An Artful Affair

About the Book

A painter, an auctioneer and an art critic are embroiled in a love triangle, forgeries and ambition gone awry in An Artful Affair. Set in 1977, this suspenseful New York story of three young people trying to make it in Manhattan reveals the eternal conflicts between art and money.

All Bo Ryder ever wanted was to paint in peace. But when his landlord serves him an eviction notice, the impoverished painter is forced to make compromises. Forgery wasn’t exactly a sideline he had planned on. Nor was falling for art world reporter Megan Trico, who knows only that the talented but unrecognized Bo has exclusive rights to her heart. But when Bo’s attentions falter while she is investigating a stolen painting sold through Sotheby’s, she is sidetracked by the rival auction house expert, Alastair Cavendish. Determined to prove himself with a record-breaking Modern Painting sale, Alastair is thrown off course by the beautiful young reporter Megan—in more ways than one.

A major character in the novel is the art world itself in all its bubbling, broiling turmoil of talent and dreams, fame and fortune. Art auctions, ever setting new highs for cultural icons, be they Andy Warhol´s soup cans or Faberge Eggs, include a colorful cast of characters from society hostesses to the shyest esthetes. With vivid visual descriptions of art and locale, An Artful Affair paints an authentic picture of the full spectrum of the New York art world.

From Soho’s grungy studios to the Upper East Side’s glittering galleries, Megan traverses Alastair and Bo’s turfs, her investigations bringing their star-crossed paths ever closer. Involved with both men without each other´s knowledge, Megan becomes the fulcrum in a triangle love affair, caught between opposing worlds and unable to decide which she would rather inhabit. As events take on a life of their own, she loses her chance to choose.

Review Comments

“A highly entertaining and engrossing tale that accurately explores the intrigues and truths of the art world.”–– Harmer Johnson, former Sotheby’s Director

“There is really so little meaningful observation of the art community that your book is bound to succeed.” —Ivan Karp, OK Harris Gallery

"A delightful romp through the art market, an engaging morality tale complete with villains and heroes. Clendenen captures the fizz and the fun of the art world of the 1970s." —Nancy Green, Senior Curator, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art,Cornell University

About the Author

Corinna P.S. Clendenen grew up in Pennsylvania, has a BA in Art History and an MA in Cinema Studies. She has written extensively on the arts for publications including the Soho Weekly News, Boston Magazine and The San Diego Tribune. In addition to being an art critic in New York City, she was an auctioneer in Soho before working for both Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses. She studied fiction writing at Bread Loaf, Iowa and Yale, and lives with her husband and three children in Connecticut where she writes a film review column. This is her first novel.