Agent and Publisher for Pettegrew, Caleb and the Artists of Cuba Oriente

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An interesting take on the current state of the Cuban art market outside of Cuba from Daily Campello Art News:

“The collectors are taking advantage of a little-known exception to the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba: It is legal for Americans to buy Cuban art.” –Wall Street Journal

This suggestion and idea is simple, and has been proven recently by the super hot rise of Chinese artists: when a closed society is opened up a little, its top artists see a substantial rise in exposure and thus in demand, and of course, in prices!

And it makes sense (if you buy art as an investment strategy rather than love of art).

Generally speaking, when an artist is in certain major collections around the world, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Tate in London, and other such giants of the museum world, it attracts a certain level of collector interest, and it is almost always associated with a certain price range.

And there are many contemporary Cuban artists whose work has been in those and many other important museums around the world for a very long time, and whose work continues to attract curatorial, critical and savvy collector interest, but because of their lack of exposure to the American market in general (often created by their closed societies), their price range is not in par with their colleagues from other nations in the same level.

Read the whole blog entry, Aqui Estamos.

Here are three new oils-on-canvas painted on the recent Caribbean splash-about. These are small canvases, 8″ x 10″ all.

Peter Pettegrew-ppoc1685-sunrise-in-keys-8x10

Peter Pettegrew-ppoc1687-evening-mooring-8x10

Peter Pettegrew-ppoc1686-sunset-colors-keys-8x10

Afro-Cuban artist Wifredo Lam’s art is on exhibit at the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida through January 11, 2009. The show displays Lam’s groundbreaking work with pieces from 1927 through 1972.
Lam, a contemporary of Dali’s, allowed his work to be influenced by his Chinese, African, and Spanish heritage, as well as by 20th century European painting. The second half of his career was heavily influenced by African forms and religion. His work gained international acclaim by the 1940’s, and its fusion of African, Caribbean and European themes remains influential to this day.
Salvador Dali Museum of Art, 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg; ongoing thru Jan. 11. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, extended hours on Thursday to 8 p.m. and Friday to 6:30 p.m.; noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission: adults $15, seniors $13.50, students 10 and older $10, and children 5 to 9. $4. (727) 823-3767.

Florida landscape impressionist painter Peter Pettegrew’s painting “Ostello View” has been selected as the art for the 2008 Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Poster.

Peter Pettegrew

Over the summer, Peter was contacted by Baxter of Florida Frame House to submit a painting for the poster celebrating the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. On September 17th they had a big unveiling and signing event at Florida Frame House with all of the board members of the show and the Mayor of Winter Park, David Strong, in attendance. Everyone agreed that it was a fun evening of good food and cheer in the beautiful gallery setting, and all are looking forward to the show, which will be held the weekend of October 11th and 12th along Park Avenue in Winter Park. Peter will be in attendance, signing posters and meeting art collectors from around the area.

Peter, Baxter and Mayor David Strong

Peter with collector Kimberly Roberts