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Young artists always look for that stamp of approval. A well known collector sees the brilliance of the work. Rare is it that the artist’s student show bring that kind of success.
James Howard, a student at the Royal Academy Schools, was shocked to discover that Charles Saatchi, Britain’s most influential collector of contemporary art ,wanted his entire graduation show. Howard, 26, is one of 19 students who have just completed the RA Schools’ postgraduate course,
The young artist found out that his 46 digital prints – each one a collage of photographic images made up to look like a typical internet advertisement – had been purchased for approx $9000.00, but the value will have ,by now, already begun rising.

Mr. Saatchi is famous for making the names of Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and other young British artists broadly known in the art world.
Of course the artists’ work speak for itself. His purchases only serve as a barometer for the collecting market. As a matter of fact, a falling out between HIrst and Saatchi caused the collector to sell back all of his work to the artist and dealer.

He buys low, tries to get the entire collections, and then controls the market on those pieces.

Collector or dealer? What do you think?