The Art of the Deal

Contemporary Art in a Global Financial Market

By: Noah Horowitz

Narrated by: Ken Kliban

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

Art today is defined by its relationship to money as never before. Prices of living artists' works have been driven to unprecedented heights, conventional boundaries within the art world have collapsed, and artists now think ever more strategically about how to advance their careers. Artists no longer simply make art, but package, sell, and brand it.

Noah Horowitz exposes the inner workings of the contemporary art market, explaining how this unique economy came to be, how it works, and where it's headed. He takes a unique look at the globalization of the art world and the changing face of the business, offering the clearest analysis yet of how investors speculate in the market and how emerging art forms, such as video and installation, have been drawn into the commercial sphere. By carefully examining these developments against the backdrop of the deflation of the contemporary art bubble in 2008, Art of the Deal is a must-listen book that demystifies collecting and investing in today's art market.

©2011 Princeton University Press (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"In recent decades, the world of contemporary art has developed into a global business. To fully grasp how this has changed the art world and our relationship to art, we need a thorough analysis of the financial forces involved. The best place to start is this groundbreaking study by Noah Horowitz, which, leaving the common chitchat about art and money to others, takes the discussion to a more fundamental level." (Daniel Birnbaum, director, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, and curator of the 2009 Venice Biennale)

"This book is extremely stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable. Horowitz brings deep insight to his analysis, and he weaves in beautiful historical examples. His discussion of front- and backroom business by dealers, loss leaders, and profit makers is telling. Think about the art world using his concepts. Your views will change." (Richard J. Zeckhauser, Frank P. Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University)

" Art of the Deal is cogently argued, thoroughly researched, and richly documented. It is also, to my knowledge, highly original, and not only in its subject matter - giving a textured financial analysis of contemporary art, in all its market manifestations - but in the rigor of its financial analysis. I don't know of another book like it in the field." (James Cuno, president and director, Art Institute of Chicago)

unbearable

The book attempts to cover an interesting subject, studying the relation between art for the sake of aesthetics or as an investment. However it is written in such an unbearable thesis paper like fashion. Explaining everything down to detail like a instructional manual, like the difference between film and video. Disappointed.

waste of time

What disappointed you about The Art of the Deal?

I have worked in the art world for 20 + years and this book hid the lack of information in obtuse jargon

It's like listening to a robot

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The worst audible experience so far. Trying to get through this one but the narration is so poor that it's like listening to a robot. Can't even pay attention to him for more than 10 seconds.

Would you recommend The Art of the Deal to your friends? Why or why not?

No - get the book if you are interested.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ken Kliban’s performances?

NEVER!!!!!!!!

Was The Art of the Deal worth the listening time?

Not so far.

Narrator sucks

Sounds like a robot talking and not clear at all. Didn’t like his voice at all

Good Book but would benefit from new narrator

Really interesting and full of facts but I can only listen in short bursts as the narrator bores and annoys me in equal measures - so irritating and ruins a good book.