I’m often asked what exactly an art advisor does, and how my role differs from that of an art dealer. It’s a good question: both are important to the art world, but they serve different roles.
Art dealers, from large galleries to independent dealers, play an essential part in the art world. They champion artists, bring works to market, and help connect art with collectors who will care for it into the future. Their work is centered on the artists and inventory they represent. Similarly, an auction house focuses on the works consigned for its sales.
Galleries and auction houses may have staff with “advisor” in their titles. Those professionals can be highly knowledgeable, but their roles are connected to the institution and the works it represents.
My work as an independent advisor starts with the client, not with a particular work or body of works. I don’t hold inventory or represent artists, so I can source art across the market, with the goal of finding the right work for each client. I’m hired by the collector and work as their advocate, bringing objectivity, and an informed eye for quality and staying power, while keeping their tastes and goals as my primary focus.
I see collecting as a journey. After more than 25 years in the art world, what I find most rewarding is helping collectors make thoughtful choices and build collections that feel uniquely their own.