The events of the past couple of weeks have deeply shaken the art world. On the one hand COVID-19 has exacerbated already emerging market trends, namely a shift to doing business online and the consolidation of power in the hands of blue-chip galleries and auction houses, leaving less known emerging artists and galleries grappling for visibility and market share online. On the other hand, the unrest surrounding social injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement have reignited the debate about public monuments and public status. In both instances, the pressing question that we are asked to answer is: What do we choose to remember? What artists do we choose to show and collect? Do we choose to remember and honor only the powerful or do we make a conscious effort to be more inclusive?
 
An enormous power lies in the hand of collectors, art patrons, curators, gallerists and art advisors like myself to make sure all kind of artists are given a voice and recognized. 

Whether you are looking to acquire art for personal enjoyment or for investment; whether for home, office and public spaces, I can help you better understand how you can make a difference, and how you can collect art with a purpose. I will provide access to art, artists, and galleries and work with you to start and grow your art collection.

You will find in this newsletter highlights from the art world based on what I feel are the best shows and interviews, and important news of the moment. I hope you will enjoy this newsletter as much as I have enjoyed putting the content together, and that you will find reading it insightful.

I would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me by replying to this email, or via my website with your feedback and/or questions. 

Let's talk about Art! 

Warmly,
Estelle
http://partnerinart.com

Must Read

A new study titled "Culture and Community in a Time of Crisis" surveyed some 124,000 people about life during coronavirus and gives insight into what the public wants from art post-lockdown. According to this new study and Artnews, "art is not a high priority for most people right now" and "art organizations are especially at a disadvantage" when vying for audience online. Read more

In this article, Artforum highlights the work done by Monument Lab in Philadelphia. The spirit of the Lab is "to interrogate what we’ve inherited from the past" and to reconsider the role of monuments and status in public spaces. We are invited to reimagine what the public monuments and status of the future will look like. Read more

Podcast: Sound & Vision. Artist Brian Alfred "sits down with artists and musicians in galleries and their studios to discuss their process and inspiration in their creative life." I also highly recommend listening in to the bonus episode with art critic Jerry Saltz introducing Brian's new podcast Brave New World.

Newsflash:  According to this article published on Artsy about "what sold at Art Basel" online viewing room, "the fair has mainly been a way to sell works to familiar collectors by artists they already know". Read more

Bonus: Ghanian painter Amoako Boafo is the latest artist to collaborate on a fashion line for Dior. Read more