Articles 81 articles, 2016-07-30 00:01 Three Top Executives Leave Christie’s Amid 1 Market Instability (1.08/2) It’s been an eventful couple of years at the major auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s: both have recently been going through major changes under new management, trying to figure out how to maximize profitability amid a pullback in the global art market. After seeing a series of departures at Sotheby’s , there could be some major shifts underway at Christie’s. The New York Times reports that three leading executives have departed from the privately owned auction house, although it is unclear whether they were dismissed or have walked out independently. Related: Maurizio Cattelan’s Hitler Sculpture Leads Christie’s $78 Million Sale Paul R. Provost, the senior vice president and director of trusts, estates & appraisals; Nicholas Hall, international head of old master paintings and 19th century art; and Cathy Elkies, head of Christie’s 20th and 21st century design have all left Christie’s. Neither responded to the NYT’s request for comment on the details of their departures. On July 20, Christie’s released a report that revealed a deep drop in sales for the first half of 2016. Sales for the period totaled $3 billion (£2.1 billion), a 33 percent drop in US dollar terms and a 27 percent drop in British pounds. The comparable figure for the same period in 2015 was $4.5 billion (£2.9 billion). Related: Christie’s Reports Steep Drop in Sales for First Half of 2016 This past April, in an attempt to increase efficiency amid pressured profit margins and intense competition, Christie’s announced plans to close three of its regional offices —in Boston, Palm Beach, and Philadelphia—and clients from those regions will now be served from New York. But the auction house, owned by French businessman and collector François Pinault , is also gearing up with new hires. In March 2017, Christie’s will welcome Alex Rotter, formerly of Sotheby’s, as its new chairman of post-war and contemporary art for the Americas. Related: French Mega-Collector François Pinault to Display Works from His Collection in Germany Christie’s did not comment on the details of the three departures, but released a statement instead: “As a private company, we don’t comment on speculation around our employees. However, like any business, we continue to review the deployment of resources and focus investment on areas of growth so as to best to serve our clients.” 2016-07-29 06:42 Hili Perlson New York Billionaire to 2 Open Private Museum in Chelsea (1.05/2) New York financier and billionaire J. Tomilson Hill has announced plans to open a private museum in Manhattan. The 6,400-square foot space will be located inside the Getty building, a new Peter Marino-designed development in Chelsea which will also house Lehmann Maupin’s new space . “We’ve got so much art in storage,” the 68-year-old vice chairman of the Blackstone Group private equity firm told the New York Times. Hill explained that he wants to make his $800-million collection of modern and contemporary art, and Old Masters accessible to the public. But, he hastened to add, he may augment his collection with loans for certain exhibitions. Related: Is Collector J. Tomilson Hill a Billionaire Because of His Art? His collection includes 14 Christopher Wools, four Francis Bacons, 10 Warhols, four Lichtensteins, three Twomblys, five Rubens, and 34 Renaissance and Baroque bronze sculptures. He also owns individual works by Lucio Fontana , Willem de Kooning , Picasso, and Ed Ruscha. “He has great things,” dealer Matthew Marks, who recently sold Hill a Robert Gober sculpture, told the Times. Hill also hopes that making his collection publicly accessible will help fill a gap in arts education. “They’re cutting out arts programs in the public schools,” he explained. As a result he aims to forge educational partnerships with the Studio Museum in Harlem, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he is on the board. On the other hand, he makes no secret about harboring ulterior motives for the establishment of a private museum, which comes with major tax exemptions, as it allows him to deduct the market value of the art, cash, and stock he turns over to his foundation. “I can shelter capital gains,” he stated. “It would be the same as if I gave the art to a museum.” Related: Senate Inquiry into Private Museums Finds Tax Code ‘Ripe for Exploitation’ The space will operate with a free admission policy, and will be open during the week and on Saturdays. 2016-07-29 10:10 Associate Editor Instagrams of the Art World: Cate Blanchett, 3 Marcel Duchamp, and More (1.04/2) Related Artists Willem de Kooning Each Friday, Artinfo looks at some of the week’s most notable, newsworthy, and fun Instagram posts from art world figures. This week, highlights include the announcement of a film installation with Cate Blanchett, birthdays for Marcel Duchamp and Jenny Holzer, and a Polaroid of Brigid Berlin and Willem de Kooning . Scroll through the slideshow to see this week’s best. 2016-07-29 15:15 Taylor Dafoe AENY 2016 – Art Talks & 4 Seminars (1.02/2) Planning your trip to the show? Be sure to attend one of our Art Talks or Seminars! Here are some highlights from our Education Schedule. For the full schedule click here. Award-winning photographer Doug Menuez will share his cautionary tale about taking a personal project and making it into a lasting legacy through print and exhibitions. Joining the conversation will be fine art photographer and gallery owner Michael Joseph of Artblend. In this talk, Cory Huff of The Abundant Artist will explain the difference between the ways that artists think art is sold and how artists who make a living from their work actually do it. Speaker, author, and market researcher Pamela N. Danziger is internationally recognized for her expertise on the world’s most influential consumers: affluent Americans. Join Jennifer Townsend from Larson- Juhl as she reviews the essential design elements for creating memorable rooms. As home building trends have evolved over the past few decades, home furnishings and design have kept pace. Custom frames have also adapted to relate to those changes. In just five key questions, we’ll uncover the strategies and secrets behind the successful careers of three fine art photographers. Generate sales, increase awareness, and brand your business as the premier destination for art and framing. Litsa Spanos, President of Art Design Consultants (ADC), will share creative marketing ideas that can take your art gallery to the next level. Crista Cloutier explores the journey of the artist, how one finds a voice, develops it, and uses it to create a professional career as a working artist. Cloutier uses her own background as an arts dealer, curator, publisher, writer, and artist to illustrate her message of the importance of practice, authenticity, and the coupling of tenacity with audacity. In just five key questions, we’ll uncover the strategies and secrets behind the successful careers of three artists. The “Six Spheres of Success” is a fact- proven concept in attracting art buyers and each of the elements that makes up a successful art career. The strategic plan is designed to help artist build a brand, nurture a long sustaining career, add value, and increase art sales. Get the scoop from an expert on what is needed in today’s world to protect your artwork collection. What is personal property? What is stewardship? And what is needed to protect your art investment? Stanca will answer all those questions in this informative seminar. Learn the data backup strategies, tools, and copyright protections necessary to ensure that your artwork is protected and available decades from now. In just five key questions, we’ll uncover the strategies and secrets behind the successful careers of five artists. To license or not to license—that is the question. How do you decide if licensing is right for you? In this seminar, we’ll cover where to begin in today’s fast- paced licensing world. Art is important; it challenges the status quo and leads to innovation and change. Crista Cloutier of The Working Artist encourages artists to claim their rightful role as leaders. 2016-07-30 00:01 lmullikin Margot Robbie Wears 5 Gucci in New York (1.02/2) Margot Robbie is making her case for the breakout star of the summer. The 26 year-old Australian actress, previously most well-known for her role in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” has been doing double duty in promotional tours this summer, for her back-to-back films “The Legend of Tarzan” and now “Suicide Squad.” On Thursday, for an appearance on Live with Kelly, she wore head-to-toe Gucci , sporting a floral, high-neck dress and a pair of t-strap platform glossy black heels. Gucci has proven to be a favorite of the actress, as she wore the brand to the “Tarzan” premiere earlier this summer. The towering heels clock in at a whopping six inches tall. In addition to Gucci, Robbie has been a Calvin girl for many past outings. She sat front row at Calvin Klein’s fall 2016 show, which was her first show with the house and, it was later revealed, Francisco Costa’s last in the design seat. From backstage before the show, she told WWD “I’m not really too heavily involved in fashion week, but I’ve been to shows in the past and have always enjoyed it.