It’s probably no surprise that the questions I am asked most frequently are “What does an art advisor do?” and “How do I choose the right one?” For the second question, I gave my answers to Luxury Guide recently in a column of my top tips for hiring an art advisor (it’s in their Spring 2021/10th Anniversary issue, but you can find it quickly here.)
As for the first question, art advisors provide many services, but the most important one is education—and it’s more important now than ever. Galleries, fairs and auction houses are pushing out more digital content than was imaginable a year ago, which makes deciding what to buy especially challenging. I have always encouraged both novice and experienced collectors to look at a lot of art and ask questions before buying. Doing due diligence on artists, galleries and sales platforms is essential, and if you don’t have time to do it yourself, seek a qualified advisor to help you.
It’s also a good idea to stay on top of the business aspects of collecting, and I am looking forward to participating in three upcoming virtual panels on this topic. Details are:
· April 29: Selling & Consigning Artworks in the Era of Covid-19, hosted by the Federal Bar Association Virtual Art Law & Litigation Conference
· May 7: Collecting in the Twenty-First Century: What You Need to Know, hosted by the Museum Trustee Association
· May 22: How to Work with an Art Advisor, hosted by Oolite Arts and moderated by President & CEO, Dennis Scholl
But the best learning tool is viewing art in person, whether it’s your first purchase or your 100th. That has been challenging in the past year, of course, but most galleries are now open, and art fairs are slowly beginning to resume in person. Most fairs will continue to offer online viewing rooms (OVRs), and it will be interesting to see how the hybrid model evolves.
My first (post-vaccine) in-person art fair will be Frieze New York at the Shed in Hudson Yards May 5 – 9. The near byzantine registration process ensures strict health safety protocols, including timed ticket entry. If you would like to meet me there, please let me know very soon.
I love my work and enjoy helping clients through the thrilling process of building their collections. If you would like more information about this or any other facet of the art business, I would be happy to speak with you anytime.
4/20/21