How to get ahead in the artworld

Museum of Contemporary Art LA director and former prolific art collector Jeffrey Deitch has an interesting tip for aspiring players in the art world. In a conversation with art adviser Josh Baer last week, Deitch said: “I’ll give you a tip. The best way to become a player in  is to be an under­bidder on a major work of art [at auction]. You don’t have to spend any money. Just raise your hand near one of the top bids on a Warhol or another major lot and Josh will list you in the Baer Faxt among the underbidders. The Baer Faxt is a $200 a time artworld email that tips off its subscribers to new appointments, openings, lawsuits, acquisitions and scandals going on in the art community). Do that a few times and people will think of you as one of the big players, Deitch added.” The bluff is guaranteed mark you out as a serious collector and wont cost you a penny, unless you accidentally win the auction, of course. . .