THESE DAMAGE STORIES WILL MAKE YOUR ART-LOVING HEART BREAK
Perhaps the most publicized story, in 2006 business magnate Steve Wynn infamously elbowed his most beloved and iconic painting, Picasso’s Le Rêve. The unfortunate mishaps took place while showing the painting to reporters. It cost $90,000 to repair the damage. So much for “off the records”!
To share a story from our own experience, one of our appraisers once witnessed a $15,000 chair get irreparably crushed between the doors of a freight elevator.
In 2015, King Tut’s chair was damaged in a move between museums as a result of pure carelessness. This unfortunate event followed news of botched restoration to the king’s mask. Let’s hope no one is haunted for the sub-par handling and treatment!
In 2004, Artnews shared the story of an employee at a SoHo gallery who enthusiastically unwrapped a poorly packaged work of art that had been shipped to them. To their utter dismay, he accidentally ripped up the drawing in his fervor.
While traveling from Paris to The Armory Show last year, a Lucio Fontana sculpture was found damaged in its crate. Still pending is the legal retribution for damage that Lloyd’s of London is seeking from the responsible art handling companies and airliner.
It is not uncommon for pets to damage a collector’s favorite work of art. In one instance, a painting resting against a wall fell onto a dog. The spooked dog leaped and pranced about on the painting, resulting in several punctures through the canvas.
WHEN FINE ART MEETS BUBBLE WRAP
by Simon Hornby, President of Crozier Fine Arts
With an increasing number of collectors shipping art from art fairs to their private homes, plenty can go wrong during transit. According to Simon Horby, President of Crozier Fine Arts, the majority of damage to art occurs when a piece is moved. Whether lending art to institutions for exhibit or shipping art from auction houses to tax advantaged locations such as Delaware or Switzerland, the movement of art can be a complex process.
For example, the client who chooses a ‘common carrier’ – a general commodity packer, shipper or storage business who will transport and store anything from art to furniture to bicycles – to transport their million dollar painting may find its canvas punctured upon arrival due to improper packing and handling. For this reason, the importance of selecting appropriate transportation and storage for valuable objects cannot be understated. Hornby emphasizes that works should only be transported using shippers experienced in handling art. To ensure safe transport, it is highly recommended that art is stabilized and transported in air-ride, climate-controlled, GPS- tracked and alarmed trucks. It is also recommended that clients get a condition report prior to having anything transported just to verify that no damage occurred during transit.
Choosing a company that has a TSA-approved Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF) may also prevent damage during transit. Under TSA rules, all cargo, including packed crates, loaded onto domestic and international passenger flights must be individually screened. Screening may involve inspection, unpacking and handling of the artwork, which if performed by trained art specialists at a CCSF, ensures safe handling.
Lastly, find out whether third party shippers or other subcontractors will be involved, especially when hauling valuable objects long distances or internationally. If this occurs, make sure that the contracted party has experience transporting and handling fine art and also has adequate security measures in place (e.g., tracked trucks and background checks on its employees).
Although most damage to fine art and collectibles occurs during transport, the storage environment of these objects is equally critical. Best practices dictate that fine art be housed in a climate-controlled environment and in fire resistant, sole-use warehouses. Additionally, fine art storage facilities should be alarmed and equipped with 24-hour system monitoring and be properly insured.
Simon Hornby is the President of Crozier Fine Arts, the leading provider of global art logistic solutions.
FINALLY, A NEW KIND OF ART FAIR
As art advisors we need to make the rounds. Art Basel, Art Frieze, Tefaf, the Armory Show. Each art fair follows the basic formula, a large space with dealers displaying their works in their booths. Little red dots under works sold in advance to top collectors… champagne flowing at the VIP opening.
I live in Silicon Valley. As wealth and innovation are the bed rock of Silicon Valley, art has taken a back seat. It’s not surprising. It’s hard to believe that a traditional art fair model would be appealing to young, innovative and wealthy entrepreneurs and royalty of the tech world.
There is no doubt that is exactly what Linda Helen Gieseke and Sho-Joung Kim-Wechsler must have been thinking when they realized that there was an artistic vacuum in Silicon Valley. Kim-Weschler knows the tech world after stints at Artsy and 1st dibs. Hence this fair needed be more than champagne and art, it needed to be a full artistic experience integrating visual art, performance, technology and innovation.
What is even more important is that If So What is positioning itself as a thought leader, bringing tech founders and CEO’s with art professionals in a series of panels.
The Fine Art Group is proud to be part of the forefront of a new generation of art fairs that are uniquely positioned to appeal to the young, the innovative and those seeking knowledge.
All The Fine Art Group’s Clients receive 10% Discount to this Inaugural Event – see details below. A portion of the proceeds support Art in Action – Empowering children through affordable art education – artinaction.org.
WHERE ART AND DESIGN MEET SILICON VALLEY
Join us to experience art, design, music, and innovation in a unique, immersive environment, to connect to the transformative power of art and design. Discover new galleries and compelling works from international artists, experience immersive multimedia installations, and join in a dialogue with our visionary panelists who will speak about the interconnection between art and society. Enjoy live music performances and relax on our piazza, connecting with friends both old and new.
BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT
April 26-29, 2018
Palace of Fine Arts
3301 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Sign up for a 10% discount here
ENTER CODE: PALLMALL.ISW
Get your Ticket now!
EXCLUSIVE VIP PREVIEW
April 26, 2018
3-9pm
Palace of Fine Arts
3301 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
VIP BENEFICIARY – ART IN ACTION
Empowering children through affordable art education
artinaction.org
DISCOVER
Discover traditional and cutting-edge art and design galleries and artworks from all over the world. Leading galleries and curators from Europe, Asia, and the US will present works ranging from the most innovative global design to the latest trends in contemporary art.
LEARN AND ENGAGE
Learn about the latest advances in AI, what the future of cryptocurrency looks like and how art and technology are interfacing in unprecedented ways. Listen and discuss with current and former Executives from Apple, Google, Facebook, Artnet, GoDaddy, as well as leaders from Academia such as Stanford or Institutions as BAMPFA and Nevada Museum of Art. This program will be round-up by forward-looking crypto discussions of pioneering crypto artists and art blockchain technologies.
LISTEN
Enjoy music performances and relax on our Piazza while connecting with friends, both old and new. If So, What? will present contemporary music performances produced by San Jose Jazz, a Silicon Valley-based non-profit organization celebrating jazz as a dynamic, evolving art form.
More surprise music bands announced shortly, but here a flavor:
THE ARMORY SHOW
To start off, this week marks the start of New York City’s premiere 20 & 21st century art show, The Armory Show.
The Armory Show takes places from Thursday, March 8 through Sunday, March 11 at the Piers 92 and 94 in Chelsea.
The show exhibits over 100 galleries from all around the World, creating a charming atmosphere in which visitors are invited to discover thousands of artworks spanning movements, mediums and cultures.
In conjunction to The Armory Show, The Museum of Modern Art has on exhibition the art of Tania Bruguera: Untitled Havana, 2000, Thinking Machines: Art and Design in the Computer Age, 1959- 1989, and Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil in addition to much more.
On view at the Guggenheim Museum, are the shows Dahn Vo: Take My Breath Away, the art of Joseph Albers in Mexico, with a special screening of Jean- Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s filmRosetta (1999) in combination with the Dahn Vo art on Saturday, March 10 at 2:30 pm and 5pm.
Additionally on Saturday, March 10 at 7 pm, The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be presenting a performance by Sussan Deyhim. Through a multimedia concert, Sussan Deyhim will be payingtribute to the late Forough Farrokhzad, the irrepressible feminist poet and filmmaker. Sussan Deyhim combines visual projections, archival footage—including Farrokhzad’s 1965 interview with Bernardo Bertolucci—and an original score, cowritten with Golden Globe–winning composer Richard Horowitz, in this gripping homage. Sussan Deyhim’s vocals can be heard in films such asThe Kite Runner and Argo.
From March 8 to 11, at the Skylight Clarkson Sq, The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) will be exhibitingover 50 galleries from all over the world, with some renowned cultural programming. The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA), the definitive non-profit arts organization dedicated to the cultivation, support, and advancement of new voices in contemporary art.
Hope you are able to catch some of the superb art and programs around New York City this week!
ART COLLECTED WITH PASSION
The late Walid Juffali collected art with passion. As his daughter Dina emphasises, “He bought with his heart, always collecting things that he loved, things that he was attracted to… the value of art is how it feels. It’s so personal – that’s what makes it interesting, it’s very emotional.”
The upcoming sale of Walid Juffali’s collection on 26th March through Bonhams at Bishopsgate House shows the magnitude of the collector’s passion for art. The collection spans centuries counting a vast Chihuly chandelier, and works by masters such as Andy Warhol, Picasso, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Henri Lebasque and Leonard Foujita. There are also collections of porcelain, silver, English and French furniture, books, fine wines and objets d’art.
WALID’S LIFE OF SERVICE
Philanthropy played an important role in Walid’s life. His mother Suad al-Husseini is a renowned philanthropist in the Middle East, and his family have decided to donate a proportion of the sale proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research in his memory.
“The Fine Art Group is delighted to be working with the Juffali family on the sale of this unique and incredibly personal collection. The many works available in the sale illustrate a true richness of taste, from the refined period furniture to the daring glass works of Dale Chihuly. From the monumental sculptures of Fernando Botero to the intricate antique clocks and silverware, the collection demonstrates the interests of a person with deep aesthetic sensibilities. It is rare that such a special and diverse collection comes to sale and it has been an honour to be so deeply involved in the proceedings.”
Throughout Bishopsgate house, works by Warhol and Picasso, Miró and Chagall indicate Walid’s passion for modern art. “The contemporary movement wasn’t so much what was valued by Middle Eastern society at the time,” Dina explains. “You had your Picassos, to them that was Contemporary. But life is a treasure hunt – you have to go out and find what you’re meant to have, and Miró spoke to my father on a very bold level – they’re quite abstract but it gives you a lot of emotion, it has something to it. It’s not like a Calder, which is very bold and straightforward; Miro has layers and nuance.”
SCULPTURES
One of the most striking lots is Fernando Botero’s Adam and Eve two monumental bronze statues on the huge stretch of lawn overlooking Windsor Great Park. “My father first saw Botero’s work in Monaco,” says Dina, “and he always felt it should be seen out of doors. I mean, everyone loves Botero… and he just thought, that’s a piece and a half!”
The sale will include two sculptures by Dale Chihuly commissioned by Walid for Bishopsgate House; a magnificent chandelier placed above the blue-tiled pool and Float Boat, a sailing fantasia rendered in glass on the grounds. “My father met Chihuly before he was a big name. I remember Dale coming over to have a look at the space – I’ll never forget his paint-splattered boots – and he thought ‘Why not, let’s do it’. This was before the V&A got its installation.” Dina explains how her father bonded with Chihuly, “They were both quite creative characters, so they meshed really well – and it became effortless for Dale to create the most perfect, organic pieces.”
The Chihuly sculptures are a great example of how personal Walid’s collecting process was, and how much he was led by his heart.
26 March 2018
Bishopsgate House, Englefield Green, Egham TW20 0XT
Previews at Bishopsgate House Friday 23 – Sunday 25 March
View the online catalogue here.
OUR SERVICES
Offering expert Advisory across sectors, our dedicated Advisory and Sales Agency teams combine strategic insight with transparent advice to guide our clients seamlessly through the market. We always welcome the opportunity to discuss our strategies and services in depth.
Early each year collectors, curators, and scholars gather in New York City for what has become an annual pilgrimage now known as Americana Week. Although fewer events are planned for the 2018 schedule, the weekend of January 18 – 21 is a deluge of shows, exhibitions, lectures and social events. Those who attend will gain new insight into American history, fine art, furniture and decorative arts. Should your travels bring you to Manhattan this January – here is what you need to know to make the most of your time and plan for the very active weekend.
WINTER ANTIQUE SHOW
Now in its 47th year, The Winter Antique Show offers the best of historical and contemporary design which speak to each other from the booths of over 70 dealers who will offer a well-rounded spectrum of objects from ancient art, Americana, English, Continental, and Asian art, all vetted by 150 specialists.
Highlights of those exhibiting this year include offerings from: Bernard & S. Dean Levy Inc., Ellie Shushan – purveyor of fine portrait miniatures, Gerald Peter Gallery and Hirschil & Adler Galleries. The 2018 loan exhibition, Collecting for the Commonwealth Preserving for the Nation: Celebrating a Century of Art Patronage, 1919-2018, from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, will commemorate gifts to the museum from the James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin collection including French impressionist, modern, and contemporary works from the collections of Paul Mellon and Sydney and Frances Lewis, examples of Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs, collections of Fabergé, and Russian objects from the collection of Lillian Thomas Pratt, jewelry designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany from the collection of Bunny Mellon, and more.
WAS is open from noon to 8:00 P.M. daily except for Sundays, January 21st and 28th with altered hours on Thursday, January 25th (noon to 6:00 P.M.) and Tuesday, January 23rd (noon to 4:30 P.M.) All WAS proceeds go to the East Side House Settlement in the Bronx. A schedule of daily events and lectures can be found on the show’s website.
https://www.thewintershow.org/
NEW YORK CERAMICS & GLASS FAIR
Dedicated to ceramics and glass – the show presents almost 30 vetted galleries, private dealers, and artists from the United States, Europe, and Israel, who will offer ceramics and glass made from the 17th century through to contemporary works. The loan exhibit at the New York Ceramics & Glass Fair is sponsored by Ceramics in America, published by the Chipstone Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia. Archaeologist Deborah Miller will lecture on the significance of a remarkable assemblage of slipware dating to the middle of the 18th century that was found in a brick-lined privy shaft associated with Philadelphia taverns. The fair continues daily from January 18th – 20th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, January 21st from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; tickets are $20. The fair’s daily lecture program is free with admission. For the entire schedule please see the fairs website.
Art, Design, & Antiques Show at Wallace Hall
For the fourth year, Brad Reh has assembled 35 well-known dealers to offer a selection of English furniture, American folk art, American Indian art, fine books, silver, pottery and porcelain, Oriental rugs, carpets, jewelry, Asian works of art, paintings, sculpture, and mid-century design in a boutique-like setting. With the loss of Big Flea, the Armory Show and the Pier Show AD&AS at Wallace Hall is a “can’t miss” for those seeking quality decorative pieces from many eras and locations. Highlights will include a dining table and four chairs by Tommi Parzinger offered by Glen Leroux Antiques, Painted Furniture and Country Americana from A Bird in Hand Antiques and a striking mid-century Italian chrome chandelier offered by Andrew Spindler Antiques. Open from Friday, January 19th – January 20th from 10 A.M. – 7 P.M. and Sunday, January 21st from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M. Additionally, throughout the weekend, a shuttle bus will run between Wallace Hall and the Winter Antique Show at the Park Avenue Armory.
OUTSIDER ART FAIR
For the 26th consecutive year the Outsider Art Fair will be offering outsider art from more than 60 national and international exhibitors, nine of which are new to the show. The show is open from January 18th – 21st with daily hours from 11 A.M. to 8 P.M.
http://www.outsiderartfair.com/
Sotheby’s – Americana Week Auction
Sotheby’s will offer nearly 900 lots of American furniture, folk art, silver, China trade porcelain, and prints over a four-day period at their York Avenue location. The star of the week; however, is the Mansfield-Merriam family Pilgrim-century black-painted, joined, and carved oak wainscot armchair, made in the New Haven Colony circa 1650, that will be sold on Saturday, January 20 with an estimate of $300,000-500,000.
On Saturday, January 19th, Sotheby’s will offer a Nathan Lumbard clock in an inlaid case from the Fred and Ann Vogel collection; however, the sale will lead off with furniture from the Dudley and Constance Godfrey Foundation, with the proceeds going to the Milwaukee Art Museum. On Saturday afternoon the collection of Bobbi and Ralph Terkowitz of Washington, D.C., and New York will be offered, which includes five portraits by itinerant painter Ammi Phillips. On Sunday, a collection of federal and classical furniture from the estate of the Michigan collector Patricia M. Sax which was bought in New York from renowned dealers Carswell Rush Berlin and Stuart Feld at Hirschl & Adler Galleries will also be offered.
http://www.sothebys.com/en.html
Christie’s Americana Week Auction
On Friday, January 19, Christie’s will sell Americana and Outsider art, including five works by Alabama artist Bill Traylor. Christie’s will also sell 100 lots of traditional American furniture and silver from a separate catalog. The highlight of Christie’s offerings are two pairs of Philadelphia rococo side chairs made for Richard Edwards that were found in Canada. Three of the chairs have the same descent as a pier table that sold at Christie’s in January 1990 and which set a record price at that time. The chairs will be offered in two lots, estimated between $30,000-50,000 and $20,000-30,000. In addition, a pair of Philadelphia Queen Anne side chairs from the Rawle family hold a $30,000-50,000 estimate. Finally, an Athenaeum-type portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart which was once owned by the hero of Spanish independence Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) of Caracas, Venezuela will be offered and is estimated at $100,000-150,000.
Savy collectors who attend shows and fairs are using art advisors to research artist and markets before jumping into a purchase. Buyers should remain discerning when purchasing via shows and consider the following before purchasing: remove the emotion of purchase, analyze the artist, medium, size, subject matter, rarity, provenance and sales history – it is very important to confirm the sales price at auction as understanding the market of your acquisition is the basis of negotiation. Work with advisors to negotiate the purchase of a new acquisition as advisors can often save clients upwards of 20% on a new purchase. The Fine Art Group Advisors charges $300 for market analytics reports which provides a diagnostic analysis of the quality and market for the acquisition. An additional 5% of the final sales price will be charged for negotiating on the client’s behalf.
Another great year, touring the fair with clients as leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa show significant work from the masters of Modern and Contemporary Art, as well the new generation of emerging stars. Paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, films, and works of the highest quality were on display in the main exhibition hall. Ambitious large‐scale artworks, films, and performances became part of the city’s outdoor landscape.
Selected Highlights
I remember visiting my grandparents’ home on Central Park West. The home was a beautiful mosaic of antiquities, tribal art, period antique English and French furniture, modern paintings, oriental rugs and Tiffany lamps. Although today I visit homes of Billionaires and properties in excess of 25,000 square feet in gorgeous locations, I compare all homes to my grandparents’ two-bedroom apartment in NYC.
A truly elegant home is one that incorporates artwork and objects that stand alone. Paintings chosen because they match the sofa or have a “contemporary feel” are no different from the wallpaper. In conversing with many of my clients who work with designers for their interiors, it has become very clear to me that there is a fundamental lack of understanding of the importance and the process of marrying art and design.
The best designers understand that the fine art needs to be as important as the custom couch and the color scheme of the walls. Many of the architects we work with see the art as an essential component of their architectural vision for the structure. A team approach to designing a home results in the most elegant and appealing homes. When the Art Advisor, Designer, Architect and client work in tandem, magic occurs.
There are certain assumptions about incorporating art into a design project that need to be dismissed. The first and most prevalent is that “real art” is too expensive. How many times have I heard a client say, “I can’t afford real art.” This is the biggest myth of all. Whether the budget is $100,000 or $1,000,000, there are artworks available. Low edition prints by important artists, photography and art work by emerging artists, who show in major galleries and museums, can all be obtained within a prescribed budget.
Many designers are concerned that it is too difficult to find real art that fits a space. In fact, some designers will work with a handful of working artists who are commissioned to create works to fit a space. Every project looks the same because every home has a version of the same art. In addition, none of the commissioned pieces have any asset value. Today, there are so many ways to frame artwork to fit a space. The size of the mat and the frame can alter the size of an art work dramatically.
In addition, artwork that is not purchased for decorative purposes has a much better chance of holding its value over time. Therefore, when it is time to downsize or to alter the design style, you are not getting pennies for the artwork you spent thousands on. I recently compared decorative art work to penny stocks. They rarely increase in value. However, an artist who is part of the cannon of art history, typically holds his/her value or increases.
The last myth I want to dispel is that it is too hard to find real artwork within a design time frame. Just as a professional designer develops contacts to access the most interesting and beautiful textiles and unique pieces of furniture, the expert art advisor has contacts throughout the dealer, private and auction world. At The Fine Art Group, we have experts on staff in all areas of fine art who have deep connections with dealers in that art collecting space. Take the time to find a designer who understands the importance of marrying art and design. The result will be a home that stands the test of time and is a truly elegant and inspirational space.
– Anita Heriot
BARBARA DERCOLE DESIGN
As an interior designer for many years, I have acquired the valuable knowledge of knowing the importance of art in Interior Design. Creating a beautiful space that is cohesive requires some strategic practices that can make all the difference in the final outcome of a space. The style of decor should always complement the art and selecting a palette with that piece in mind will always satisfy. I remember following up on a client who had acquired a collection of art that did not work with the decor or architecture of the home. Through thoughtful design discussions and some small alterations of color, scale and design, the house was given a soul and a direction that guided everyone who entered this story – a story of the art and design of the home which existed where it did not exist before.
Hiring a design professional to help you through this process can make the difference in a room that speaks to you with confidence versus yet another room with art hanging on the walls. Another way to create this confidence is by combining multiple works of art by the same artist or works of art of a similar style. This always creates a greater impact. Working with architects and lighting designers is also a great way to showcase your collection with detail being focused on placement and impact.
If art is important to you, either because of the investment or how it makes you and your family feel at the end of the day, hiring a design professional should be a key component in your design planning.
Barbara Dercole Design
20465 Saratoga Los Gatos Rd.
Saratoga, Calif. 95070
www.barbaradercoledesign.com
As a new wildfire closed part of Interstate 405 early Wednesday near Los Angeles’ Bel Air area, flames sweeping toward the Getty Center arts complex — one of a number of recent fires that have burned more than 83,000 acres, countless buildings and pushed thousands of people to evacuate their homes — the call for preparedness has never been more urgent.
Southern California Fire Evacuation Zones
The map outlines those communities in yellow which should be preparing to evacuate should the fire cross the freeway. The boundaries for the mandatory evacuation zone are Sunset Boulevard to the south, Roscomare Road to the west, and Mulholland to the north.
THE FINE ART GROUP’S PLAN OF ACTION
- Every home should have a complete and detailed inventory of their contents. You will need this information should the fire hit your home.
- It is wise to have an evacuation plan. The Fine Art Group can arrange for a packer/shipper to transport the art to a certified art storage facility should the evacuation be necessary.
- Make sure you have the correct insurance on your contents. If you have a blanket coverage, ensure the number is large enough. If you have pieces valued over your blanket per item limit, make sure you have scheduled and updated values. Our advisors are happy to connect you with excellent brokers who can provide you a full insurance review gratis.
MODERN & CONTEMPORARY WORKS OF ART
Freeman’s
Lot 99
Sam Gilliam (American, B. 1933)
IDYLLS I
Estimate: $50,000-$80,000
Sold: $370,000 (Hammer with Buyer’s Premium)
19TH & 20TH CENTURY SCULPTURE
Including works from Cecil Howard’s studio
Sotheby’s
Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier (French, 1827-1905)
LA JUIVE D’ALGER (THE JEWESS OF ALGIERS)
29 ¾ in.
Estimate: £60,000-£80,000
Sold: £248,750 (Hammer with Buyer’s Premium)
RAGO MODERN DESIGN SALE
Rago
Xu Beihong (Chinese, 1895-1953)
Galloping Horse
Estimate: $294,000-$411,000
Sold: $710,000
POLY INTERNATIONAL AUCTION CO.
George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990)
NAKASHIMA STUDIO – Fine Minguren I coffee table
Estimate: $20,000-$30,000
Sold: $32,500
OUR SERVICES
Offering expert Advisory across sectors, our dedicated Advisory and Sales Agency teams combine strategic insight with transparent advice to guide our clients seamlessly through the market. We always welcome the opportunity to discuss our strategies and services in depth.
Meet Roxanne Cohen our New Director of Art Advisory
Born and raised in London, Roxanne Cohen comes from an art collecting family. After 30 years in the UK, she relocated to NYC, the center of the contemporary art world. With years of experience as an independent art consultant, Roxanne now brings her skills to The Fine Art Group. For 5+ years, she worked at Christie’s Auction House within the Post-War and Contemporary Art Department and Client Advisory. Her extensive knowledge of the primary and secondary art markets helped clients build unique collections of work by various artists, both emerging and blue chip.
Roxanne has a Masters in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute which is affiliated with Manchester University, a BA (honors) in History of Art and Architecture from Manchester University (UK), and a Certificate in Collections Management from Sotheby’s Auction House.
BUY WITH YOUR EYES, THEN WITH YOUR MIND
By this I mean, buy what you feel passionate about and then validate the purchase with your due diligence.
Loving the work must be the most important factor. You should take time to develop your eye, research and learn what it is that you love. Visit Museums, Art Fairs, Auction Houses, Galleries and follow people in the art-world on Instagram. Read as much as possible on artists you’re looking at, check their resume for important gallery and museum shows. Did an important collector own the piece you’re looking at? Has it been exhibited before? Have you checked auction results to make sure that you are paying fair market value?
Make sure you see the work in person. Photographs and PDFs can be digitally enhanced. It is also crucial that you have the correct measurements. Make sure your measurements reflect the size with frame. The work does not necessarily need to match an interior but should fit well in the space. Buying art for your home means that you will live with it every day; you don’t want to regret an ill-informed decision.
Looking for a work by an established artist on a lower budget? These blue-chip artists may remain out-of-reach for the collectors with lower budgets but there are more accessible works out there. An artist’s early drawings, studies, print editions for example, represent a good starting point for anyone wishing to own a work by a blue-chip artist. When buying, consider looking for works that capture the most distinct elements of an artist’s practice.
Don’t just ‘buy into the hype’ especially with young emerging artists. If you do, make sure you will love the work in the long run, as the emerging market can be very volatile.
It’s also important to buy quality not quantity when investing in art. Invest in fewer pieces that are higher quality. Art is a purchase for life, so it’s better to collect slowly with a focus than try to rush.
An art advisor can be used along the entire spectrum of the collection process – from early days when a simple educated walk through a fair may be a great start, to pricing works before acquisitions, to developing a comprehensive collection management strategy. Having a trusted advisor to work with can be a major benefit as they know you, your taste and are committed to building your collection with your values in mind.
OUR SERVICES
Offering expert Advisory across sectors, our dedicated Advisory and Sales Agency teams combine strategic insight with transparent advice to guide our clients seamlessly through the market. We always welcome the opportunity to discuss our strategies and services in depth.