LOS ANGELES, CA.- Berlin-based
Artflash announced today the launch of the U.S version of its flash sale website for contemporary art. Founded in 2012 by Katharina Bauckhage, Artflash provides subscribers with bi-weekly flash-sales of strictly limited, curated art editions by world-renowned international artists.
Artflash was created to make the art world more accessible and affordable to new collectors and art enthusiasts. The inventory of unique art editions including etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, silkscreen prints, and photographs are sourced from prestigious European and American non-profit art institutions, galleries, and book publishers that originally produced the editions. Through these direct acquisitions, Artflash inventory can be priced affordably, with art editions ranging from $100 to $3,000.
The idea for Artflash began when I stumbled upon a limited edition lithograph by German artist Norbert Schwontkowski in Bremen, explains Bauckhage. I was surprised to see the edition was still available five years after its original release. While the hundreds of not-for-profit art-clubs in Germany and other art institutions around the world give young artists a great platform to show their work, those institutions are usually not equipped to sell their complete inventory I started searching systematically for astonishing works from todays most sought after artists sitting in their archives.
Since its launch in Europe, Artflash has provided its subscribers access to thousands of pieces of over 150 rare, limited edition works by in-demand contemporary artists, including Richard Prince, Jenny Holzer, John Baldessari, Louise Bourgeois, Sigmar Polke, Joseph Beuys and Rosemarie Trockel. The U.S. version will launch on Tuesday, December 1 with works available by celebrated Los Angeles artist Raymond Pettibon and emerging Berlin based artist Michelle Jezierski. Pettibons ink drawings capture a comic-like essence that is accompanied by written excerpts from sources ranging from the Bible to Marcel Proust. He is also known from his iconic album cover artworks for musicians like Sonic Youth, Black Flag and Tom Waits. Jezierski is a master of light; her works are often compared to a kaleidoscope view, with familiar shapes delightfully distorted with light and dimension allowing the viewer to get lost in the depths of the prints layers.
To celebrate the launch of the U.S. website, Artflash will open its archives on Saturday, November 21 for a preview event to showcase some of its finest pieces of art, providing guests the opportunity to expand their collections with exclusive pieces by top artists and emerging talents. Works available will include Louise Bourgeois, A.R. Penck, Tom Sachs, Peter Doig, John Baldessari, Richard Serra among others.