“I met Heidi through an Armory Show Group visiting my art collection. That chance meeting has led to a lasting and rewarding relationship and friendship. I have an extensive collection located in my loft, an art storage room in the loft, an off-site storage area and art in my upstate home. I was a prolific but unorganized collector. Heidi promptly redressed that situation. We visited all sites, took photos and measurements and I now have it on DVDs. She provided labels for all the art and an appraisal for each piece. And this was all done at a very reasonable cost.

Equally valuable, she has become my counselor on all matters art-related including strategy and disposition. We talk often. She is a trusted adviser and friend.”

Year first hired: 2008 (hired more than once)
Top Qualities: Great Results, Good Value, Creative

Ron Shelp is the Managing Director at Glanstone Infrastructure Partners and Glanstone Capital. He writes for Forbes.com and is the author of best selling book, Fallen Giant about the amazing story of Hank Greenberg and the history of AIG.

Herewith is an indispensable checklist to refer to when cataloging or describing your artwork whether it is for identification of a lost or stolen work of art, your art insurance claims, planning your estate or for your our due diligence.  Answer the following 9 questions and you will be well on your way to ensuring your art is well cared for in the future.

1. Type of object. What kind of object is it (e.g. painting, sculpture, clock, make)?
2. Materials.  What materials is the object made of (e.g. brass, wood, oil on canvas)? How was it made (e.g. carved, cast, etched?)
3. Measurements.   What is the size and/or weight of the object? Specify which unit of measurement is being used (e.g. cm’s, inches) and to which dimensions the measurements refer (e.g. height, width, depth).
4. Inscriptions & Markings. Are there any identifying markings, numbers, or inscriptions on the object (e.g. a signature, dedication, title, maker’s marks, purity marks, property marks, invisible inks)
5. Distinguishing Features.  Does the object have any physical characteristics that could help identify it (e.g. damage, repairs, manufacturing defects)?
6. Title.  Does the object have a title by which it is known and might be identified (e.g. The Scream?)
7. Subject.  What is pictured or represented? (e.g landscape, battle, woman holding child)
8. Date or period. What was the object made? (e.g.  1893, early 17th Century, Late Bronze age).
9. Maker. Do you know who made the object? This may be the name of a known individual (e.g. Pablo Picasso) a company (e.g. Tiffany) or a cultural group. (e.g Hopi).

WRITE A SHORT DESCRIPTION

This can also include any individual information which helps to identify the object (e.g. color and shape of the object, where it was made etc.)

KEEP IT SECURE

Having documented the object, keep this information in a safe place and always create a back up for your records.

REMEMBER to first take photographs of your work (overall views, close-ups of inscriptions, markings and any damage or repairs, and always include a SCALE or object of a known size in the image (ie. a pencil). Photography is also a vital part of identifying and recovering stolen objects.

Saturday, March 24, 2012, 3-4 pm, $75 per person                                     156 10th Avenue, NY, NY 10011

Soho may have started the New York art scene decades ago, but with the fancy restaurants, expensive clothing stores, and designer shoe shops that moved in, it seems this artists’ stomping ground has gone commercial. Thankfully, the world of cutting-edge art is still alive and well in the Big Apple. It just changed neighborhoods.

Chelsea has been crowned the new home of edgy art. The galleries here offer provocative contemporary art installations by some of the best emerging artists working across America and internationally today. But this isn’t the place to just see some pretty paintings. Amazing art, terrible art, the work that makes you think, and the work that makes you ill are all here for the viewing, which is why you’ll need an expert at your side.

Heidi Lee is as deeply entrenched in the art world as you can get. When she isn’t traveling around the international art scene or advising wealthy clients on their next art purchase, she’s here to help you make sense of it all. Visit some of Chelsea’s best galleries with Heidi and you’ll walk away with a better understanding of the current art scene, what makes something “art,” and why Chelsea is the new hot spot. Top things off with a drink at Boutique Eat Shop, the watering hole and restaurant for New York’s hippest art crowd that includes a preview of their latest art installation by local artists. Discuss what you liked, what you didn’t, and what it all means.

If you’re an art lover, this is a great experience for you. If you’re new to the art scene, then this is an even better experience for you. Either way, find out what all the buzz is about in Chelsea.

For more information, click here.

Different strokes for different corporate folks

Corporate art collections vary in size, medium, importance, and agenda. Deutsche Bank has one of the longest histories of corporate art collecting and is arguably one of the finest. Headquartered in Frankfurt, DB has acquired thousands of young and emerging artists before their prime, including Gerhard Richter, James Rosenquist, and Joan Mitchell. Incidentally, many of the works in the collection have become masterpieces and have accrued in value, some reaching in the millions.

I had the rare privilege of touring the collection at 60 Wall St with the Whitney Museum and previewing two floors, including a special photography exhibition by Hannah Collins. In collaboration with famed chef Ferran Adrià, Collins is the first photographer to merge art and the culinary world.  This was a delightful surprise to see, of course, but I was more interested in viewing the art on the executive floors, which featured the shows “Prints and Multiples” and “Original Works,” an installation of artwork from the bank’s collection curated by Liz Christensten. 

Prints are often overlooked in favor of other mediums like painting and sculpture; however, a few dozen of the finest prints and multiples were carefully selected by Deutsche Bank from over 3,000 works and proudly displayed. On the main wall of the lobby hung five of Andy Warhol’s Ten Jews screenprints from 1980 of Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, Sarah Bernhardt, Franz Kafka, and Sigmund Freud. I wondered where the other five were as I turned around to see hung in the same room a beautiful colorful expressionistic drawing by Eve Hesse - Untitled, 1963 – made of gouache and watercolor, in perfect condition. As an early work, it was not instantly recognizable like her other works, but no less contemporary. There were other surprises, too, by Alex Katz and Imi Knoebel, who was prominently featured in the recent Art Basel Miami edition at Michael Werner Gallery.

DB’s collection began with German-speaking artists and eventually evolved to a more international scope. The Americas in particular, focus specifically on works on paper, hence the ‘Prints and Multiples’ exhibition on the executive floor but is no less daring and provocative. Richard Prince’s All the Bestseries from 2000, for example, displayed kitschy images of semi-nude female celebrities with fake autographs. Katie Holmes, Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, and Denise Richards are among the ingenues who grace the bank’s heavy wood-paneled hallway, apropo of the artist’s typical hi-lo style.

Contemporary art has distinguished Deutsche Bank since 1978. Unlike most other corporate collections, however DB has most of the art on view but unfortunately not on view all the time. A full-time dedicated staff at each location around the world that convenes semi-annually. The North America branch is headed by Liz Christensen who valiantly manages all the art activities with just two assistants. Their Artwork Program includes lending to museums, acquiring, and maintaining artwork and their Exhibitions Program includes sponsoring and commissioning artists, giving awards, and curating exhibitions around the world.

Although many historical masterworks are kept away from the public, the bank has embraced the 21st century and is working on developing an app, a virtual reality program that can be downloaded where viewers can “walk” around all the floors and preview the art much like you can do when visiting the VIP online art fair. They also have a dedicated magazine called DB ArtMag to cover their artists – another example of their commitment.

I left hungry for more art and with feeling of justice, in a way. Having the Deutsche Bank recognize and actively support prints and works on paper as an estimable and essential medium in the art world will hopefully change people’s perceptions and break misconceptions about art.

Also view article here on EditionedArt Magazine.

1.) Sotheby’s and 2.) Christie’s

Christie’s and Sotheby’s are the world’s premier auction houses.  Sotheby’s focuses only on high-end fine and decorative art, jewelry, and wine, while Christie’s also sells objects priced in the mid-range.  Each handles sales in over 50 categories, including Impressionism and Modern, Post-War and Contemporary, fine jewels, and Chinese ceramics.  Recent notable sales include the collection of Elizabeth Taylor at Christie’s, which totaled about $157m and Yves Saint Laurent’s sale totaling about $484m.  Salesrooms and offices are located all over the world, with most of the major sales taking place in New York and London.   Sotheby’s has a lot threshold of $5,000.

3.) Bonhams

Bonhams is a privately-owned British auction houses and one of the oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques, with locations in Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia.  Bonhams has over 40 specialty categories and dominates the antiquities, arms and armor, ceramics, clocks, and several other areas in the United Kingdom.  In October 2011, Bonhams held its inaugural contemporary art sale, which included works by Glenn Brown, Alice Neel, and Roni Horn.

4.) Phillips de Pury

Like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, Phillips de Pury was founded in the eighteenth century in London, and also specializes in contemporary objects, selling design, art, jewelry, photography, and editions.  Phillips is an excellent choice for selling contemporary design in particular.  The reopening of their 57th Street location in New York commenced with their Carte Blanche sale auctioned by Philippe Ségalot, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Takashi Murakami.  The majority of sales are held in London or the headquarters in New York.

5.) Heritage Auctions

Heritage is the largest collectibles auction house and the third largest auction house in the world.  Its headquarters are in Dallas, but sales also take place in New York, Beverly Hills, and online.  In 2010, a 1939 comic in which Batman makes his debut was sold for $1,075,500.  Heritage is the perfect channel through which to sell coins, vintage comics, movie poster, manuscripts, and other collectibles and memorabilia.

6.) Skinner

Skinner, located in Boston and with a gallery in Marlborough, is New England’s leading auction house for antiques and fine art, but buyers come from all over the world.  They have over 20 specialty departments, ranging from American and European paintings and prints and folk art to Oriental rugs and silver.

7.) Roland Auctions NY

Roland Auctioneers & Valuers, a family-owned operation founded in 1975, specializes in period antiques and fine furnishings, art, instruments, and rugs.  Auctions are generally held once a month, but antiques are regularly sold to clients throughout the US and internationally.  Roland also handles estate liquidation, including advising on where or by what means to sell items.

Have more questions about auction houses? Just email us at: info@heidileeartadvisory.com

Composed by Sara Skwiertz

1) Get in a conservation mindset. Accept that you will have to spend some amount of time, money, and effort on your collection. Whether you are motivated by a desire to maintain the integrity of your artworks, maximize the future value of an investment, or preserve your cultural heritage, start caring about the longevity of your collection!

2) Spend on framing. Have a trained conservator help you select suitable frames for your artworks in order to prevent using materials that will accelerate their degradation. Ask yourself these questions: do you know the type of glass utilized? Is it UV protected? Are the materials used behind the work of art filled with acidic gasses or outdated materials that can jeopardize the artworks over time?

3) Don’t rely on memory. Document your collection frequently with high definition photography to catch gradual fading or damage so you have accurate reference points for yourself and your conservator. This way you will avoid problems before it’s too late.

4) Know your environment. What are the temperature and relative humidity levels in rooms with your artworks? Are any of your artworks in areas where they are exposed to excessive or direct sunlight? Have your outdoor pieces been treated by a conservator with protective coatings against the elements?

5) Train your housekeepers. Have an art conservator advise which artworks to delegate to your housekeepers and how they should clean/maintain your collection. Some pieces are fine to be cleaned by housekeepers while other objects are best left to professionals.

6) Work with professionals. Use professional, reputable art handlers while installing, re-arranging, or moving your collection. Use a fine art storage facility when storing artworks.

7) Know before you lend. Lending your collection to museums or other institutions involves risks. The process of lending an artwork is traumatic to its integrity, as vibration, minor impacts, changes of temperature during transit, and other variables over time can lead to deterioration. Ensure that the borrowing institution is taking proper precautions to handle, store, and display your art. Ask an art conservator to provide detailed condition reports both before and after lending.

Periodically maintain your collection. Have an experienced art conservator walk through your collection to spot potential problems or risks before they turn into major issues that are either expensive to treat or create irreparable damage.

9) Don’t try to fix it yourself. A good percentage of conservation and restoration work is actually generated by damage caused to artworks by well-intentioned collectors. Leave the art restoration to an expert.

Gloria Velandia’s website