If there is a Pokemon or a Harry Potter
of the art world right now, it is vintage ski posters, according to private art dealer
Kelley Allen.
Allen, who lives in Seattle, began collecting the vintage posters last
year at the Christie’s annual ski sale in London. There, the posters quadrupled
anticipated values and fetched as much as $10,000, Allen said.
Allen is exhibiting her collection of the rare, original posters at the
Ketchum Sun Valley Heritage and Ski Museum in Ketchum through Jan. 2.
The posters, which generally advertise ski events—such as the 1936
Olympics, European ski resorts and ski equipment—were created by European master
painters at the turn of the century.
"The artists are incredibly talented," Allen said.
"They’re not just commercial pieces. They’re works of art."
Allen said she was delighted to show her collection of vintage ski posters
at the Heritage and Ski Museum because the museum building and its mission are "the
essence of Sun Valley."
"The museum is the catalyst behind preserving the character of Sun
valley and Ketchum," she said.
A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of ski posters will be donated
to the museum, Allen said.
The museum, located on the corner of Washington Avenue and First Street,
is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
