Affairs of the Art: Love, Loss and Power in the Art World

A study of the role and responsibilities entrusted to those who tend to an artist’s reputation after he or she dies, this work traverses the strange world of art where power resides with those who hold the best stock, and highlights the heart wrenching ways emotion and duty can intersect in the making of decisions by those left behind. Through interviews with those handling the estates of various artists—including Fred Williams, Brett Whiteley, John Brack, Howard Arkley, Bronwyn Oliver, George Baldessin and Albert Tucker—as well as a raft of art dealers, academics, curators, and auctioneers, Affairs of the Art shows how the reputation and legacy of artists are curious things and often influenced by factors beyond the quality of work.