A Seller's Guide To Louise Bourgeois

Bourgeois' artistic achievements were immense, with a career spanning eight decades, from the 1930s to 2010. She is most renowned for her large-scale arachnid sculptures and conceptual textile works. In 2022, the Hayward Gallery hosted a major retrospective that showcased the breadth of Bourgeois' work, marking the first major exhibition to focus solely on her use of textiles and fabric. In 2023, a new auction record was set by a bronze spider sculpture standing over 3 metres tall and selling for £26.4 million.

Amidst the acclaim of million-dollar auction prices and an esteemed exhibition history, Bourgeois' print market has gained momentum. Her editions, which echo her fascination with using subjects as metaphors for psychological and emotional experiences–often evoking ideas of shelter and containment–offer more accessible price points. Notable works like The Olive Branch (2004) and Untitled No.5 (1990) highlight her interest in organic forms. In 2018, her complete set He Disappeared Into Complete Silence set a record auction price of £367,960 at Christie’s, further demonstrating the growing demand for her prints and editions market value.

The Easton Foundation

Authenticating a print is essential for sellers to instill buyer confidence and maximise its market value. For blue chip artists like Bourgeois, a comprehensive paper trail often exists, including records from her foundation, affiliated dealers, and prominent exhibitions. While a full catalogue raisonné of her works is not yet available Bourgeois was deeply committed to preserving her artistic legacy, leading to the creation of The Easton Foundation in the 1980s. The Foundation, originally based in her townhouse acquired with her husband Robert Goldwater in the 1960s, became its headquarters after her passing. Though not directly involved in authentication, the Foundation, under the leadership of her long-time assistant and friend Jerry Gorovoy, collaborates with institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and provides invaluable resources for her works. One example is The Complete Prints & Books of Louise Bourgeois, an extensive online publication cataloguing her entire print collection. This archive, categorised thematically with detailed photographs, edition numbers, and signatures, is an indispensable tool for verifying the authenticity of Bourgeois' prints in the art market.

When selling artwork, potential buyers will inevitably inquire about its condition–a key factor in determining value. Preserving art prints requires meticulous care, protecting the work from environmental risks such as sunlight and humidity. Proper framing is crucial; avoid methods like taping or mounting prints directly onto the frame, as this can cause damage when removed.

Bourgeois was deeply engaged in printmaking throughout her career, from the late 1930s into the new millennium. While older prints may naturally show signs of wear, even newer ones can be damaged if not properly maintained. If your Bourgeois print shows any signs of deterioration, it's essential to consult a professional conservator for restoration. MyArtBroker can connect you with these experts, offering assessments and guidance without any obligation.
Get in touch for a free valuation and explore our comprehensive guide on print restoration and care.

At MyArtBroker, our specialists provide a free market valuation for your artwork, offering a level of transparency unmatched in today’s market. In addition to our valuations, through our online Trading Floor, you can access real-time insights into works by the artist you’re looking to sell, including pieces that are most in demand, wanted, or currently for sale: allowing sellers to trust the valuation that they are provided.

Additionally, the MyPortfolio collection management service grants you free access to our comprehensive print market database. This resource allows you to review auction histories for the specific work you’re looking to sell, including hammer prices, values paid, and seller returns. In a fluctuating market, this historical data is invaluable - and often comes at a cost elsewhere - offering insights into past and current values to further inform decisions based on market timing and conditions. In addition to our specialists guidance, you have concrete data.

Our approach is tailored to align with the unique attributes of each artwork, and offer optimal results:

How a Private Sale Works

Unlike peer-to-peer platforms, which lack specialised expertise, authenticity guarantees, and legal infrastructure for high-value sales, MyArtBroker operates through private sales ensuring a secure and seamless transaction process. We charge sellers 0% to sell, and take a small commission from our buyers, absorbing essential aspects including insurance, shipping, and marketing - at no extra cost to the seller. There is no magic to it, we’re a lean specialised business with less overheads than traditional models meaning we can do better for our clients.

Our revenue is derived from buyer commissions only, which are individually negotiated upon offer, and we aim to give the client the best return in the market place. By focusing on high-value artworks in excess of £10,000, we provide specialised care and expertise, ensuring each piece receives the attention it deserves, while simultaneously maximising returns with our clients. For works that fall below this threshold speak to the team about a recommendation, we offer market advisory free of charge. Our goal at MyArtBroker is to offer a seamless solution, setting us apart in the art market.

Advisory and Recommendations

In cases for artists and artworks, where our existing network of collectors isn’t the best fit due to value, medium or condition we collaborate with reputable partners to facilitate its sale. Carefully tailoring your artwork to the right party. This tailored approach is especially important as it considers the unique attributes of each artwork, providing sellers with the best possible outcome in today’s shifting art market. You can discuss this approach with us without charge as part of our advisory service.

Such recommendations are on a case-by-case basis, and ensures broader exposure and takes advantage of our knowledge of where a work will do best.

In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection, while tracking its value in real-time. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real-time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.

Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jameison, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.

Emerging art tech tools are vital in navigating the current, and evolving, digital art market landscape. For instance, by adding Louise Bourgeois prints from our website to the MyPortfolio dashboard, users gain insight into unique sale opportunities and observe market performance and fluctuations in real time, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our pioneering technology has revolutionised art portfolio management, making it more accessible and equipping users with data-driven insights for informed decisions. MyArtBroker harnesses cutting-edge technology driven by data, coupled with a team of industry experts, to deliver an exceptional experience. Our professionals work closely with clients, utilising the MyPortfolio dashboard, to provide personalised guidance for creating a profitable art collection. By merging technology and expertise, we are committed to offering unparalleled curation and customer service.