The Collectors' Edge

Per Kirkeby: The Inevitability of Nature

Join us, Nordic Art Partners, as we discuss the life and work of Danish artist, Per Kirkeby, a trained geologist whose obsessive focus on the timeless weight of geology ensured that he never quite left the field. We explore how he turned his profound understanding and appreciation for sedimentation and erosion into a unique visual language—layered canvases evoking the physical foundations of our natural world, brick structures that tell of mans' temporal relationship to the earth, and tactile bronzes hold the marks of time. In the episode we unpack how a quiet, analytical approach set him apart from more romantic strains of neo‑expressionism and why his earthbound palette still feels fresh, relevant and prescient to curators and collectors.We discuss the early experiments influenced by pop and fluxus; the blackboard works shaped by Joseph Beuys’s performative thinking; and the mature landscapes that cemented his international standing, from Venice Biennale exposure to major retrospectives at Louisiana, Tate Modern, and beyond. His iconic brick sculptures get their due here—arches, walls, steps, colonnades and niches built in industrial brick, inspired by Mayan forms and the soaring majesty of Grundtvigs Church—while smaller bronzes bring geological pressure and fracture into the palm of the hand.For collectors, we bring specific insight about the market for his various works. Expect gallery asking prices in the mid six figures for large, mature paintings, with auction highs concentrated around his signature 'geological paintings' made from the late‑70s to early‑2000s.. Germany leads demand, followed by Denmark and the UK, supported by institutions and a broad collector base. We outline what quality looks like—balanced earthy colour, layered impasto, clear structural drawing—and why smaller, emblematic canvases can be the smart buy. We also compare his valuation to peers like Kiefer and Polke and explain why the gap signals opportunity rather than a ceiling.If you care about Nordic art, modern painting, undervalued masters with incredible credentials, or simply want to collect with confidence, this comprehensive episode offers a practical roadmap grounded in both aesthetics and insightful data. Subscribe for more market‑savvy art stories, share with a collector friend, and leave a review to tell us which Kirkeby period you rate most.Get in Touch

Bridget Riley: Activating the Picture Plane

Your eyes think her canvases are moving. That’s the spell Bridget Riley's works cast. Join Nordic Art Partners to understand her unique methodology—brick by brick, line by line; from black-and-white checks to colour-saturated diagonals that make the picture plane come to life with extraordinary movement. We share the formative moments that shaped her practice, from early training at Goldsmiths and the Royal College of Art to a revelatory encounter with Seurat’s Pointillism, convincing her that in the most dynamic works, perception of color is mixed in the eye and not on the artist's palette.We chart the leap from stark monochrome veils, grids, and waves to the chromatic sophistication of the late 1960s and 1970s—Cataract, Chart, and the Egyptian palette works—before stepping into the 1980s diagonals and the 1990s curves that expanded her visual grammar. Along the way, we explore why The Responsive Eye at MoMA made her a global name, how Venice amplified her reputational apogee, and why major museums keep returning to her with deep, rigorous surveys. This isn’t just a timeline; it’s a look at how a methodical studio process and acute optical thinking reshaped what a painting can do to a viewer.Then we turn the lens to the market. With representation by David Zwirner and Max Hetzler, Riley’s primary prices reflect blue-chip confidence, while secondary results show decades of steady growth, robust sell-through, and repeat-sale gains. We compare early monochromes, colour waves, and the 1980s–90s diagonals, outlining where scarcity, art-historical significance, and visual power converge. The takeaway is clear: as institutions keep spotlighting her achievements and supply stays tight, the case for long-term value strengthens.If you enjoyed this deep dive into the art and economics of optical painting, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves modern and contemporary art, and leave a quick review so others can find us.Get in Touch

Sheila Hicks: The Universal Language of Textiles

The boundaries between fine art and craft have blurred dramatically over recent decades, and few artists embody this shift more powerfully than Sheila Hicks. At 90 years old, this Nebraska-born, Paris-based artist has spent over six decades transforming how we understand textile as an artistic medium.Stepping into Hicks' world means discovering an artist whose work combines modernist color theory (learned directly from Josef Albers at Yale in the 1950s) with techniques gleaned from indigenous weaving traditions across the globe. Generally speaking, her pieces hang on walls like paintings or sculptural reliefs, with color blocks that shimmer and transform as light plays across their textured surfaces. Some bulge with sculptural dimensionality; others form monumental columns that completely transform architectural spaces. What unites them all is an extraordinary sensitivity to color, material, and form that makes them immediately recognizable as her work.What's particularly fascinating about Hicks' career is how she's consistently existed in multiple worlds simultaneously. From her earliest exhibitions in the 1960s, she moved fluidly between fine art museums and design contexts, never limiting herself to one category, seeking and finding opportunity in both. This boundary-crossing approach feels remarkably contemporary, yet she pioneered it decades before it became fashionable. Her works now reside in virtually every major museum collection worldwide—from MoMA and the Whitney to the Tate and Centre Pompidou—evidence of her profound influence.For collectors, Hicks offers a rare opportunity: work by a historically significant artist whose prices (typically €100,000-300,000) remain reasonable compared to many contemporaries with far less impressive credentials. Whether you're drawn to her intimate "minime" pieces or larger tapestry works, collecting Hicks means acquiring something that transcends categories and speaks a truly universal visual language. Discover why museums, critics, and collectors worldwide are celebrating this extraordinary artist whose vision has permanently changed how we see textile in contemporary art.Get in Touch

David Shrigley: A Big Thumb's Up to Humour, Poignancy and Accessibility

Could it be possible to acquire unique works by one of the world's most recognisable and renowned artists for less than $10,000? David Shrigley might be the art world's best-kept open secret. Find out why with Nordic Art Partners.This episode takes you deep into the whimsical world and highly developed market of one of Britain's most beloved contemporary artists, whose childlike drawings paired with deadpan humor have earned him global acclaim while remaining refreshingly affordable. Host Jeppe Curth and art expert Nicholas Robinson explore how Shrigley's deceptively simple aesthetic—colorful, seemingly casual drawings with witty text observations—has captivated audiences from both gallery walls and public monuments.What makes Shrigley truly remarkable is the striking disconnect between his impressive credentials and his artwork's accessibility. Despite being nominated for the Turner Prize, receiving an OBE, creating London's famous Fourth Plinth commission, and having work in collections at MoMA, Tate, and Centre Pompidou, large unique Shrigley works can be acquired for under €15,000. This paradox of prestigious recognition and affordable pricing creates a rare opportunity for new collectors to own pieces by a globally significant artist without the intimidating expenditure typically required for such.Beyond his artistic practice, we discover Shrigley's advocacy for integrating art into education—championing the evolution from STEM to STEAM—mirroring his democratic approach to making meaningful art available to broader audiences. Whether you're drawn to his humorous animal characters with profound observations or his simple yet universal messages, Shrigley's work offers something increasingly rare: museum-caliber art that brings daily joy without requiring extraordinary wealth.Ready to start collecting or simply curious about this unique artistic voice? Join us for an enlightening conversation about an artist who proves that significant art doesn't always come with a significant price tag.Get in Touch

Josef Albers: The Phenomenology of Colour

Join us to learn how Josef Albers' revolutionary approach to colour theory fundamentally changed how we understand visual perception in art. Through relentless experimentation and disciplined investigation, he transformed simple geometric forms into profound studies of how chromatic relationships interact, influence, and transform one another when colours are placed in proximity to other colours.Born in Prussia in 1888, Albers' remarkable journey took him from the revolutionary Bauhaus in Germany to Black Mountain College in North Carolina and finally to Yale University—leaving an indelible mark on art education at each institution. His teaching philosophy was elegantly simple: "I have not taught painting because it cannot be taught. I have taught seeing." This approach influenced generations of important American artists, including Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Eva Hesse.While Albers created significant works throughout his career—from innovative glass pieces at the Bauhaus to architectural-inspired "Adobe" paintings—his monumental "Homage to the Square" series represents his definitive achievement. Created between 1950 and his death in 1976, these meticulously executed paintings feature three or four nested squares in different colors, applied with a palette knife directly from the tube onto Masonite boards. Each painting documents a specific color relationship, with Albers noting the exact pigments on the reverse of every panel.For collectors, Albers presents a fascinating opportunity. Despite being represented in every major museum worldwide and receiving the first-ever solo exhibition for a living artist at the Metropolitan Museum in 1971, his market shows remarkable value discrepancies. While larger works command $2-3 million, smaller examples offering similar visual impact can still be acquired for $230,000-850,000. With an impressive 83.3% sell-through rate at auction and over 70% of lots exceeding high estimates in recent years, Albers represents a blue-chip investment with both cultural significance and growth potential.Explore how this towering figure of modernism can enhance your collection while providing a solid foundation for understanding color theory in 20th-century art. Contact Nordic Art Partners today for expert guidance on acquiring works by this essential artist whose influence continues to resonate throughout contemporary art and design.Get in Touch