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Amar’e Stoudemire Is Now a ‘Legit and Serious’ Art Advisor
He says he brings a certain swagger to art.
Ex-basketballer Amar’e Stoudemire has gained notice for his efforts to become known as, in his words, a “legit and serious” art collector, snapping up works by blue-chip artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol as well as younger names like Rob Pruitt and street artist Retna.
This year, artnet News named him one of our young collectors to watch.
Now he’s hoping to make a new name for himself, advising athletes on building their own collections, according to a profile in the New York Times, which indicates that ballers like the Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem and Justise Winslow and Memphis Grizzly Chandler Parsons have sought his advice. And it’s not only athletes; actress Gabrielle Union asked him for help when shopping for a gift for her husband, according to the profile.
Hebru Brantley and Amar’e Stoudemire attend Amar’e Stoudemire and Melech Collection present “In The Paint” Series #2 with Hebru Brantley at Little Black Pearl School on January 24, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Amar’e Stoudemire.
“I’m able to bring a certain swagger to art, whether it’s pop culture or sports or entertainment,” Stoudemire tells the Times.
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When called on to select some highlights for a contemporary art sale at Sotheby’s New York, the former NBA All-Star picked works by easy-to-like artists such as Warhol and Keith Haring but also lesser-known figures like Sam Francis and Victor Vasarely.
Stoudemire started spending time at some of New York’s best art galleries, the Times points out, where he befriended Pruitt.
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