Scandal, intrigue, drama... these are not new to the art world. Neither is discourse about art or a zeal for collecting new to society. When does notoriety stigmatise a market and when does it convert to collectability? When are scandalous artists embraced and when are they ostracised? SHIREEN HUDA reviews some notable cases.

The furore surrounding the Bill Henson photographs of nude adolescents will have some impact on his monetary value. This impact is likely to be most pronounced in his auction prices, which act as a public barometer. Will this impact be negative or positive? Henson’s auction popularity reached a peak in 2005, with 25 photographs sold that year at an average price of $9,685. Since that time there has been a decline both in the number of his photographs offered and sold, as well as the average price, which last year was $5,647. Will we see an increase in the number of Henson works offered at auction, high estimates, high sale prices and high percentages of works sold in the near future? Or will vendors and collectors be wary of the artist or of specific imagery?

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Image: Brett Whiteley, Towards Sculpture 8, 1977, planographic lithograph, printed in black ink, 90 x 63cm. Courtesy private collection.