Assessing the Obama-as-muse marketplace

The WSJ weighs in today on a topic familiar to Murketing regulars, noting the Obama art of Shepard Fairey and others, the Obama stuff on Etsy, the Obama sneaker, and Obama-art backlash art.

Two bits in their piece worth noting:

It is far from clear that the value of the Obama works will hold up. Prices have fluctuated, driven by news and events throughout the campaign season. For example, prices for Obama-related items on eBay dipped in March during the controversy over the candidate’s pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, according to Ken Harman, a collector and art blogger.

That said, it still looks like a better financial bet than the anti-Obama art:

In Texas, Austin-based designer Baxter Orr, an Independent, created “Dope,” a parody of Mr. Fairey’s posters that makes sport of Mr. Obama’s cocaine use as a young man. The posters are still available for $30 on the artist’s Web site, and sales are slow. Mr. Orr says that buyers only want posters glorifying Mr. Obama. “If I [had] followed the herd and created pro-Obama posters,” says Mr. Orr. “I am certain I would have made more money.”