitions. It’s vital that they are committed to raising their profile – all of this indicates an artist is likely to continue to drive their practice forward.
Professionalism: Some artists get so emotionally attached to work that they can’t easily let it go. This keeps them small. Long-term artists make and sell.
The enthusiasm of experts: Being regularly selected for exhibitions and shortlisted for notable prizes by art world experts.