What is an Art Advisor or Art Consultant?

Trying to explain what an art consultant does, Steven L Brezzo, director of the Sotheby's Institute of Art described it to The New York Times as:

Kind of a schizophrenic specialty. It requires that the person be part connoisseur, with the eye of a decorator, the analytical skills of a C.P.A. (Certified Public Accountant), the logistical skill of a general, the grit of an entrepreneur and most likely, the diplomatic finesse of a Presbyterian minister.

Having a sense of humour doesn’t hurt either! Indeed, Mr. Brezzo couldn’t be more correct, the job of an art consultant is to help you find the art you love and help you acquire it, either for your personal collection, business, project or even just for your own home, by employing all the skills above.

Here are five ways an art advisor can help you:

1. They Save You Money

Ask any interior designer, and they will tell you that the biggest challenge in their line of work is to balance time, money and the concept they sold to a client. Likewise, your average homeowner looking to crown their new living room with an art piece will find it extremely hard to find one that fits their budget.

This is where the art consultant comes in—they use their expertise and contact with artists and galleries to find the piece that fits perfectly within any budget and aesthetic. Also, by helping you to clarify your vision before you buy, this will save you money in the long run and ensure that what you get you are happy with!

2. They Help You Curate Art

Every year new talented artists make their premiere in the art world by having their work displayed in exhibitions, auctions, art fairs and other events. Some of it is going to be great, while some of it will not be.

An art consultant can help you separate the wheat from the chaff. At the very least this means you will not waste your money on subpar work, at the most, you can acquire an early “masterpiece”, the value of which will only grow as the artist’s career does.

3. They Help You Find the Perfect Piece

Imagine that you own a seafood restaurant in a coastal city and in order to decorate your space and add to its brand personality, you are looking for art that depicts ocean related themes.

Your independent search will likely find thousands of mediocre pieces depicting beaches and similar clichés. However, if you contact an art consultant, they will be able to find truly unique and significant art that not only meets your brief, but complements your restaurant’s aesthetic in unexpected ways. From starting out as a seemingly small detail, the art in your restaurant can end up becoming an attraction.

4. They Give You an Expert’s Opinion

Most of the time, an art consultant is someone that has specialized in evaluating art under parameters that most people are not really trained to observe. In addition to knowing fine art when they see it, they know exactly what precautions should be taken in its handling installing and maintenance. As a result of this specialization, by the time you and your art consultant have come to the conclusion of your time together, not only will you have the perfect art piece in your establishment, design project, or home, but you will also have acquired a great wealth of knowledge on how to appreciate and treat art.

5. They Help You Fill Your Life With Art

The writer and mythologist Joseph Campbell once said that:

The goal of life is rapture.

Art is the way we experience it.

Art is the transforming experience.

Indeed, Mr Campbell couldn’t be more correct. As human beings, we want our lives—that what we hold most precious—and values to shine through in our work, our homes, our businesses. An art consultant is someone that enables us to do that through the fine arts, finding the art pieces that speak of who we are and how we see the world, which is beneficial more ways than one. The right painting can bring serenity to the most stressful of offices, the right photograph in a living room can evoke the feeling of a special moment—an art consultant has done their job when this is achieved.