'What Should I Collect?'

We receive at least 10 phone calls or emails every week from people who want to buy or sell a Patrick Nagel.  This is one confusing topic for people, because what is available is often misrepresented or mistakenly identified.  After the end of the 10-year lawsuit, in 1995, there were a good number of Pat's images that were reprinted or newly released, by his widow. Some are good quality serigraphs (probably not hand-pulled serigraphs) that she signed (called 'estate signed', meaning someone affiliated with the artist, but NOT the artist, has signed the print). Most were inexpensive off-set lithographic posters. 

To alleviate some of the confusion with potential sellers, I have them send us digital pictures of their art, and then I can assess what they actually have. 

As for our collectors, we are committed to offering only legitimate works of art for sale. We want you to be knowledgeable and informed when you're going to buy a work of art, whether it's $100.00 or $1000.00.  

Visit our site on Pat Nagel. (Click here:)  There's lots of interesting info about his work and career, lots of images to view, and an attempt on our part to help you to clarify what you might be considering buying.  

'Michelle' is one of the most sought-after images that Pat created. She is the ultimate example of Nagel's talent to combine striking composition, design, simplicity, elegance and allure . . . all in one work of art. Those magnificent eyes had wanna-be artists trying to copy them for years. . .

'Michelle' was released in Dec. of 1982. There was no unsigned state. Just 90 signed and numbered prints. She measures a substantial 41.75" x 36". I think the eyes explain the popularity of the posthumous Commemorative no. 2, 'Palm Springs Life'. She has the same mesmerizing eyes. . . There was a smaller poster version ('poster' refers to a work of art that has letters or typography) of this image. It was titled 'Galerie Michael', created for a beautiful gallery in Los Angeles, that hosted a big Nagel exhibition at the height of his career. That was one great show. It was advertised that Pat would be in the gallery to sign the signed-in-screen (unsigned) poster version of 'Michelle' the day after the show's opening. There was a line AROUND the entire outdoor CENTER that day of collectors who wanted Pat's signature on their print. He signed well over 200 posters. The image was cropped to a vertical format that some feel is even more compelling, even though its size is 18 x 25".

We have the large 'Michelle' for sale. The owner "just wants her to go to a good home, where she will be enjoyed"! Click here to see the full image:

ABOUT NAGEL: What's the market lately?

ABOUT NAGEL: What's the market lately?

There is no single answer to this question. . . the market for art is always volatile, and changes in the economy dramatically affect activity. 

Over 18 years, since the 1995 settlement of the lawsuit between Mirage Editions (Nagel's publisher), Playboy Magazine, and Jennifer Dumas (Pat's widow), sale of Pat's work has gone from hot to pariah - and everything in between - with no apparent rhyme or reason.

We do see a new group of collectors for Pat's work today.  Many who loved his work 20 years ago were in college, and had no way to buy what they loved.  Now they are able, and want to purchase a meaningful work by an artist they have admired for so long.  But they're savvy, and want a great value. . .

What's Sold Lately?

This great poster, 'Dyansen Special Edition',  just sold to a collector in Hawaii.  He was so delighted, he had it at the framer's within a day of receiving it!  This large (30" x 42.5") 9-color serigraph had some paper damage, and I've learned all sorts of cool things about paper conservation and repair from a talented conservator who is right in our neighborhood!

The 'Dyansen' was meticulously restored, and after 'Sprucing' (what the conservator called the light cleaning she did after the repairs) the print is beautiful!  To see the full image, click here:  

There is a smaller poster version of this image, titled 'Dyansen 57', (also a serigraph) which measures 18" x 25"; created in 1983.  It was named after the Dyansen gallery that was located on 57th St in NYC.

A 's-i-s'* version of this print sold this week and is on it's way to Aberdeen, Scotland!

* Signed-in-Screen' is a term that confuses everyone.  It refers to the artist's signature being printed at the time the print is created.  It is NOT hand-signed, so it is considered unsigned.

The Black and White Robe

This image was far and away the most mysterious of early Nagels. . .

It's the ONLY black and white serigraph; and an unusual merging of Pat, his publisher - Mirage Editions, and Jeff Wasserman, the genius printer who masterfully created all of Pat's early editions.

The concept was to create a smaller version of the 'Black Robe', an eight-color hand-pulled serigraph of the identical image, that was created in an edition of 90 signed & numbered prints, and measures 27 x 42".

The 'Black and White Robe' is a little smaller:  it measures 21" x 32.25" but I think has as great an impact because of its striking simplicity.  And the embossing that Pat did is too subtle to see in photographs, but very cool in person.  He created the illusion of a traditional platemark, the indentation created in the paper when a print is put through the press, under tremendous pressure, to transfer the ink to the sheet of paper.  But in this case, the hand-made emboss mark creates a line that encloses the black ink panel that the model stands behind.

We have print number 3 of ONLY 25 signed prints.  Only 32 prints in this entire edition.  The owners love their hand-picked collection of Nagel, Hoppe and Delacroix originals and prints, but are forced to sell some of them.  THIS is a notable addition to a serious Nagel collection.

Click here to see the full image.