APAA Client Spotlight with Advisor Member Heather Marx
The APAA speaks to advisor member Heather Marx’s collector clients, a young Bay Area couple with homes in Orinda and Lake Tahoe, California. The works Heather and her clients acquire affirm a spirit of strength, beauty and detailed process and craft.
Artists Casper Brindle, Patrick Wilson, Nike Schroeder, photography by Francis Baker
Why did you first start working with Heather Marx?
I was referred to Heather by a very close family friend who was a client of her former gallery. I admired his collection and at that time wanted a piece by the painter Patrick Wilson, whom my friend collected in depth.
I was not looking for an advisor per se, I just wanted to find the best piece by the artist and he said “you have to contact Heather.”
After working together since 2020, I understand now that we grew out of Phase I—where we bought what we loved but it was more about fitting into our space—and shifted into Phase II, where we focus more on how the artists and the artwork would enhance our lives and retain value.
Alternative View, Adam Parker Smith, “Sabine Pool Floats (double),” 2020. Resin, steel, fiberglass, urethane. 102 x 21 x 14" [HxWxD). Photography by Francis Baker
What is your experience working with an art advisor, and why has it been beneficial?
After our first acquisition with Heather, I recognized the value of working with an art consultant. It is not only advantageous for access to the art scene/world, but more importantly to be able to work with someone who understands who we are, our interests, values and aesthetics.
We have 3 young kids and it is simply not feasible for us to be on the ground looking at art. It is really helpful to have a seasoned professional on our side who can expertly sight quality, value and most importantly potential opportunities that align with our style. We would not buy anything else without her input.
These are significant investments and we feel confident in Heather’s knowledge and expertise to provide us impartial and expert advice in terms of an artworks quality, value and condition.
Logistically and administratively she has made our acquisition process seamless and we learned a great deal from her.
In foreground ; Jacob Hashimoto, “A Wilderness of Lamps,” 2019. Bamboo, acrylic, paper, wood, and Dacron. 66h x 60w x 8d in. Photography by Francis Baker
In background: Anna Halldin-Maule. Commission, “Lovis with Fur,” 2021-2022. Oil on canvas, 72 x 48 inches.
Tell us about your collection and its focus. Has the focus changed over time?
Our collection has grown organically over time and reflects who we are. The artwork includes boldly colored figurative and abstract work in a variety of media. The works we acquire affirm a spirit of strength, beauty and are aspirational in tone.
Is there an interesting collecting story you’d like to share?
Many years before acquiring art, I was invited by the current custodians to visit the historic Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux. The proprietress had an extensive contemporary art collection including a captivating sculpture by Alicja Kwade in the salon. This was the artwork that got me into art. The beauty and quiet sophistication of the mirror/stone piece made an impression on me.
Years later, when Heather presented and advocated for us to acquire a piece from the same series, it validated my instincts from so many years before. We couldn’t believe this piece resurfaced. It felt meant to be.
We hoped for an opportunity to find the perfect location for something of this stature. Timing was everything. When we acquired some land for a new build in Tahoe, Heather created an opportunity to present a commission for this property. It is the artists last work from the Be-Hide series.
We are literally designing our new home around this piece, creating a pavilion overhang so that this work can be installed outside safely and reflect the beauty of the Aspen forest and the architecture of our home. We will have multiple views of this work from all around. It will be the cornerstone of our collection and truly embrace the artist’s interplay between being and hiding.
Our partnership with Heather instills confidence in decision-making, allowing for an easy calibration of interest, capital, placement timing, and opportunities! Her value is finding the alignment.
To the right:
Alicja Kwade, Custom commission for new build in Tahoe. “Big Be-Hide,” 2020-24 Stone TBD, aluminum, powder-coated. Steel, mirror, 74 3/4 x 97 1/8 x 90 1/2” approximate
Eric Zener, “Ascending,” 2023 Oil on canvas, 84 x 72 inches. In Tahoe home
Do you have a favorite work in the collection?
It’s difficult to choose one work as each adds to the whole. Our art collection breathes life into our space and sets the tone for experiences—as conversation starters, life givers, and an aura.
Adam Parker Smith’s Sabine Floats (shown above) was the perfect piece for our Orinda House. Positioned at the home’s entrance it plays off the fact that our pool is unusually placed in front of the house. The piece is whimsical and sophisticated, setting the tone for the rest of the house.
Eric Zener’s Ascending caught my eye on Instagram via a gallery I follow with whom we have purchased art from in the past — I immediately texted Heather to gauge her take on the work and to look at it for us. With her input and suggestions we acquired the artwork from that gallery and it now transforms our current Tahoe home, creating a nod to Lake Tahoe which is the bluest body of water in California and also aligns with our interest in work that is bold and inspirational.
In summary, working with an art advisor has not only enhanced the quality and focus of our art collection but has also made the entire process more enjoyable, less risky, and ultimately more rewarding. Her expertise and commitment to our collecting journey have been invaluable.
