Why is Peter Lik's work so valuable?

[O'Rork]

All I want to know is, how is his name pronounced?

 

[Steve5D]

His work is exceptionally good.

Like anything else, though, it's only worth something to the people who are willing to buy it.

Personally, I would rather hang a Henry Diltz print in my home than a Peter Lik print...

 

[oldhippy]

Reciently a world class violinest, playing a 500,000.00 stratavarious played in the New York subway. Hew was dressed in casual cloths. He got one or two to pause, and a few to throw in a buck. At the same time he was booked at the best concert venue there at 100.00 plus a seat.
My point is talent and recognition aren't always the price or appreciation motivator. Some buy to have a such n such because of the authentication along with recognition.
just pondering

 

[tirediron]

His work is exceptionally good.

Like anything else, though, it's only worth something to the people who are willing to buy it.

Personally, I would rather hang a Henry Diltz print in my home than a Peter Lik print...

Meh... I'd rather have a 'tirediron' hanging on Peter or Henry's wall!

 

[Steve5D]

His work is exceptionally good.

Like anything else, though, it's only worth something to the people who are willing to buy it.

Personally, I would rather hang a Henry Diltz print in my home than a Peter Lik print...

Meh... I'd rather have a 'tirediron' hanging on Peter or Henry's wall!

That wouldn't suck...

 

[pgriz]

I’ve stayed out of this discussion, but I find it a bit sterile. As for Lik’s work, there are several ways of looking at the value. One is that he’s very good at marketing, and is getting high prices mainly becaue of that. Another is that he’s actually really, really, good and his critics unfortunately don’t have the “seeing” skills to understand what they are looking at. A third may be that there is a method to building up value that a single image doesn’t convey, but a body-of-work does.

I haven’t seen his work in a display setting, so I cannot comment on whether his images would impress me or make me want to buy his art. But if someone is successful in selling his or her art, at prices that we can only dream of, maybe we should ponder what is it that someone else is seeing, and willing to pay money for. If I “don’t get it”, chances are pretty good the fault is with me for not having the skills or understanding to see the merit in the work.

If we see a photographer/artist doing well, shouldn't we all be celebrating that fact, instead of belittling his achievements? I'm sure there is a least one learning opportunity in stuying what he does and how he does it.

 

[Steve5D]

If we see a photographer/artist doing well, shouldn't we all be celebrating that fact, instead of belittling his achievements?

I don't think anyone has really belittled his achievements...

 

[pgriz]

If we see a photographer/artist doing well, shouldn't we all be celebrating that fact, instead of belittling his achievements?

I don't think anyone has really belittled his achievements...

OK, so let's figure out why he is successful, and what we can learn from his example that can be useful to us. What I seem to be seeing is a lot of very hard work, and an insight into what people want to see on their walls. I don't necessarily want to be just like him, but I do want to understand how he connects to his client base (or admirers).

 

[Ilovemycam]

More so than Lik, I'd ask why Cindy Sherman's work gets 3 or 4 million dollars?

Check this $900 print out by Kenna

Michael Kenna 1999 Perspective of Trees Russia Signed Silver Gelatin Print | eBay

I'd rather have a Lik than a Sherman or this Kenna.

Kenna does have a few nice ones I like, but the ebay Kenna is not anything I'd want, even for free. Neihter do I want any of the Sherman's for free. (except to resell) I do like Kenna's pyramids a lot.

Once a photog sells a print for a certain price the value of their work can skyrocket from there if the art world starts to bid them up. It does not hurt Lik any that his photos are pretty. Compared to the poor street photogs like myself that usually have ugly photos.

 

[Ilovemycam]

If we see a photographer/artist doing well, shouldn't we all be celebrating that fact, instead of belittling his achievements?

I don't think anyone has really belittled his achievements...

OK, so let's figure out why he is successful, and what we can learn from his example that can be useful to us. What I seem to be seeing is a lot of very hard work, and an insight into what people want to see on their walls. I don't necessarily want to be just like him, but I do want to understand how he connects to his client base (or admirers).

OP, you could also say the same thing about the beanie baby craze. Remeber the crazy prices for them? The Weather channel also helped build Lik up to some extent by showcasing him. If you can buy one of Lik's giant prints for $750 I'd say it is very fair. (For the real thing.) If I needed a giant print, I'd pay $400 for one possibly.

On ebay there are some of his prints going for $750 to $12,000. (But Russian Federation $750...I don't know if they are authentic?)

 

[Steve5D]

If we see a photographer/artist doing well, shouldn't we all be celebrating that fact, instead of belittling his achievements?

I don't think anyone has really belittled his achievements...

OK, so let's figure out why he is successful, and what we can learn from his example that can be useful to us. What I seem to be seeing is a lot of very hard work, and an insight into what people want to see on their walls. I don't necessarily want to be just like him, but I do want to understand how he connects to his client base (or admirers).

At the moment, I'd be more interested in why you think anyone was belittling his accomplishments. Such comments serve no purpose other than to inflame a discussion, so perhaps you could explain the impetus of your comment...

 

[BrianV]

He sells millions every year and makes a lot of $$$. It's great stuff, yes, but one of his biggest selling images is the shot of the dock leading out into the blue water. Captivating? Yes. Beautiful? Surely. Been done a millions times before and since? No doubt. So, why is his worth $750 per print and Joe Photographer's print is worth $7.50 per print?

Is it all in the name?

I think the initial post set the "belittling" tone of this thread, "Is it all in the name?" I suspect it is the man dedicating a lifetime to his profession that is responsible for success, not the name.

 

[rexbobcat]

I think the initial post set the "belittling" tone of this thread, "Is it all in the name?" I suspect it is the man dedicating a lifetime to his profession that is responsible for success, not the name.

I imagine that there is a tipping point somewhere when it comes to art lol.

 

[pgriz]

Well, Steve, if you feel that no-one was belittling his success, then let's blame that impression on my poor reading skills, and call it a wash. As for "inflaming a discussion", again, it appeared to me to be inflamed enough, and I though we should focus on understanding what made him successful.

 

[Ilovemycam]

I think the initial post set the "belittling" tone of this thread, "Is it all in the name?" I suspect it is the man dedicating a lifetime to his profession that is responsible for success, not the name.

I imagine that there is a tipping point somewhere when it comes to art lol.

Nope, Cindy Sherman again pops up. $4 million a pix...all in a name.

Look at the $900 ebay Kenna link above...no Kenna name and it is $15. I've been around many a photo collector. They buy garbage if it has a name. No name and they don't want it for free.

I think some of the photogs here may be jealous. They would like to make millions as well. Maybe that is the belittling issue.I think Lik is a talented photog and a great biz man. Maybe he is the richest photog in the world, surpassing Annie L?