In Italy we see many artists who try to find their way into the International élite. But they encounter many difficulties trying to emerge and they ask themselves many questions before managing to enter the system. Luckily our country, despite standing slightly back from the other nations, can boast the presence of excellent names. Few artists have really managed to scrape a living in a few years and have become very appreciated stars in the international art circuit. 
We could define them as four cavaliers with different poetics that have shown the world that even Italy can make it. Obviously, we are referring to the super-genius Maurizio Cattelan and to Vanessa Beecroft, without leaving out Francesco Vezzoli from Brescia and the last arrival in this élite, Rudolf Stingel.
Very complex authors in their artistic production who years ago left the “Bel Paese” to find  new horizons. Beecroft, Cattelan and Stingel have been living in New York for some time now, while the fourth, Vezzoli, is very popular in the States and boasts collaborations with Hollywood actors. Certainly the secret of their success is not the USA. We can say that the Big Apple offers great possibilities but it certainly does not grant success to everyone. The American environment gives the chance to enter the world of art but, as the level of competition is very high, in New York only the best emerge, those who can compete with the international circuit.
To achieve success, besides a completely new creativity and the place where you live, another influential factor is represented by relations (perhaps the hardest to face). Beecroft, Cattelan, Stingel and Vezzoli have managed to fascinate curators, museum directors and wealthy collectors. To cite an example, Maurizio Cattelan’s works are part of prestigious collections: Francosi Pinault, Eli Broad and Dakis Joannou. Another useful help can also come from art gallery owners, as some eminent people guarantee the clear evidence of the quality of an artistic production. Maurizio Cattelan has collaborated with Anthony d’Offay, Marian Goodman and Emmanuel Perrotin. Rudolf Stingel with Paula Cooper and Sadie Coles. Beecroft was discovered by Jeffrey Deitch and has displayed works for Larry Gagosian. The latter, considered and called “the shark” of the art market, has also supported Francesco Vezzoli, artist who is in Yvon Lambert’s stable.
All of these factors have consolidated the power of the fantastic four, contributing also to a gradual exploit of their quotations. Let’s consider Maurizio Cattelan, considered the most paid contemporary Italian artist in the world. In about three years his sales have totalled 4,531,000 Euros and everyone remembers that his personal record was set in 2004 at Phillips de Pury in New York, when the installation “Nona ora”  sold for 2,094,000 Euros. After a season of excesses and scandals, Cattelan has not stirred any more rumours, although his works have continued going through auctions totalling about 4.5 million Euros in only three years.
And what can be said about Rudolf Stingel with his works made of poor materials that can create a sort of collaboration with the spectator. Even the artist from Merano is one of the highest estimated artists made in Italy. His sales between 2005 and 2008 have totalled 4,053,000 Euros, while his top lot was achieved in 2007, when Christie’s London sold “Untitled” for 835,000 Euros. Even for young Francesco Vezzoli things are going really well. In the last three years, he has taken about 451,000 Euros and his record is worth 224,000 Euros (“Veruschka”, Christie’s London 2007).
Vanessa Beecroft concludes this brief analysis, an artist who has become famous for her naked women organized in rigid choreographies. Obviously the prices of Beecroft’s photographs are not comparable to those of Gursky (world record for photography) or Cindy Sherman. However, they always achieve positive signs. Since 2000, the Italian artist has kept her record of 104,000 Euros, achieved at Sotheby’s New York with “VB34” and her sales revenue in three years reaches 808,000 Euros. (translated by Giorgina Arcuri)