One thing we regularly do as art advisors is think about taste. We’re constantly looking at art and design and assessing it in many ways, most of which relate to taste. But what exactly is “good taste”? How do you know whether you have it, and can you get it if you don’t?

I’ve heard about SXSW in Austin, Texas for years and had a number of clients, friends, and role models speak or attend with rave reviews. Although “art advisor” is not part of the overall description, I’ve committed to continuing to invest in myself this year. When reviewing ways to do this, I zeroed in on SXSW, bought myself a ticket, and carved out 4 weekdays of my life to attend.

We shifted our social media strategy in January, somewhat by accident, and the results have been eye opening. Here’s a summary of what motivated the shift, how we execute, and the impact this has had on our business.

As an art advisor, I clearly buy art for myself sometimes. I’ve bought art at different stages of my life, at wildly different price points, and that I am drawn to for extremely different reasons. Without naming names, I’m happy to share details on the art I regret buying, which has certainly created a few learning moments that have fueled how I best support our clients’ collecting strategies.

A large part of our practice as art advisors is going to art fairs to discover new artists and galleries, keep a pulse on art market activity, pricing and quality, and build relationships with galleries from around the world. Throughout February and March, our first focus for this type of diligence is on Southern California, where a range of fairs and associated art market activities are happening.

This year, I’m continuing to practice a few simple habits that delivered results in 2023. Today, I’m sharing three more. All of them relate to motivation. Why? Because motivation drives change.

Business Development is something we think about strategically and often in our small business. There are some key philosophies we have in this type of work, along with a single piece of advice I learned when working in business development at Christie’s years ago.

To start the New Year, we're sharing real client experiences that illuminate what you can expect from working with us. Nearly every client comes to us with skepticism and excitement, unsure how we'll understand their taste and if we're able to source art that they truly appreciate in the long term. Here’s a window into how our clients’ feel after working with us.

Rather than focus on what new things I can do in 2024, I’ve been a bit reflective on what I did RIGHT in 2023 that notably improved my life. That is what I want to keep doing forever.

We’re excited to share a deep dive into the curation process behind our recent Summerhill, Toronto project. The clients were interested in landscape photography and artists who use unexpected materials and processes. We used these concepts to build an art collection that felt cohesive and individualized.

Our team from New York, Toronto, Minneapolis and Los Angeles is thrilled to be together in South Beach for the week, but it is not all fun in the sun. We approach the week with a solid plan, knowing that an element of unexpected frenzy always comes into play.

Twice a year, the biggest auctions in North America happen in New York. They happen during spring in May, and in the fall in November. The seasons for Marquee Sales are short but intense, and getting involved comes with a thrill. Here are a few ways to dive into the market for the auction-curious.

This year, Art Toronto gave us a sneak peak at exciting new exhibitions opening now!

Mason Lane West Coast is opening an office based in Los Angeles with a strategic focus on its rich history and diverse array of artists, galleries, and collectors living in the surrounding region. We’re lucky to have Cristin Wills leading our new office, and here, she’s sharing a window into three artists she loves and what she’s keeping tabs on this fall.

There are countless people involved in the art world, from the blue chip collector to the casual museum visitor, the skilled appraiser and the fine art insurer. Everyone is in it for their own personal reasons. Though after living and breathing in this world for a while, we’ve seen that people’s motives for getting involved in the art world fall into one of three categories.

Art advisory has the potential to be a cushy job, replete with museum shows and cocktail hours. Our days, however, rarely include either. Since our field tends to prompt curiosity, I’m happy to share a window into the unexpected highs and lows of all things Art Advisory.

Museum visits can be inspiring for some, a drudgery for others, and an activity some feel they “should” do more. The common expectation is that they are places to go, learn and appreciate the art because if the museum said it’s great, then it must be great…

As we fill the final remaining walls of our corporate collection in Downtown Toronto, we're excited to share three new installation highlights by Adam David Brown, James Carl, and Nicolas Baier.

At the beginning of 2022, I was asked to join Tara Cain Design in the later stages of a renovation of a condominium in Naples, Florida. Here are some tips we learned during that experience.

Our Instagram following has been growing and we’re always thrilled to hear that our feed is a staple of so many people’s daily scroll. We also receive questions on how we handle all-things-Social. In an ongoing effort to be transparent about our business and the larger art world, here’s how we work.