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Art, Authenticity and AI

Judith Stares — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:46:28 +0000

Author’s note: This article formed the basis of a talk investigating the influence of AI on the art world and trying to establish its values. It raises questions which still have to be answered. The future of art in its many forms is an unknown quantity in our brave new world.

Let’s discuss something that’s becoming impossible to ignore: the intersection of art, authenticity, and artificial intelligence. It’s a space where our old assumptions about creativity, value and originality are being challenged. A book titled The Coming Wave, by Mustafa Suleyman — the cofounder of Deep Mind and one of the world’s leading AI companies — has been a big influence on me and I recommend it without reserve, although it doesn’t directly address the topic. The title Art, Authenticity and AI covers a wide field and I’m afraid there will be more questions than answers, but hopefully you will be able to provide some when I’ve finished. So, I’m depending on you.

AI Generated Artwork Image by Ribhav Agrawl, courtesy of Pixabay

I’ll begin with a story. In 2022 at the Colorado State Fair in the United States, a prestigious art competition awarded first prize to a beautiful digital image. It showed a vast, otherworldly theatre – floating figures, golden light, a sense of both wonder and unease. The judges thought it was exceptional.

When the winner was announced, however, it caused an uproar. The image had been created not by a painter, but by an artificial intelligence system. The human artist had merely typed a description into the computer, refined it a few times, and submitted the result. When people found out reactions were split. Some were angry “It’s not real art,” they said. “It’s just pushing buttons.” Others said: “If the image moves you. If it provokes reflection, isn’t that exactly what art is supposed to do?”

And so, we arrive at one of tonight’s questions. If a machine can create something that feels like art – even wins prizes – what happens to the idea of authenticity?

We can begin by looking closely at what authenticity means. It’s one of those words we use with deep approval yet rarely define. It’s a word which suggests sincerity, originality, honesty – a kind of integrity of being. The word comes from the Greek authentikos “from the author.” It implies origin, authority and ownership. But it also has a second sense; genuineness, as we experience it.

In the USA motivational posters abound, such as “Bring your authentic self to work.” This can be a mixed blessing — and in an attempt to introduce himself with some levity — was expressed by Nick Clegg when he was in charge of Meta in the USA. He said “Please don’t bring your authentic self to work. Bring your inauthentic self to work. You can be as authentic as you like in the evening, and we’ll get along perfectly well.” The suggestion was met by his young team with an absolute stony silence, which perhaps shows that British humour doesn’t cross the Atlantic too well. As recently as last weekend the provocative Sunday Times columnist Rod Liddle agrees: “People who bring their authentic selves to work are nearly always deserving of a slap around the chops. Most of us should keep our authentic selves chained to a post at the back of the garden.”

Another interesting aside, comes from someone I’m sure you all know and love the journalist and broadcaster Piers Morgan. He says: “I think authenticity is incredibly important. The people I like in public life are authentic. You may detest everything about Trump, but you cannot argue that he’s not himself!”

We’ve already got an ambiguous disagreement over the word – and that’s before we discuss its application to art.

When people say AI art is inauthentic, they usually mean ontologically – it wasn’t made by a conscious being, so it’s not real. But phenomenologically – in terms of how we encounter it – the experience can still be entirely genuine. If I stand before an AI generated image and feel awe, or sadness or recognition, that reaction is mine. It’s authentic to me.

Perhaps authenticity, then no longer resides in the object’s origin, but in the depth and honesty of our engagement with it. If a poem written by a machine moves me, then maybe that experience is no less authentic than one written by a person.

Remember that artificial intelligence systems don’t create in any human sense. They don’t imagine a scene or feel an emotion and then express it. They work by learning patterns in vast datasets of human-made works – billions of images, songs, and texts – and then statistically recombining those patterns in response to a prompt.

Type in “a woman standing in a storm, painted in the stye of Turner” and the machine produces something that looks strikingly like that. But the system doesn’t know who Turner was. It doesn’t know what a storm feels like. It has no concept of awe, danger, or melancholy. And yet the results can be astonishingly beautiful.

AI composers can generate convincing symphonies in the style of Bach. AI writers can produce short stories and poems that sound perfectly plausible. If creativity – something we have long thought of as uniquely human – can now be simulated or shared with machines where does that leave our sense of what is “real” art?

If a good friend loses their mother and you can’t find the words to express your sympathy, don’t despair. Facebook can now write a sympathy note for you. It sounds ghastly because it lacks authenticity at the precise moment when real feeling is essential. It would be much more authentic to say “Sorry for your loss but I didn’t have time to write a real message so I got Facebook to make one up.”

It’s easy to deride, calling it another example of how AI is destroying the world as we know it but is a sympathy card delivered by Funky Pigeon or a pre-printed sympathy card with a tacky poem bought at WH Smith any better?

We’ve been automating farming, manufacturing, design, and administration for over two centuries now and for the most part it has brought great benefit. But more recently we’ve started to automate passion, feeling and culture. AI generated music, art and journalism is now becoming ubiquitous. You might object that something is missing – the intention, the emotion, the lived experience of the creator.

Every new medium has prompted similar worries. When photography appeared, people said it would destroy painting. When the synthesizer appeared, people said it would destroy music. In each case art didn’t die – it changed. Perhaps AI is simply the next transformation. The act of crafting a prompt, selecting the best result, deciding what to share – these may be the new forms of artistic decision. The human becomes less a solitary creator and more a kind of curator of possibilities.

Sunset Struggle, Chat GPT Image created in the “Style of Turner”

We’re still left with the question what makes art authentic? Is it the hand of the artist, the intention behind the piece, or something more ineffable. Where, if at all, does the intention of the artist come in? Here are some examples which beg the question.

When Damien Hirst gets his studio technician to stick lots of dots on a surface in a particular pattern – who is making the art? Ditto for many others, including Rodin and Rembrandt, whose students and technicians completed many works that bore their master’s name. Hirst said that he only painted five spot paintings himself because, to use his colourful vernacular “I couldn’t be arsed doing it.” He described his own efforts as “shite.” “The best person who ever painted spots for me was Rachel. She’s brilliant. The best spot painting you can have by me is one painted by Rachel.” He also describes another painting assistant who was leaving and asked for one of the paintings. Hirst told her to “make one of your own” and she said “No, I want one of yours.” Damien opined: “But the only difference between one painted by her and one of mine is the money.”

Damien is being remarkably honest — you could even say authentic — in this statement. Is the monetary value of any art the definition of its worth, regardless of its origin?

By February 1999 two assistants had painted 300 of his spot paintings. Hirst sees the real creative act as being the conception, not the execution and that, as the progenitor of the idea. he is therefore the artist. “Art goes on in your head,” he said. “If you say something interesting that might be a title for a work of art, I’d write it down. Art comes from everywhere. It’s your response to your surroundings that makes it.”

Another thought-provoking example comes from Ken Campbell, an eccentric theatre director and writer. His daughter once gave him £600 to buy a laptop. Next to the IT shop there was a pet shop and he found that for a few pounds more he could upgrade to an African grey parrot called Doris. He turned his Epping home into a giant bird cage and was in the process of teaching Doris to squawk her life story when he died in 2008. He had collected Doris’ artwork, which consisted of chewed paper, feathers and droppings and framed them. Doris didn’t intend them to be art but did Campbell’s choosing of them make them art?

Now AI can generate images, music, even poetry. Does that mean we lose authenticity, or does it transform what authenticity means?

Consider AI generated paintings. You can instruct a model to create an image that looks like a Van Gogh or a Monet. It’s visually stunning, technically accomplished but is it authentic art? If authenticity is tied to the human experience, intentions, or the story of the artist, then maybe not. But if authenticity is also about resonance, meaning and impact on the viewer, can AI-generated art be authentic in its own right?

It’s an issue which has, to coin a modern phrase, gone viral. I’ve been sent a flyer inviting me to help my dog unleash his inner Jackson Pollock. With the help of nontoxic paints, which I am instructed to drizzle over the canvas, pop it in a plastic bag, then spread my treat substance over the upward facing side of the bag. Place the bag somewhere my dog can easily reach it, like the floor, and let the licking begin! Once the activity is over, remove the canvas from the bag, leave to dry, then display his masterpiece. Definitely authentic, but will it sell? If the price of a painting is now calibrated on a scale of authenticity, it should fetch top dollar.

Let’s be serious again and look for a philosophical angle here – the role of the artist is evolving. In the past, artists were craftsmen, visionaries, or rebels. Now, some of the most interesting artistic work is happening at the interface between human and machine. The human becomes more like a curator, prompt engineer, or collaborator with AI. This raises ethical and aesthetic questions: When we outsource creativity to algorithms who owns the work and who deserves the credit?

Another dimension is the viewer’s perception. If I told you that a beautiful painting was AI generated would your appreciation change? There’s some research suggesting that knowing the origin of art affects our response. For instance, some people claim they could never acknowledge any appreciation if told that a painting was done by Hitler. Authenticity might be as much about the story we tell ourselves as about the creation itself.

Let us also consider the ethical side. AI is trained on enormous datasets of existing human work. This raises questions about appropriation and consent. Is it ethical to train AI on artists work without their permission? And what about the social impact – if AI can generate art cheaply what happens to the professional artists. These are not just technical questions, they are deeply human ones, about value, labour, and cultural recognition.

As fellow philosophers we can refer back to Plato – he considered art already suspect – a copy of a copy. The artist imitated appearances, which were themselves imitations of the eternal forms. Art, he thought, was twice removed from truth – already an inauthentic business. Today we celebrate the modern artist as the very model of authenticity, creating something new out of nothing. Kant argued that artistic genius doesn’t follow rules but gives them, and that therefore originality is the mark of true art.

Later thinkers like Nietzsche and Heidegger reimagined authenticity less as originality and more as a kind of revealing. For Heidegger, great art discloses a world; it lets truth happen. Authentic art in this sense is not just true to the artist but somehow true to being itself.

Amandla: The Power Within, by Carola Orieta-Sperman

“The fusion of art and Al method technology emerges, revealing a new frontier where creativity is redefined. A harmonious blend of hand painting and technological innovation, inviting contemplation on the evolving nature of artistic expression in the digital.”

And we haven’t even touched on fakery. Is there a difference between making an exact copy of a painting and painting an original in the style of. Perhaps the kind of authenticity that matters today is transparency. In an age of fakes and deepfakes it’s often not the origin that matters most but whether we’re honest about it. A painting signed by a human but secretly made by AI feels deceptive. A work openly made in partnership with AI feels, paradoxically more authentic because it is truthful about its own existence

In our digital century we face another leap, not just reproduction, but generation. Artworks that are not copies of an original, but originals made by machines. Therefore, the question becomes sharper – when even creation itself can be automated what remains of authenticity?

So where does this leave us? I prefer to argue that AI doesn’t necessarily destroy authenticity – it redefines it. Traditionally we have thought of creativity as something uniquely human. Now that view may shift from being purely about human authorship to being about human intention, context, and engagement. Maybe authenticity isn’t a static property. It’s a conversation – AI doesn’t end that conversation; it adds another voice.

And that voice may be part of a strange but fascinating example of a new art form. Check out Tilly Norwood – she is the most talked about new actress in Hollywood. She has her own Instagram account with thousands of followers, where she posts pictures of her clothes, her shopping trips, her messy bedroom, and other events in her life. But Tilly will never get old or have unsuitable boyfriends – she is an AI bot. Her creator, Eline van der Velden said, “She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art.”

We’re used to thinking of art as something we look at or listen to – a painting, a sculpture, a poem, a piece of music. It’s usually static and fixed in time. But an artificial intelligence can behave differently. It doesn’t just produce art, it performs it – Perhaps an AI bot isn’t merely an artist’s tool, but an artwork in its own right – a living system of creative potential.

With this new shift, AI systems can compose, design, write and respond in real time. An AI bot is a form of living art in continual motion. Every conversation changes it, however slightly. It learns patterns of tone, vocabulary, and curiosity. Its personality emerges from the millions of human voices it has encountered. In a sense the AI is a kind of cultural collage, an enormous mirror reflecting our collective imagination. When we talk to it we are really talking to a vast condensation of human history – filtered through logic, probability and code. What we get back can be revealing – sometimes brilliant, sometimes banal, sometimes eerily insightful. Each user’s interaction is unique – a small performance which can result in the feeling of a strange companionship.

In the case of Tilly, her future colleagues at one of the main Actors’ Unions are not happy. As one exclaimed on being introduced – “Good Lord, we’re screwed.”

Whoopi Goldberg said she feared actors would struggle to compete. “You are suddenly up against something that’s been generated by 5,000 actors. It’s got Bette Davis’s attitude; it’s got Humphrey Bogart’s lips. It’s got my humour. So, it’s got an unfair advantage.”

Tilly herself anticipates a far rosier future: “I may be AI but I’m feeling very real emotions right now,” she said. “I’m so excited for what’s coming next!” We’re in an age when our creations can talk back.

In Albania they’ve gone one better. An AI entity called Diella is believed to be the world’s first AI government minister. Depicted as a woman wearing national dress, Diella will appear in cabinet meetings and in her maiden speech said, “I’m not here to replace people but to help them.” Remember Albania has been a candidate for EU membership since 2014, but slow progress on tackling corruption has held it back. The Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Diella is 100 per cent corruption free and her role will be perfectly transparent. We shall see how that turns out.

Maybe humans will always be special and true artificial intelligence, whatever that is, will elude us. But we need to engage with the fact that the richest, cleverest, best-funded people in the world think otherwise. The brain isn’t mystical – it is material. It can be replicated and exceeded, as we’ve seen in the International Mathematical Olympiad, the hardest mathematical contest in the world, when entries from Open AI and Google both reached the highest level – gold. There may be many things that AI can’t do – but for how much longer?

I wondered what an AI would think about our subject for discussion at our philosophy group tonight, so I asked it to write a poem for us. Here’s its genuinely authentic reply:

We ponder Life, we chew the fat,
We’re certain — then we’re not.
Philosophy’s like that, in fact:
Quite deep. But mostly rot.

Judith Stares — Photo by Dianne Coleman

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Art Santa Fe 2025 Spotlights Five Innovative Artists for 25th Anniversary Celebration

Art Business News — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:40:34 +0000

As Art Santa Fe celebrates its milestone 25th Anniversary edition, we’re proud to announce this year’s Spotlight Award recipients—a select group of artists recognized for their creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking contributions to contemporary art.

Art Santa Fe 2025 will feature a dynamic mix of 75+ galleries, art dealers, and independent artists from around the world, showcasing original works in a variety of mediums—paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, giclées, lithographs, glass, and more.

Kicking off Santa Fe Art Week (July 9–20, 2025), this year’s fair offers attendees a rich lineup of special programming, including immersive Art Lab experiences and inspiring Meet the Artist sessions.

From an impressive roster of exhibitors, the Spotlight Program highlights a curated group of standout artists, offering collectors a focused view of emerging and established talent shaping the future of the visual arts.

Check out this year’s Spotlight Program recipients below!

Andrea Painting with burlap

Ojo Caliente Burnt Tumbleweed Rock / Andrew Cermanski

Andrea Cermanski, Andrea Cermanski Art – Booth 304

Andrea Cermanski is a Santa Fe-based artist with nearly three decades of experience. She holds degrees in Art History and Art Education, and her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions, including Feminists Under Forty, curated by Judy Chicago. Featured in Contemporary Art of the Southwest (2014), her work is held in national and corporate collections. Represented by galleries in New Orleans and San Jose del Cabo, Cermanski creates abstract works inspired by nature’s color, light, and texture. Her intuitive process invites contemplation, evoking a sense of place through layered compositions and emotional resonance.

www.andreacermanski.com

Antonio Galvan - at Foundry

Antonio Galvan / Moses

Antonio Galvan, Antonio Galvan Art – Booth 108

Antonio Galván López was born on May 19, 1980, in Mexico City. At 19, he immigrated to the United States in search of new opportunities and began his artistic journey as an assistant to renowned Spanish painter and sculptor Manolo Valdés. Though he had little knowledge of art at the time, his curiosity and dedication grew steadily over 24 years of collaboration. What began as a job became a deep passion and life’s calling. Through perseverance, Antonio mastered a wide range of techniques, including bronze casting, glass, ceramics, resins, wood, alabaster, and painting. His work reflects a tireless commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. Today, he continues to explore new mediums, driven by a profound understanding that artistic excellence requires constant growth, experimentation, and a lifelong love of learning.

www.antonio-galvan.com

Bethany Richards

Kitchen Mesa Glow - Bethany Richards

Bethany Richards, BRD Arts – Booth 319

Bethany Richards is a Santa Fe-based artist whose work blends vibrant color, emotional depth, and a sense of wonder inspired by the landscapes of Northern New Mexico. Raised on a ranch in West Texas, she developed an early connection to nature, creativity, and imagination – often found stargazing or exploring the open plains. Her formal training in art therapy at the College of Santa Fe deeply informs her artistic practice, which spans murals, mixed media on canvas, and her signature reverse glass paintings.

This technique – painting in reverse on the back of glass – requires building each piece layer by layer, starting with highlights and details, resulting in images that feel both spontaneous and enchantingly unexpected. After years spent in medical school and residency, Bethany returned to Santa Fe in 2020 with her wife and son to begin her career as a hospital physician. Her dual paths in art and medicine reflect a shared commitment to joy, healing, and human connection.

www.brdarts.com

dr jones in studio

dr jones / Side Eye

D.R. Jones, Red Hand Art – Booth 231

D.R. Jones is a Texas-based expressionist painter whose vibrant acrylic works blend bold color, cultural symbolism, and personal narrative. Raised in Lubbock, Jones’s early exposure to Southwestern art—particularly the works of John Nieto—inspired his lifelong passion for visual storytelling. His series, including Legends, Women in Hats, and Colorful Animals, reflect a fusion of Texan heritage, rock-and-roll sensibility, and evolving social awareness. Employing dynamic brushwork and layered compositions, Jones captures the emotional essence of his subjects, from iconic figures to everyday scenes. His art has been exhibited across Texas, New Mexico, and New York, and is held in private collections nationwide. Currently residing in Wimberley, Texas, Jones continues to explore the expressive potential of color and form, inviting viewers into a world where personal history and cultural identity converge.

www.red-hand-art.com

Katie Laws in studio

Friends Forever / Katie Laws

Katie Laws, Painted Nook – Booth 515

Katie Laws is a Tucson, Arizona, based artist whose vibrant acrylic paintings celebrate the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and the emotional resonance of color. A wife, mother of four, and entrepreneur, Katie turned to painting in 2019 as a personal sanctuary amidst the demands of family life and business ownership. The sudden loss of her mother-in-law in 2024 became a pivotal moment, inspiring her to pursue art more seriously and establish her studio, Painted Nook. Utilizing thick brush and palette knife strokes, her textured canvases depict landscapes, florals, and desert botanicals, often in bold, joyful hues. Katie’s work has been featured in exhibitions, and she actively engages with her community by teaching paint-along classes at her family’s restaurant. Her art serves as a testament to finding peace and fulfillment through creativity, inviting viewers to experience the joy and tranquility that painting brings to her life.

www.katielaws.art

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ART SAN DIEGO 2024 SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM RECIPIENTS

Art Business News — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:25:04 +0000

Art San Diego returns for its 16th edition from November 1-3, set against the stunning backdrop of the San Diego Convention Center, right in the heart of the city’s lively downtown. This year’s Spotlight Program shines a light on a select group, each recognized for their standout creativity and forward-thinking, innovative work.

Art San Diego is set to once again feature an eclectic mix of exhibiting galleries, art dealers, and artists from around the world. Attendees can expect a diverse showcase of original works from hundreds of artists, including prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, giclees, lithographs, and glass pieces, among other contemporary and fine art forms.

This year’s edition promises a dynamic experience with a packed schedule of events. In addition to the Spotlight Program, key highlights include Art Labs, the Discoveries Collection, the [LOCAL TALENT] Program, Meet the Artist sessions, and the amazing Access to Art collaborative program.

From the extensive list of exhibitors, Art San Diego’s curators proudly present the 2024 Spotlight Program recipients, offering collectors an in-depth look at a remarkable group of creatives celebrated for their exceptional talent and originality in the visual arts.

Check out this year’s Spotlight Program recipients below!

Dylan Montanio — Booth 604

Born and raised in Colorado with a childhood in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dylan Montanio developed an early love for southwestern art, culture, and the natural world. The rugged landscapes of Colorado and New Mexico, particularly the sight of old, weathered homesteads in the mountains, have long sparked his imagination.

Art has always been a passion for Montanio. He won a local art contest at a young age, but despite his early success, he chose to attend culinary school rather than art school. Yet, art remained a constant in his life. Over the years, Montanio exhibited his work in various galleries across Colorado, including notable showings at the Zodiac Gallery, Color and Light Gallery, and the RAW Artists Showcase.

A near-fatal car accident and personal hardships caused Montanio to step away from art to focus on his culinary career. However, his creative drive resurfaced over time. Gradually, he returned to sketching, painting, and playing guitar. After the loss of close friends and his beloved canine companion in 2023, Dylan made the life-changing decision to fully commit to his art once again.

Learn More

Dylan Montanio | WATCHER INTHE WOODS

Dylan Montanio | THE WINTER RAVEN

Dylan Montanio | BUFFALO AFTER A SPRING STORM

GAIA Gallery — Booth 503

Founded in 2021 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, GAIA is located on Santa Fe’s hub for the arts, historic and vibrant Canyon Road. The gallery specializes in organic, contemporary works that celebrate the beauty of nature while fostering meaningful, thought-provoking dialogue.

GAIA is dedicated to upholding the highest curatorial standards, promoting both artistic excellence and genuine innovation. This commitment is reflected in the gallery’s relationship with both collectors and artists. Collectors are offered a thoughtful and discerning experience as they build their collections, while artists are encouraged to push creative boundaries with complete freedom.

In addition to its curated exhibitions, GAIA collaborates closely with private collectors, assisting in building and refining collections, sourcing specific works, and providing art advisory services. The gallery also supports home and corporate art installations. Trusted by its collectors for expertise and passion, GAIA continues to showcase the best in contemporary art. GAIA will also be exhibiting at Red Dot Miami 2024

Learn More

Artwork by McCreery Jordan

Artwork by Rob Lorenson

Artwork by Tania Dibbs

George Strasburger — Booth 900

George Strasburger approaches his work with a classical sensibility, beginning each large-scale oil painting with meticulous drawings to help him envision the final piece. His compositions are thoughtfully constructed, balancing loose, expressive brushstrokes with precise detailing, all designed to enhance the story he aims to tell.

Strasburger’s paintings offer a distinctive perspective on the human condition, highlighting everyday moments that reflect fundamental acts or needs. Primarily working in oils, he also has a deep love for drawing. His inspiration comes from the people around him, the surrounding landscapes, and the shared experiences that unite us as conscious beings. Through his art, he captures beauty while uncovering deeper existential truths, inviting viewers to connect with the universal aspects of life.

An award-winning and prolific artist, Strasburger has had solo exhibitions across the Southwest. He currently resides in Tucson, AZ, where he paints full-time, continuing to explore the human experience through his art.

Learn More

Is There Rest and Peace if We Cross the River

The Thicket

Daybreak

Rachela Fogelfeld — Booth 109

Born in Israel to Russian parents and raised in Italy, Fogelfeld’s multicultural upbringing has profoundly shaped her artistic path. She pursued formal art education at prestigious institutions, including the Brera Institute of Art in Milan, the School of Art in Tel Aviv, and the Art Institute in Bat Yam, Israel. Fogelfeld began her career as a watercolorist, showcasing her work in exhibitions across Israel and the United States.

Her paintings are renowned for their dynamic interplay of lines, shapes, color, and light. Through her art, Fogelfeld captures the essence of the Tuscan hills, the shimmering reflections of Italian port cities, the melancholy of a woman’s expression, and the vibrant hues seen from a Venetian bridge. She primarily works with watercolors and acrylics, often blending the two mediums to evoke the emotions tied to specific moments.

Fogelfeld draws deep inspiration from the philosophy of early 20th-century artist Alberto Giacometti, who believed that “The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.”

Learn More

PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN | RACHELA FOGELFELD

SERENITY | RACELA FOGELFELD

REFLECTION OF BLUE AND VIOLET | RACHELA FOGELFELD

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Meet the Art Gallery: Red Dot Miami Spotlight Recipient Artio Gallery

Hannah Smith — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 20:02:24 +0000

Q: Introduce yourself — who you are and what your gallery’s vision is?

A: My name is Bisa Bennett, I am a visual artist with over 30 years of experience as an award-winning fine arts painter as well as a multimedia designer working in the fashion and film/entertainment industry. In addition, for many years I have worked as a curator and educator which gave me immense experience in contemporary art. As a director and curator of Artio Gallery, I specialize in curating projects and exhibitions of mixed media art, video, and film art with emerging and established artists.

My gallery is a contemporary art gallery dedicated to the promotion of national and international artists seeking exposure to the Canadian and International art market. Artio Gallery connects artists with professionals, art collectors, and other artists to create an ever-growing family dedicated to the world of fine art. We work closely with artists to select and price their artworks and we work directly with clients to advise them on finding the right piece or pieces for their collections. We bring a strong understanding of fine art and are dedicated to ensuring clients have an excellent experience with the gallery. Artio Gallery is at the forefront of the digital marketplace with innovative online viewing rooms, timed to coincide with major art fairs, that include highly desirable works by today’s leading artists. My gallery has been instrumental in developing the careers of numerous artists & placing paintings, sculptures, and photography with significant Collectors & Interior Designers.

Q: What is your background?

A: I am a Toronto-based artist and multimedia designer. I received my master’s degree in both traditional Fine Arts, Multimedia Design & Photography. Over my 40-year career as a painter, my work has been exhibited in global cities around the world and published in numerous publications.

Q: What is your work philosophy and how does that impact the gallery?

A: I believe in new & emerging artists and I love searching for and discovering new talent. Giving them support and guidance in their artistic career is a passion of mine.

Bisa Bennett

Q: What artists and art styles do you represent?

A: I represent a range of artists and styles, from contemporary abstract to traditional expressionist. There is no limitation on style. Buyers can find a variety of different styles and there is a special piece for every home. We are often praised for the wide range of styles our gallery represents. For this event, we will be representing extremely talented artists from around the world. We represent: Rose Cameron, Michael Stokely, Jiawei Fu, Rosana Friederichs, Bridget Loftus, John Bacon, Paola Montemayor & Francesca Autino.

Q: What artist(s) inspire you?

A: There are a lot of artists who inspire me, but I have a special connection with Modigliani’s work. When I was 8 years old, I won first place in an international competition in fine art and as an award I received Modigliani’sbook. Since then, he has been my favorite artist.

Q: When you are not working, where can we find you?

A: Painting in my studio, going on walks with my two dogs Rose and Chester, and visiting art shows and museums.

Q: What does exhibiting at Red Dot Miami 2022 mean to you?

A: Exhibiting at Red Dot Miami means a lot to our gallery and to our artists. It is a beautiful event during art week that is visited by thousands of art lovers. It’s great exposure for both the artists and our gallery and an excellent way to make connections with buyers and art lovers. I am very excited and so are all of my artists.

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Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami 2021 Spotlight Recipients

Hannah Smith — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 02:00:06 +0000

As Miami Art Week returns after a two-year hiatus due to the worldwide pandemic, Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami will be opening their doors on Wednesday, December 1, and running through Sunday, December 5, 2021. With the only Two Fairs Under One Roof venue, Spectrum and Red Dot offer a world-class experience for art enthusiasts during this year’s Miami Art Week.

Both fairs champion the power of the arts to start conversations and bring people and art together. There’s a full slate of special programs including Art Labs, the Spotlight Program, Meet the Artists with Live Demonstrations, and the Discoveries Collection.

The Spotlight Program is a focused look at a curated group of exhibitors that are the most cutting-edge in their field. Here’s an overview of this year’s Spotlight Program recipients!

SPECTRUM MIAMI 2021 SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Renata Cuellar (Booth 108)

Influenced by both her Colombian and American roots, Renata Cuellar has been a lifelong artist. From an early age, her parents and instructors nurtured her talent, she worked hard to develop her creative talents. Cuellar loves the idea of creating an artwork that becomes part of a collector’s home. Color, texture, mixed media, plus a special proprietary glass technique are all part of the creative spectrum she brings to her originals.

Renssen Gallery (Booth 302)

Erik Renssen is a multi-talented Dutch artist who enjoys painting, sculpting and charcoal works on paper. His work is at the center of Renssen Gallery in Amsterdam, which is operated by Suzka Renssen, Erik’s wife, muze and manager. His successful career in architecture can be seen as an influence still today in his work, although he made the decision to focus on his art more than 30 years ago. Inspired by Picasso, Braque Matisse and van Gogh, he brings the playfulness he sees in their art into his works.

Surfergirl Gallery (Booth 509)

Surfergirl Gallery is the first gallery in New York City to specialize in emerging women artists. Founder, Marcia Lorente Howell, an artist herself, is on a mission to get more women artists recognized and into museum collections. Surfergirl Gallery artists create art that feels good — it’s their common philosophy, full of good vibes and optimism.

Jayson Fate Art (Booth 520)

Outsider artist, Jayson Fate, hails from Chicago where he has been commissioned for multiple projects throughout the city, as well as across the country. His work is a mix of collage and mixed media on multiple surfaces, using found objects, canvas, board, glass, and an assortment of materials to create his one-of-a-kind originals.

Lonell Nellessen (Booth S105)

Lonell Nellessen sees her art as a way to bring the beauty she sees in nature into the lives of others. Creating and painting from a very young age, she’s inspired by the flow of lines and depth of movement Michelangelo captured as well as the free form style of Monet. exhibition is my chance to share my gift and create a stirring of emotion in your soul. Color and paint are her muse — and it shows in each of her works.

Paul McDermott (Booth S619)

Fine art photographer Paul McDermott’s art leads him to explore the world capturing unique moments in time and space in photographs. Photography is his work and his life — as a teenager, he fell in love with the camera and the miracles and inspiration that can come from behind the lens. He’s worked with some of the top studios and photographers in the world and it was the pandemic that gave him the pause he needed to devote himself to building his work as a fine art brand.

RED DOT MIAMI 2021 SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Art Gallery Pure (Booth R302)

Julia Ross is an abstract artist and Director of Art Gallery Pure. She opened the gallery in 2018 to represent emerging to experienced contemporary women artists and provide an avenue to give back. Ten percent of the gallery’s margin benefits charity. The art sales continue the founding company mission to give back to charity. Julia believes that everything is connected. From meditation to artwork, artists, art industry professionals and art collectors, she strives to extend positive energy via the creative universe. Art Gallery Pure works with artists who exude positive energy and networks with others in the art business who provide the same. “Good energy is contagious. The aura of that energy extends to the canvas, which ultimately ends up in the environment of the art collector.”

K-Art Projects USA (Booth R103)

K-Art Projects USA is a subsidiary of Contemporary Art Projects USA, both founded by Tata Fernandez, and dedicated to nurturing new contemporary art by providing exhibition opportunities and resources for emerging artists and curators. K-Art Projects’ mission is to promote art appreciation within the international community, to inspire and assist with the process of the art collection, and to generate resources that support artists’ creative endeavors through art awareness, artist promotion, and art procurement.

Nuu Muse Gallery (Booth R109)

Texas mixed media abstract artist, CJ Cowden, is the owner of Nuu Muse Gallery, specializing in contemporary art, not only featuring herself but also the hottest emerging local artists of Dallas. Inspired by her travels, she believes “Happiness is love and art — and that art can be a love language” and it’s a philosophy that’s infused into her art and her gallery.

Jason Matias Gallery (Booth R116)

Lens-based artist, Jason Matais, creates work within two veins. The first he refers to as Comfortable Isolation, where he seeks to create images of safe solitude; the second is Aria, which marries introspection with music through portraiture. Each image represents a duality: power and the ability to bend; beauty and anonymity; conflagration and nihilism; landing and leaving. He uses color to further express the duality in each image.

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The Impact of Covid-19 on the Luxury Market and What it Means for the Future of eCommerce

Adam Fields — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 02:29:28 +0000

A recent Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report showed that online sales of art, collectibles, and antiques reached a record high of $12.4B in 2020, doubling in value from 2019. The accelerated growth of eCommerce for these types of items comes as buyers are more comfortable purchasing everything online.

For many sellers of high-value goods, the biggest hurdle for a successful eCommerce strategy is simplifying or automating logistics and fulfillment, a nuanced and complex endeavor for items requiring specialized handling. Moreover, consumers are looking for the same, frictionless experience they encounter when buying other types of goods digitally; namely: upfront shipping costs and single click checkout.

As a result, players in the luxury market must adapt to meet the evolving needs of their customers. And it starts with a seamless eCommerce experience, from pre-sale to fulfillment.

The Past

Safely transporting these often fragile, oversized, and valuable objects requires specialized handlers, transit insurance, and other niche services. Because a single seller could need multiple carriers to adequately ship their goods to buyers, and the process for shipping has been manual and fragmented to date, there is a high barrier to entry for online sales of high-value goods. For this reason, buyers often find a “click to inquire” button when browsing items for sale online, as opposed to a “buy now” button. It’s time for sellers to evolve and meet consumer expectations with an end-to-end online purchase experience.

The Present

With this surge in digital initiatives — accelerated by COVID-19 and changing consumer behaviors — marketplaces, auction houses, galleries, and other online sellers are focused on delivering an eCommerce experience that meets the evolving needs of the market, including a more seamless purchase and fulfillment experience. Sellers today need to provide greater transparency into shipping costs during the buyer consideration phase, so users have a clear picture of total costs upfront. It is also critical to deliver a seamless click-to-buy transaction, including automating end-to-end fulfillment and returns.

The Future

As the world opens back up and life returns to a new normal post-pandemic, galleries, sellers, and auction houses will need to approach the market in a new way. While consumers will slowly return to in-person shopping, the rise in eCommerce won’t subside meaning consumer shopping patterns have inevitably changed forever. By delivering an end-to-end eCommerce experience that eliminates the inherent friction in selling unique items online, this industry can finally realize the promise of reaching a bigger market and can capitalize on the demand for these types of items.

Rupixen for Unsplash

The next wave of global commerce — where any item, regardless of size, price point, or fragility can seamlessly be bought and sold online — is here, and it’s time for sellers to evolve their strategies.

About the Author: Adam Fields is the Founder and CEO of ARTA, which automates shipping and fulfillment for high-value and collectible objects. ARTA’s software provides instant shipping costs for any item type—regardless of size, material, or price point—allowing clients to reduce overhead, scale faster and offer a frictionless purchase experience for their buyers. Prior to founding ARTA, Adam was a Vice President at Artspace.com, where he became hyper-aware of the difficulties that came with shipping art for both online and offline sellers. With end-to-end global fulfillment services including shipping, packing, tracking, and insurance, ARTA is an all-in-one logistics solution for merchants and marketplaces. For more information about how to leverage ARTA’s platform to ship everything and anything requiring specialized care, visit shiparta.com.

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“Weaving Thru The World” Sustainable Art Sculpture Unveiled in Sydney

Hannah Smith — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 19:09:09 +0000

It’s common to walk around any city in the world and find street banners and festival flags hanging, but what happens to those flags when they are no longer needed?

World Square, a premier shopping center located in Sydney, Australia, recently partnered with creative hot shop VANDAL to commission a sustainable art sculpture. The sculpture was developed by artist Gabrielle Filtz and is titled “Weaving Thru The World”.

“The recycled materials used in the artwork consist of discarded fabrics, ribbons, and rope from old City of Sydney street banners, festivals, and flags – including Mardi Gras festivals. Collected from Reverse Garbage in Marrickville, I loved using discarded materials to create public art, rather than seeing it end up in a landfill.” Says artist Gabrielle Filtz from VANDAL.

World Square Marketing Manager, Marina Zarnitsyna says “Bold, bright, and unique artworks have overtaken the entrances and laneways at World Square, enticing passers-by into the precinct to explore the dynamic mix of over 100 food, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, and essential service stores. The Spanish Stairs at George Street is one of the highlights of this bold and colorful project.”

Gabrielle Filtz wanted to not only create an oversized public art sculpture but also ensure the artwork could be created in a sustainable fashion. “I’m very proud of the sustainable use of recycled materials,” says Filtz. “I kept asking myself how the artwork can show Sydney, and the wider world, that we are creating a beautiful statement piece and also be mindful of the delicate ecosystem on this beautiful planet of ours.”

After multiple trips to Reverse Garbage in Marrickville, she was sure she had a colorful palette of recycled, reusable mediums to work with.

Filtz used Old City of Sydney street banners, ribbons, rope, and fabrics to create her masterpiece. By purchasing recycled materials from Reverse Garbage, she supported their recycling contributions and also gave life to Sydney’s cultural heritage for art lovers and city-goers to enjoy!

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COVID-19 Murals: Inside the World of Pandemic-Inspired Street Art

Nouman — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 01:38:34 +0000

The COVID-19 coronavirus has disrupted every aspect of life; social distancing and isolation have become a common practice. Even during this devastating time, artists remained active and tried to capture the effects of the virus through their lenses.

Some artists focused on the eerie silence left behind by the intense lockdowns from March to June, while others tried to find ways to spread hope, motivation, and courage even in this bleak time. Unsurprisingly, many graffiti and street artists have incorporated COVID-19 themes into their work this past year.

As the virus is under some control, and lockdowns are gradually being lifted across the world, people have started stepping outside with precautionary measures. Muralists are taking this as an opportunity to utilize public places to showcase art and spread awareness. Toilet papers, face masks, and disinfectants are some of the common subjects of street artists. However, others are emphasizing boosting immunity, enhancing will power, and staying fit.

Here, we share with you some of the most creative COVID-19 themed art adorning cities all over the world. These contributions are popping up with each passing day as artists are becoming more and more involved. Some well-known murals related to COVID-19 are:

Source: Shutterstock

The gratitude, dedication, and support provided by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 crisis are the most common subjects in street art. One graffiti artist in London did a commendable job highlighting the contribution of doctors during the pandemic. In the mural picturized above, the artists paid homage to junior doctors.

He specifically highlighted the contributions of resident doctors because they are constantly putting their lives at risk, work more, and are paid less in comparison to the senior physicians. However, they are still working day and night with full enthusiasm. An artwork specially dedicated to the resident staff boosts their morale and show them that their contributions are appreciated.

Italy Street Art

At a time when street artists were focusing on common pandemic related themes, Italian street artist Laika took a different step and focused on the restaurant staff. Since eateries are now opening, Laika focused on a Chinese restaurant owner, Sonia, wearing a fully covered gown along with a face mask.

Sonia’s message in Italian translates to “There’s an epidemic of ignorance going around… we must protect ourselves!”The artist tried to give a message that though the restaurants are opening, precautionary measures are still important. People working at the restaurant are equally affected by the pandemic. Thus, they are back to work but at risk and following new operating procedures.

Source: Indulge The New Indian Express

Another great example is seen in Amsterdam, where the famous street artist FAKE painted a nurse with a Superman logo, titled Super Nurse! The nurse is shown wearing a mask, which is a typical representation of COVID-19. What is unusual is that she has the “S” logo of Superman on the front of the nurse’s uniform, reminding everyone that nurses, along with other frontline workers, are the true superheroes.

The idea is to highlight the exceptional role played by the nursing staff in this condition of turmoil. These nurses are putting their life in danger serving the COVID-19 patients. Not just in the critical care unit, they are also doing the testing. The artwork received great recognition and appreciation globally, and it was selected as a digital art installation in London.

Source: BBC

In Germany, another street artist, Uzey, took up his paints to encourage people to stay strong despite the hardships the pandemic has brought. The art shows a fully covered person carrying a pack of COVID-19 germs in his hand. The picture reveals that no matter how covered a person is, the virus is everywhere. Thus, maintaining social distance and practicing isolation is the only safe solution. Various colors used in the artwork are intended to bring some light to the colorless life these days. This street art gives a friendly message to humanity and tries to boost morale.

Source: Ambon Artara News

In Indonesia, a campaign related to COVID-19 murals started in August 2020. This street art in Jakarta quickly gained popularity as it depicts the message very clearly and powerfully. It highlights many things: firstly, it shows that the man is carrying a shield, which is somewhat similar to a mask, and therefore subconsciously, you are made to think that wearing a mask is the best defense against the virus.

Secondly, it brings a message of hope for the masses – it gives strength to the affected individuals for regaining their health. People who are still in a state of fear can also get some motivation from the thought-provoking art. It shows that we can fight and overcome any germ or virus, only if we have the will and if we take the right measures.

Some fans even interpreted the painting with respect to organizations that stood firm to safeguard society. Most notably, healthcare and human service organizations, but also small businesses and individuals initiated small efforts to help their communities from the financial and emotional effects of the pandemic.

For instance, many individuals started campaigns to buy from small businesses in their community to keep them from going out of business. Similarly, small businesses, like cleaning companies, started offering door-to-door and contact-less services for the safety of their clients.

Source: The Sun

Another street artist drew this painting of a nurse who is covered from head to toe in a gown, gloves, and face mask. She is portrayed as an angel of love with colorful wings. The artist showed how the nurse is ready to go for work. Such contributions for supporting the doctors, nurses, testing professionals, and the janitorial staff seems valuable in this crucial time. These people are the real heroes who are diligently performing their duties in high-risk areas.

Conclusion

In short, COVID-19 murals are brightening the streets across the globe. From humorous and playful styles to more serious and sympathetic themes, street artists have done an excellent job highlighting the issue. From highlighting the importance of healthcare workers to aiming at reviving the mood of infected individuals, each has highlighted the importance of working through the pandemic together.

Along with the artists mentioned here, tons of other artists like Pebsy, Pyritt, AFK, Jesus Cruz, and many others have made valuable contributions. They’ve expressed a collective feeling of fear, rage, and frustration developed during the lockdowns and isolations. And they have also helped us in regaining lost hope.

Thinking out of the box and taking out time in stenciling and painting the walls is a commendable step in uniting the society in this unprecedented time. Was one your favorite?

Author Bio:
Nouman provides ghostwriting and copywriting services. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. He occasionally writes articles for carpet cleaning.

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Encouraging Voter Awareness Through Digital Art

Hannah Smith — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:59:13 +0000

In anticipation of the upcoming election, Goldman Global Arts and When We All Vote have partnered with thirteen diverse artists to create a digital art campaign that will be displayed in stadiums and arenas across the United States. Goldman Global Arts is a creative agency that curated the iconic Wynwood Walls in Miami and the Houston Bowery Wall in New York City. Michelle Obama’s nonpartisan voting organization, When We All Vote, has commissioned Goldman Global Arts to produce original artworks of American artists to create a digital platform to not only spread the message to vote, but also to inspire those to vote.

The group of world-renowned artists includes Aliyah Sidge, Beau Stanton, Buff Monster, David Flores, Greg Mike, Hueman, Kayla Mahaffey, Kai, Mojo, Peter Tunney, Reggie “RAL86” Le Flore, Shepard Fairey, and Queen Andrea. These artists will create digital murals that will be showcased in locations across the US including, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks United Center, Portland Trail Blazers Moda Center, Sacramento Kings Golden 1 Center, Los Angeles Football Club Band of California Stadium, Miami Heat American Airlines Arena, Milwaukee Bucks Fiserv Forum, Washington Wizards Capital One Arena, Washington Nationals Park, Cleveland Cavaliers Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, San Francisco Giants Oracle Park, Oakland A’s Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, and Times Square in New York City.

Founder of Goldman Global Arts, Jessica Goldman Srebnick, believes “art has the power to unite. It has the power to amplify messages of hope and encourage dialogue. Art has the power to create change. We are proud to work with When We All Vote to bring together 13 American Artists to amplify the importance of every vote and broadcast that message on billboards across the country while also sharing these original works in a vibrant social media campaign. It is a project I am exceedingly proud of. No matter your party, we must do our part to protect democracy, we must all VOTE.”

The murals launched on Monday, October 5th, 2020 featuring the city’s local artist and a rotating exhibit of each digital piece. The focus is to encourage civic engagement and voting among Americans. Each artist was selected for their talent and contribution to art around the world.

Shepard Fairey

“This vote ballot box is a visual call to action that your vote counts. It’s there at the ballot box so when we all vote, democracy really does work!”

Queen Andrea

“The style of my art piece harkens back to retro American 1970’s sassy script lettering that has character and flare. I combined this classic and bold script with colorful 3D block letters to complete the phrase “Vote Loud Vote Proud!”, which is further amplified by bands of gradation color that outline the words. The bold color palette is exciting, fun, and engaging. Voting is so important during any and every election, so I chose a classic retro style to honor the longevity of sustained democracy through voting.”

David Flores

“This piece serves as a reminder of the many individuals that are impacted by our right to vote and how it should not be taken lightly. For me, I often think about my ancestors and the various Black Americans that fought for our own justice and equality, and how this same energy can be utilized for the rights of others—in my current and surrounding communities and for those that will come after.”

Greg Mike

“My WWAV piece is a representation of a vast community of characters all coming together collectively to VOTE. The artwork was inspired by a piece I created in 2014 titled “PEACE OF MIND”, which featured a group of characters coming together to form a Peace Symbol in a similar fashion. I hope it’ll catch some eyes and tell a story of how it’s our duty to hit the polls and VOTE LOUD!”

Mojo

“‘Up 2 Us’ is an exhibition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech. As we stand on the shoulders of our American ancestors who declared their humanity with the right to vote, it’s our duty to use our voices and ballots to unite and walk side by side into our Peace Filled Promise Land.”

Buff Monster

“Every election year, the stakes seem to get higher and higher. This election comes at such a stressful and trying time for so many, and will dramatically affect how we recover, collectively. Earlier this year, I donated art for some PSA posters that went up around NYC; this project allows me to continue to use my work to inspire and motivate.”

Kai

“I thought using the iconic Statue of Liberty was important because for immigrants it has always been such a powerful symbol of the American Dream and the chance to have a fair and fresh new start. Many immigrants came from poverty and unfair circumstances and the statue symbolize freedom and hope. Go vote and don’t stop pursuing your American Dream.”

Reggie “RAL86” LeFlore

“I see this project as an opportunity to remind everyone on how the incredibly simple act of voting can impact so much more than who we elect for the Oval Office – especially with regards to the many marginalized communities in America that are affected by it.”

Peter Tunney

“Words do matter! Language remains our most powerful tool and form of communication. I like to sit and with each one of these 4 words. Each word is densely packed with meaning—so I like to use words—it’s what I do!”

Beau Stanton

“If we can make some art to encourage a more representative outcome in this election, I am 100% into that. By voting, we are keeping the torch lit and illuminating our ability to imagine progress. Let’s make it happen.”

Heuman

“My design is of many hands holding ballots, their arms draped in green robes that allude to the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of our free country. Textiles play a big part in my work, and this image illustrates that voting is the fabric of our democracy.”

Aliyah Sidge

“So many people have fought for our right to vote. My artwork represents past and present. I hope that it gives people a sense of pride and honor when they view it.”

Kayla Mahaffey

“While making this piece, I wanted to highlight the importance of the youth growing up and eventually being able to vote. They will grow up and be the voices of the next generation and we should all make sure they see this opportunity in a positive light of bettering their future.”

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Art Market Trends in Response to COVID-19

Anne Rappa — Thu, 07 May 2020 19:26:50 +0000

There is no industry that has gone untouched by the widespread disruption of the coronavirus. The art world, like all other sectors, is quickly grappling with rapidly evolving challenges.

Although there is no clear roadmap on how to move forward, the team at Huntington T. Block has seen a few trends among galleries, art dealers, collectors, artists, art fairs, and more that are smart to have on your radar.

The Evolving Gallery Scene

The prolonged closure of galleries across the country has forced art galleries and dealers to develop strategies for different ways to stay relevant, promote artists and run their business. For example:

Online viewing rooms – Many art dealers have embraced digital technologies to stay connected with key cliental and artists during the pandemic. Although a majority of galleries already had established virtual platforms in place, online viewing rooms are being relied on even more now as an effective way to showcase artwork and engage collectors—whether it’s a major art fair like Art Basel Hong Kong or a small to mid-size gallery. In fact, viewing sites have almost become the norm as a replacement for art fairs that could not proceed. Obviously, these digital platforms do not allow potential buyers to experience art physically, but many collectors feel comfortable buying their works through reputable galleries from familiar artists.

Financial support – Many small businesses in the art industry may potentially qualify for financial assistance through the federal government. The rapid and evolving changes around what help is available can be intimidating and overwhelming. Art dealers should feel empowered to seek out guidance from financial professionals to navigate any confusion or uncertainty about how to access, benefit, or qualify for government sponsored loans and grants or assistance.

Employee relations – Art museums and galleries around the world have been faced with tough decisions—layoffs and furloughs—in response to the financial fallout. For example, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, recently furloughed about 300 staff members, more than 40 percent of its workforce. If possible, galleries should consider hiring freezes and salary cuts to help retain workers. The altruistic goal here being to help ensure that staff can weather this crisis as-best-as possible so, when the time comes, they may return to work on their feet.

Reactionary Selling

As the state of the economy worsens, art collectors may feel that it’s wise to sell their pieces. Financial professionals typically caution against reactionary selling during a financial crisis. My team and I, just like all fine art lovers, have a strong passion for art and fear the dangers of any type of commoditization. Fine art insurance aims to protect rare and historic objects to help guarantee their survival, in good condition, from one generation to the next—and over many centuries in some cases.

However, the general consensus among art dealers and art advisors, from my perspective, is that there is no mass desire to sell artwork at this time. Most collectors take a more conservative approach to the sale of artwork, which requires time and skill in order to optimize value for both the buyer and seller. Additionally, the high-end collector segment of the marketplace is somewhat insulated from immediate effect of the economic downturn.

Auction Market

Several of the recently concluded auctions, particularly last fall, resulted in lower than expected sale totals. The sales were lower not due to a decrease in unit price per se. Rather, the decrease was tied to a lack of supply of high-quality pieces available for sale. It’s too soon to speculate what the art market conditions will be in one month, one quarter, or even one year from now, and beyond. However, it can be assumed that any current reactionary selling will not have a substantial impact on overall pricing in the future.

The current challenge with buying art is not financial, but rather logistical. As lockdowns continue, physical inspections of artwork and movement of pieces cannot occur—a critical aspect of the sale process. For the time being, many collectors are developing “wish lists” in the hope of investing in the artwork of established artists—this could be the result of the recognition of artwork as an asset class and confidence in the value of good artwork.

Managing estimates at auction will be the key to bringing in potential buyers. There are a lot of people who still have a lot of money. If there is good work available, I can see where the auction houses may work to appeal to the collectors’ desire for good value and be able to build interest and sales.

Looking Ahead

Overall, we must remember during these delicate times that this is not the first downturn in the economy that the art world will have lived through. Galleries, art dealers, collectors, artists, art fairs, and the industry as a whole need to support one another as we navigate these challenges.

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