About Ben Mahmoud Expertise Questions regarding "the business of the arts (ie.artist/dealer relations).
Questions regarding the collecting of contemporary art.
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional appraiser, however, I can direct interested parties to sources of information.
Experience 40 years as professor of art, Northern Illinois University
Curator of University Art Collection (responsible for purchase and care).
Member of the board of directors, Illinois Arts Council.
Juror of many competitions.
See vitae: http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Publications Many conference proceedings.
"Advice to Young Artists in a Postmodern Era" with William Dunning, Syracuse University Press, 2000.
Education/Credentials MFA, Ohio University, 1960
Awards and Honors See vitae: http://http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Question I have seen a limited edition print(1 of 100) by an english artist called Norman Cornish - and want to know whether it is worth it and whether it is likely to go up in value
Answer The first advice that I would give you is this: Never buy art as an investment. It is too risky. If you want to make money from artists, watch the neighborhoods into which they begin to move. Buy real estate there.
Of course, I think one should buy art. But buy it because you love it. Such things enrich our lives more than money.
The edition is not terribly large which is good. Better if the edition had been 50. I don't know what kind of print it is, and that would be important. I don't know the size, and that is, also, important in determining the value. And I don't know the price the seller is asking, so I cannot tell you whether it is worth it.
I do know that there is an extensive auction record for Cornish's work. He is an energetic exhibitioner. His work is in some museums. And I have read some pretty good reviews of his work by art critics.
If I had the medium (etching, litho, serigraph, etc.), the size and the asking price I could better answer your question.
