Authenticity: The True Currency of Art
A preface by the artist
"Just recently, one of my earliest sculptures, “Caleo” (2016), has found its new home across continents in the USA. This piece, which has journeyed through various exhibitions and holds a special place in my heart, is now with its new owner. Reflecting on this, I began to ponder how someone decides to acquire art. As an artist, I felt inspired to share my thoughts in this blog article on what truly gives a piece of art its value and what defines its authenticity.
In this article, I propose that art acquisition transcends mere aesthetic pleasure or the affirmation of personal beliefs through a conceptual lens. While the beauty and emotional resonance of a piece may be captivating the overlooked—and sometimes shyly ignored – value of art lies in its long-term potential, serving as a strategic investment for both the present and future generations. This article delves into the seven facets of authenticity in art and why it remains the ultimate benchmark for determining an artwork's true worth." – Truly yours, Ernest Vitin
Why Art Authenticity Matters?
“Authenticity in art is that particular quality through which art transforms mere craftsmanship into something more.” – John Updike
Before exploring the facets that define art authenticity, it's important to understand why it matters. For collectors, institutions, and curators, an artist’s overall authenticity is essential when investing in art. Knowing that an artist has a track record of creating original, innovative, and credible works ensures that any piece they produce has intrinsic value, both aesthetically and financially. Authentic artists contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape, and their works are more likely to be appreciated in value due to their integrity and reputation.
The Art Authenticity: the Pillars of Art Value
Art authenticity, in the broader sense, goes beyond just proving that a single artwork is original. It refers to the credibility, integrity, and originality of the artist’s entire body of work and creative practice (Artalistic, 2021). It encompasses the artist's personal journey, knowledge, style, techniques, and the innovative ideas they consistently bring to their craft. Essentially, art authenticity for an artist is about the overall trustworthiness of their creative output and how their work is perceived in the art world (Artland Magazine, 2022).
1. Artists Biography, Credibility and Recognition in the Art World
A good artist will continuously strive for growth in every aspect that could contribute to perfecting his art, such as educational, academic and professional. The artist’s life should consist of ongoing knowledge learning, mastering their own craft, regularly participating in exhibitions and competitions, receiving awards as well as contributing to academic and educational fields within their discipline. This journey creates a reputation, credibility and recognition.
Recognition by peers and institutions adds another layer to authenticity, as it signals that the artist's work resonates not only with collectors but also with the broader art community. Each, accolade each exhibition becomes a chapter in the artist’s growing story, contributing to the lasting value of their work.
Furthermore, the aim should be to expand their influence and reach beyond their local or national context, showcasing their work in international exhibitions, collaborating with global institutions, and gaining recognition on a worldwide scale. When experts, curators, or institutions recognize an artist’s work as being of high quality and genuine to their vision, it strengthens the perception of their authenticity. This external recognition acts as an endorsement of the artist’s integrity and contribution to the art world.
A good artist is someone who understands that perfecting their craft is a lifelong journey, continually learning something new each day, and taking steps to pass their knowledge on to future generations. To build a lasting reputation, the art itself must be truly admirable—distinctive and unique in its expression.
2. The Uniqueness of Art: Idea Innovation
Authenticity thrives on uniqueness. Art authenticity is recognized by how original and innovative the artist’s work is. An authentic artist develops a unique vision and approach to their medium, creating works that are distinct and unmistakably their own. Their creations are not derivative of other artists or commercial trends but reflect their individual voice and creative experimentation. For instance, Ernest Vitin’s unique use of stacked glass in monumental sculptures makes his work highly recognizable and authentic to his personal artistic journey. Ernest's unparalleled approach to stacked glass sculptures is an innovative form that sets him apart from other glass artists. Innovation is not just about inventing new techniques but also about infusing one's personal vision into the work, making it unlike anything else.
This is what draws collectors to authentic pieces — their irreplaceable quality and the sense that no one else could create the same piece.
3. Consistency in Creative Practice & Its Growth
While innovation is essential, so is consistency. A hallmark of authenticity is an artist’s ability to maintain a coherent vision and body of work over time. Consistency does not mean repetition; rather, it means that an artist continues to explore and refine their chosen themes, techniques or medium, adding layers of complexity to their practice. Their work shows a logical progression and sustained dedication to their chosen form of expression. A collector can expect that the artist will continue to evolve while remaining true to their core vision.
For example, Ernest's stacked glass art has been continuously pushing the boundaries of the medium to perfect the craft by integrating technologies, saving materials and time, and improving the quality and possible applications of the medium in various environments. Furthermore, his artistic growth has increased by experimenting with new medium integration into his glass art. As it would require him to adapt the glass to different forms and settings, from architectural installations to smaller-scale sculptures.
4. Diversity in Projects and Environments
While art authenticity does not always mean that the artist's works should be installed or placed in various settings and projects, such as public installations, private collections, and architectural collaborations, it’s a good indicator if others wish to cooperate.
Whether working with a single medium or across multiple media, new community opportunities require enhanced organizational skills, adaptation in different environments, and the artist’s technical skill improvement. Vitin’s art exhibitions (like "Glass Labyrinth" in Riga Art Space), and large-scale works in both indoor spaces (such as the largest glass artwork in the Baltic States “In Nature” at the University of Latvia) and outdoor environments (such as the "Budding Flowers") demonstrate his versatility. Besides this, a legal Authenticity document is an essential pillar for art authenticity.
5. The Role of Authenticity Document
One of the more tangible aspects of authenticity is the authenticity certificate, a document that accompanies original works of art (The Artling, 2019). This certificate verifies the artwork's origin and provenance (the documented history of the artist's works and exhibitions), ensuring that collectors are purchasing an original, not a reproduction or forgery. In today’s art market, authenticity certificates have become essential, especially for collectors who view art as an investment.
For artists, these certificates are a crucial part of maintaining the integrity of their work. Although an artist's overall authenticity is not tied to a single certificate of authenticity, proper provenance further establishes the genuine nature of their career. They offer reassurance to buyers and protect the artist’s reputation, ensuring that their name and work remain untarnished by imitations. In addition to verifying the artwork’s originality, these certificates can also enhance its value in the secondary market, as potential buyers are more likely to trust and invest in certified authentic works.
6. Resale Royalties: Supporting the Artist and Strengthening Your Collection
When considering the financial aspects of art, resale royalties—also known as droit de suite—play a crucial role in preserving the value and authenticity of an artwork. These royalties, typically ranging from 4% to 0.25% of the resale price, depending on the value of the sale, are owed to the artist when their work is resold (GOV.UK, 2024; akka-laa.lv, 2024). By facilitating this process, collectors not only respect the artist's right to receive compensation but also invest in the artist's future, thus the future of their own art collection.
For the artist, resale royalties provide critical resources to continue honing their craft and expanding their creative horizons. This reinvestment boosts the artist’s morale and fuels their practice, which ultimately elevates the value of their work.
As a collector, facilitating the artist's right to royalties ensures that the creator remains empowered to produce higher-quality and more unique works, increasing the potential future value of the artwork you now own.
In this way, resale royalties strengthen the bond between collector and artist, creating a virtuous cycle where both benefit. As the artist grows and gains recognition, the value of their past works—and your collection—appreciates over time.
As previously mentioned, the facets of art valuation related to authenticity are primarily human-centric. However, can modern technology also play a role in this process?
7. The Intersection of Art and AI: Can Technology Measure Art Authenticity?
As technology continues to reshape industries, the art world is no exception—particularly when it comes to measuring authenticity and value. One such platform, Artsted, has included Ernest in their annual Future Blue Chip Artists 2024 edition. Such platforms use AI to assess an artist’s market value and offer collectors insights into the long-term investment potential of a piece. Based on the artist's history, artwork’s cost price and other objectives, the Artsted algorithm provides the artwork’s final price.
While the AI tool on the Artsted website can be helpful in assessing an artwork's value, here are some concerns about critical factors that are not yet accounted for in these calculations. As an artist whose creations involve the skilled labor of multiple artisans, masters of craft, and technical experts, important elements such as labor hours, technical mastery, and the emotional depth of authentic art remain overlooked. For artists whose works are deeply rooted in personal innovation and narrative, these intangible aspects of value cannot yet be fully captured by an algorithm.
8. Conclusion: Authenticity as the True Measure of Value
Authenticity remains the true currency of art, encompassing the artist’s biography, the uniqueness and consistency of their practice, their growth, and the formal recognition of their work through authenticity certificates and resale royalties. In an art market where trends shift rapidly, authenticity provides a stable foundation for the enduring value of art.
Collectors and investors who prioritize authenticity in their acquisitions are not merely buying a piece of art; they are investing in the artist’s journey, creativity, and enduring legacy, while also contributing to the cultural landscape and enhancing the value of their own collection. Whether through technological advancements or traditional methods, authenticity remains the key to truly understanding and appreciating the worth of art.
What does authenticity in art mean to you? Your insights and thoughts are highly appreciated. Leave a comment and subscribe for more discussions!
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