Overview
Originally a pursuit almost solely by elites, art collecting is now undertaken by a much broader class, with many recognizing it as an investment activity, fueling a global industry.
This 4-module virtual programme explores how art transforms from simply objects of desire to an asset class in which both passion and value reside. Such evolution, from collecting to investing, is examined through the development of Impressionist and Modern art, highlighting not only the relevant art history, but also the ecosystem transformation that contributed to their commercial value today.
The first two modules offered in 2021 fall introduced the art historical context for Impressionism—how artists, dealers and collectors broke away from the establishment and created a brand-new ecosystem of art creation, promotion and transaction.
This spring, modules III and IV will begin with early 20th century Paris, where the circle of avant-garde pioneered movements from Cubism to Surrealism. We will then journey to various art marketplaces, from Paris and London, to New York and Hong Kong, exploring historical and contemporary links and influences.
Learning Outcomes:
- A fresh and well-rounded look at the development of Impressionism, Cubism, Fauvism, Surrealism and other key modern art movements, from not only the perspective of art history, but also the market evolution that contributed to their development and value today;
- Meet the early 20th century tastemakers — not only avant-garde artists, but also entrepreneurial dealers, forward-looking critics, and visionary patrons and collectors;
- Gain a deeper understanding of the value of 20th century art, informing your appreciation of this collecting category and its market today.
Module I
Module I: Championing the New
- Breaking Away from the Salon: The Development of Impressionism | Ben Street
September 27 | 5:00-6:30pm HKT / 10:00-11:30am BST
We will investigate the art historical context for the first few Impressionist Exhibitions. In addition to revisiting Monet, Degas, Renoir, and other key impressionist artists, we will enter the art ecosystem gradually formed around the impressionists, including the dealers, patrons, collectors and other supporters.
- The Rise of Dealers: Tastemakers of the Early 20th Century | Ben Street
September 28 | 5:00-6:30pm HKT / 10:00-11:30am BST
This lecture focuses on influential dealers such as Paul Durand-Ruel, Joseph Duveen and Paul Rosenberg. We will discuss the main artists that they promoted, their respective visions and ways of promoting “new” art. Looking at these early 20th century market pioneers, we will reflect on who are the tastemakers throughout the 20th century and until today.
- A Collector’s Trophy: What To Look for in Collecting Iconic Impressionist & Modern Artworks | Imogen Kerr
September 29 | 5:00-6:30pm HKT / 10:00-11:30am BST
What separates a masterpiece from the rest? What makes a world record? What should I be looking for to build my collection and how much should I pay?
A close-up, connoisseur’s look at the works by artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Morisot, Caillebotte, Matisse and Picasso. By focusing on the key value determinants—from subject matter, composition, period, to condition, provenance and rarity—our specialist will unpack how market insiders assess value, how auction records are achieved, and how works in this category have evolved to become assets with the potential for stellar investment returns.
*Schedule and topics are subject to change.
Module II
Module II: From Passion to Investment
- The Skin of the Bear: The Original Art Fund | Dr. Tom Flynn
November 15 | 5:00-6:30pm HKT / 9:00-10:30am GMT
- Auction House Innovation and the Rise of the Contemporary Art Market | Marc Porter
November 16 | 10:00-11:30pm HKT / 2:00-3:30pm GMT / 9:00-10:30am EST
- Key Artists of the Early 20th Century and their Market Today | Imogen Kerr
November 17 | 5:00-6:30pm HKT / 9:00-10:30am GMT
*Schedule and topics are subject to change.
Module III
Module III: The Circle of Avant-garde
14-16 March 2022
- Window of the World: Mapping the Paris Art Scene
Annabel Matterson | Head of Research, Impressionist and Modern Art, Christie's New York
In the opening decades of the twentieth century, Paris was the center of the art world, a cultural melting pot of avant-garde ideas and styles. Artists from across the globe relocated in the capital, including Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Tsuguharu Foujita, and Constantin Brancusi, among others. This lecture will look at how and where these artists lived and worked, exploring the context for a number of the key movements and artworks of early modern art.
- From Fauvism and Cubism to Surrealism: Tracing Artistic Milestones
Jennifer Duignam | Senior Writer and Researcher, Impressionist and Modern Art, Christie's London
This lecture will trace the evolution of the European avant-garde from Fauvism and Cubism to DADA and Surrealism, through a series of landmark exhibitions that took place during the opening decades of the twentieth century. Touching on key moments in which these revolutionary artists presented their ideas to the public, it will reveal the underlying cross-currents and artistic exchanges that were occurring across a vast network of individuals, from Matisse to Kandinsky, Picasso to Malevich.
- The Formation of Market Ecosystem: Artists, Dealers, Critics, Patrons and Collectors
Imogen Kerr | Head of Impressionist & Modern Art, Christie's Asia Pacific
Surveying some of the critical tastemakers of the early 20th Century, this lecture centres around the early origins of today’s art market ecosystem. Investigating the role of artists, dealers, critics, patrons and collectors, we will evaluate how each contributed during this time to the creation, sustenance, appreciation and dissemination of art and how they influenced the narratives of artistic importance and value that are embodied in western art history and the market today.
*Schedule and topics are subject to change.
Module IV: The Globalization of the Art Market
Module IV: The Globalization of the Art Market
4-6 April 2022
- The Grand Tour: European Collecting and Development
Dr. Tom Flynn | Senior Lecturer, Christie's Education London
This presentation provides an overview of the culture of the Grand Tour in the 18th century, focusing on the routes taken by the tourists (almost exclusively young aristocrats, artists and scholars). It discusses the places they visited, why they chose to go, the difficulties they faced in travelling, and the benefits they gained at home from having engaged with the surviving fragments of the classical world.
- Across the Seas: American Collecting and Development
Dr. Tom Flynn
This session offers an overview of the development of an art collecting tradition in the United States from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century, exploring the motivations of a selection of major collectors, what they collected, how they acquired their collections, and their relationships with art dealers, artists, museum directors, and others in the art ecosystem.
- The Rise of Asian Collecting
Yü-Ge Wang | Auctioneer, Client Advisor, Asian Clients, Christie's London
Henry Cheng | Client Relationship Manager, Christie’s Hong Kong
This session reviews and explores the rise of the Asian market started in mid-20th century. The session includes a quick historical overview followed by a panel discussion that provides an unique insight into the Asian market and its ecosystem from Christie’s client facing staffs.
*Schedule and topics are subject to change.
Speakers
Module IV: The Globalization of the Art Market
Dr. Tom Flynn
Senior Lecturer, Christie's Education London
Dr Tom Flynn is a graduate of the University of Sussex and the Royal College of Art, completing his doctorate at the University of Sussex in 1998. From 1998-2000 Tom was Henry Moore Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, organising an international exhibition on Rodin’s connections with the United Kingdom.
A former journalist at The Art Newspaper, his writing has appeared in numerous international art market publications. He has held board positions with art price data company Invaluable and the contemporary print retailer Eyestorm. He has published widely on the global art market, contemporary sculpture, museology, and art and design history and is an accredited lecturer with The Arts Society.
He was Senior Lecturer at Kingston College of Art from 2010-2017, directing the RICS-Accredited MA in Art Appraisal (Professional Practice) and has taught at Sussex University; IESA (Paris and London); and Richmond, the American University in London.
In 2017 he co-founded with Angelina Giovani the art provenance research agency Flynn & Giovani (FlynnGiovani.com), of which he is non-Executive director.
Yü-Ge Wang
Auctioneer, Client Advisor, Asian Clients, Christie's London
Yü-Ge was born in China, grew up in Germany and moved to London in 2013. Having studied and worked in China, Germany and England, she has a deep understanding of Asian and Western cultures and languages. She joined Christie’s in 2013 and has strong background in Client Services, Client and Business Strategy and contributed to the success of major Sales in Europe and New York for the Post-War and Contemporary Art Department as their Business Analyst. Since joining Client Advisory at the start of 2018, Yü-Ge focusses on advising, cultivating and fostering existing and new Asian clients. Furthermore she identifies collaboration opportunities with external businesses and spearheaded the first fully mandarin speaking live-event at Christie’s London. Yü-Ge speaks fluent German, English and Mandarin Chinese and is a Christie’s Auctioneer.
Henry Cheng
Client Relationship Manager, Christie's Hong Kong
Henry was born in Hong Kong and was graduated from The University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Prior to joining Christie’s, he was a relationship manager at Citibank covering high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Henry joined Christie’s in 2018 and have since been committed to developing multi-category interest of clients in art and luxury. Throughout the client journey, Henry would offer advice from collecting to consigning and ensure that clients are able to build up a collection that lives up to their aspirations. In addition, Henry also works closely with a number of business partners to cultivate interest of prospective collectors and bring in new clients for the company.
