Category: Investigations

Latest Investigations by The World Art News journalists into the intriguing World of Art, Antiques, and Collectibles

Who is Yuri Tarasov

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Yuri Tarasov was one of the strongest painters in the Soviet Union, Russia and Lithuania. While his talent had no borders, Yuri’s fantastic vision and ability to show the true classic Russian art school with a touch of modern European trends made his paintings highly controversial in the Soviet society. As the son of the Head of the Supreme Council of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, he had an opportunity to become one of the best-know artists in the USSR, but Yuri never wanted fame or money, strongly believing that great art must bring recognition and not the other way around. Ignoring the opportunities life gave him, committed only to his art and his family, Yuri Tarasov, nevertheless, became one of the top artists in the entire Soviet Union. The recognition that he so carefully avoided inevitably came to him after each and every one of his exhibitions. His art spoke for itself.

The Most Expensive Sword in the World – $100 Million Samurai Tachi

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This Tachi sword belonged to one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history – the great Fukushima Masanori (1561–1624).

He is known as one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake for his actions in the Battle of Shizugatake, where he had the honor of first blood.

Throughout his life, he fought in many campaigns, including the Battle of Ch’ungju during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592.

The sword is currently in the Tamoikin Art Fund and is considered to be one of their most valuable assets. It has been appraised at over $105 million and was featured in the prestigious Forbes 400.

Who is Czeslaw Znamierowski

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Czeslaw Znamierowski

Czeslaw Znamierowski was a renowned Soviet Lithuanian painter whose large body of work spanned from the 1920s until the 1970s. During his fifty-year career, he painted over 1,400 landscapes, drew over 800 sketches, and completed over 3,000 artworks. His work is particularly regarded for its featuring of stunning landscapes, some of which cover canvases larger than 8 feet by 4 feet. Due to his affiliation with socialist political movements in Russia, Znamierowski and his work have demonstrated a growing appeal to collectors in foreign markets who hold similar political affinities, particularly China, where his work is reported to have sold for as high as $120,000.

How to Make Art a Career: The Three Golden Questions to Ask Yourself

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Take steps. Small steps. If you want a career to be long-lasting you don’t want to force something to grow. Building a career is just like growing a plant. It needs to be planted in good soil and taken care of while it’s still small and unknown to the world. It has to get love and the right nutrition to be able to function and to live up to its potential as a bigger plant. 

Do not rush. I can’t emphasize this enough. Yes, you need to throw yourself out there and be willing to do things that scare you, but you should never compromise with your own health – mental, physical or spiritual – nor should you lower your morals or let go of your integrity in order to get to where you want to go. This needs to be intact and if you are a solid artist your career will take off in the time you are ready for it. 

AMALGAM COLLECTION: Fashioning The World’s Finest Scale Models

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Amalgam Collection

The world’s leading retailers are proud to offer these extraordinary pieces of model art, including MR PORTER and the SKP store in Beijing. Ralph Lauren commissioned 1:8 models of the 17 most important cars in his collection, that were displayed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2011 during the exhibition ‘The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection’. These models, and now a collection at 1:18 scale, continue to be available to buy at the flagship Ralph Lauren stores worldwide. Watchmaker Richard Mille commissioned several 1:5 scale models of cars from his collection, which contains some of the rarest and most significant vintage race cars.

How To Discover Yourself As An Artist

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Art is an expression that needs to be allowed to flow freely. Don’t try to figure out how to do the best piece of art to fit in, do your thing. This is not about being accepted or evaluated. Some people will love you and some won’t. It’s as simple as that and you don’t need anyone’s approval to create the way you create. If you have your motives clear, have written your goals and take action one step at a time then you are doing more than 90% of the population. Most people just think and don’t believe and therefore don’t take action. That is not you. Because you are reading this I know you have a message to deliver, a piece of art that needs to be created and shared with the world.

The Problem with NFTs

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Around February of this year, in the midst of the still-pending cryptocurrency boom, a sub-category of digital assets started to really take off. NonFungible.com reported that by the first quarter of 2021, over $2 billion worth of transactions had taken place in the NFT market. Musician Grimes sold almost $6 million worth of digital art via digital asset marketplace Nifty Gateway, who are partnered with Sotheby’s. Twitter founder Jack Dorsey auctioned his first ever tweet as an NFT, the final bid closing at $2.9 million. UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou sold NFTs following his knockout victory over Stipe Miocic. The proceeds of the sale, $580,000, was actually more than his disclosed purse for the fight itself that earned him the belt. Despite the hype, in many regards serving as a speculator’s dream, NFTs come with inherent issues that threaten to hamper widespread and enduring adoption.

3 Valuable Toy Cars & Trucks That Your Kids Could Be Playing With Right Now

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Ever wanted to have a car dealership as a kid? Maybe you desired an exotic car collection but couldn’t afford it? Well, this is your lucky day! All over North America and the world at large, adults of many ages relive their childhood memories through their beloved childhood toy cars and truck, paying handsomely for specific models. Surprisingly, some of these toys aren’t even that old, but then again, neither are adults who seek them. Seriously, there are toy car dealers who make good money buying, selling, and trading these vehicles. If you think that’s crazy, we got news for you – toy car repair shops exist as well! So when your kids get back from their 4×4 off-road trip with a busted tire, you know where to go. Just don’t forget insurance.

$133 Million in Loans: Exclusive Interview with an Art Banker, Thomas González – Part 2

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Thomas González

Thomas González has always had a passion for art. Today, he arranges art loans and has committed himself to the art loan business. He has developed a trusted cadre of financial partners, responsible for successfully brokering art loans above $133 million. We, at The World Art News, have had the pleasure of interviewing Thomas to learn the ins and outs of being an art banker. In this two-part series, you will discover his secrets to running a successful art loans business. This time, in Part 2 of our exclusive interview, Thomas González will talk about the differences between the art and financial worlds, share with us how art loans change lives, and tell our readers how to get started as an investor in the global art market.