Just like beauty, art is in the eye of the beholder. When I first met my Beloved Curmudgeon he had a nude on black velvet painting hung in his very nice house. He had been single a while so it didn’t seem that out of place. Still, a black velvet painting? At some point in time I learned the history of the painting. He had bought it in Tijuana on leave just before he left for Vietnam. That painting went with him to Vietnam and back and stayed with him in the subsequent years through many moves and changes in his life. He still had it when I met him.

I understood his attachment to the painting, tacky as it is. Over the years the painting has gradually made its way to less and less prominent places in our homes. It is currently prominently displayed in our garage. He’s okay with that.

The painting has meaning for him and for me because of him. I appreciate that its important to him. We’ve found a common ground.

The point is, what is art to one person is not necessarily art to another. That is the philosophy behind the many years that Park West Gallery has been in business auctioning one of the largest collections of fine art in the world. Park West Gallery conducts art auctions throughout North America and their affiliate company, Park West at Sea conduction fine art auctions on cruise ships around the world.

You can see what’s in their current catalog and what’s on sale through their website.

You can search through the exhibits by artist. Many styles are represented. I even found a Neil J. Farkas Elvis, although he wasn’t painted on black velvet. :)