Will Finnerty's art become more popular?
Kevin Finnerty had his artwork spread out in nearly a dozen art galleries across Chicago and the suburbs, with three locations having as many as 15 pieces each.
Some he left on consignment with gallery owners; others he sold to them outright.
In wake of his suicide on Tuesday, and the death of his wife and son, art officials now cannot predict how that might affect interest in his art. In a twisted way, the downward spiral of his sales now might take a different turn in light of his death.
"On the one hand, you won't be able to get any more of them, so that may add to their value," says Dan Bondi, of Prints Unlimited Galleries in Chicago. "But at the same time, people may be haunted by the image."
Bondi carries Finnerty's works in his two galleries, at 1407 N. Wells St., and at 1461 W. Fullerton. The latter has three of Finnerty's framed works for sale. All three feature gardens in the foreground, with the Chicago skyline in the back.
They are giclees, which is a French technique for making high definition reprints of original paintings, and stretching them across rag board canvas, giving them more of a photography look, with rich colors and details.
A smaller one sells for $250, while the two larger ones, estimated at 3x4 feet, sell for $375.
"They're very pleasing, with lots of colors and brightness," Bondi says. "They're a summer day in Chicago. It's the kind of artwork that evokes happiness and joy."
Another gallery owner, Jay Goltz, of Chicago Art Source, has 16 Chicago scenes by Finnerty, all giclees, ranging from $100-$500.
"We have them on consignment, so if anyone wants to buy them, we'll donate all of the money back to the family," Goltz says. "We want to put a positive spin on this."
One of Finnerty's original paintings of Wrigley Field, done in pastels on rag board canvas, remains on display at Tuscan Market & Wine Shop, located at 141 W. Wing St. in Arlington Heights.
As an original, and not a print, it sells for $3,200, which was the going rate for one of Finnerty's framed pieces.
Another gallery that represented Finnerty's works, was Corporate Artworks and Health Environment Art Services, at 76 W. Seegers Road in Arlington Heights.
Denise Rippinger, one of its consultants, estimates they have nearly 20 of Finnerty's pieces, mostly giclees, in their possession, which run $200 to $400. This past Monday he had brought in photographs of Busse Woods wildflowers, acting on Rippinger's suggestion to feature more Northwest suburban sites in his art.
"Legally, they're not ours, so we have no intention of wanting to sell them and make money off of them," Rippinger says. "We'd be happy to frame them up and make them sellable, in order to raise money for his children."
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