Todd Levin

Access

In the past three decades, Levin AG has carefully reviewed over 15,000 artworks for acquisition from primary gallerists, secondary dealers, and auction houses. We have been responsible for the purchase of over 1,000 artworks with a cumulative value in the mid-nine figures. This enormity of statistical data provides us with massive quantitative knowledge in a market where concepts of price and value constantly shift.

Many art advisors working today were not involved in the 1980‘s art world when the largest historical art market boom ground to a screeching halt in 1990. The true measure of an experienced advisor occurs when the market suddenly stops or severely reverses. Our direct experience with art market cycles over the past quarter century provides us with qualitative wisdom to envision where opportunities are located in the midst of confusion, and how to turn a major market reversal into a collector’s advantage to capitalize on others’ lack of confidence.

Should you be interested in selling artwork either privately or publicly at auction, our firm has a proven track record of negotiating extremely favorable financial terms and world record sales prices for multiple artists.

Expertise

Levin AG has been thoroughly immersed in the art market for over three decades. The depth and breadth of our expertise allows us to formulate swift, sound judgments about potential acquisitions. Methodical scholarship also demands scrupulous research, and a review of each artwork’s authenticity, condition, provenance, and clear legal title is completed prior to each purchase.

After committing to the purchase of an artwork, there are many details to consider, such as tax liabilities, crating, shipping, framing, installation, storage, insurance, appraisal valuations, museum loans, and registrarial organization. We collaborate with elite international specialists in each of these specific areas to provide a complete, bespoke management solution. We also partner with the most respected conservators in the art world, who offer detailed condition reports and conservation solutions, utilizing separate experts for sub-specialties such as painting, works on paper, sculpture, video/film, and complex installation-based work.

Methodology

Levin AG takes great pride in developing lasting relationships with collectors. In the early stages of formulating a collection, connoisseurship develops through education. We schedule gallery and museum visits, auction previews, and attendance at art fairs so that whatever time a collector can make available is filled efficiently and enjoyably. If desired, we create a dedicated research library for your personal edification, or present a series of informal lectures with visuals that provide a private, relaxed exchange of ideas.

Experienced collectors require a different curatorial methodology focused on deepening their existing collection with key additional works. Seasoned collectors sometimes fall into a comfortable pattern of working repeatedly with the same handful of gallerists. While time-honored art world relationships should be maintained and strengthened, it is wise to continually groom new relationships, as artists constantly move to, or are shared between, newer international galleries with increasing regularity. New contacts also introduce new artists and artistic practices to the seasoned collector, continuing the process of connoisseurship.