About the APAA

The Association of Professional Art Advisors (APAA) is a non-profit membership organization of the world’s leading art advisors, curators and corporate art curators.  With more than 175 independent art advisors based in 33 cities across Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, practicing in multiple areas of specialization, the APAA’s membership of well-established professionals has a wide range of experience and expertise in their chosen fields.  Founded in 1980, the APAA is the only international standard-setting organization for the practice of art advisory. APAA is dedicated to promoting standards of connoisseurship, scholarship and ethical practice in the profession, and to increasing public awareness of the role and responsibilities of reputable art advisors.

Mission

APAA's mission is to establish and disseminate the highest possible principles and guidelines for art advisors in acquiring, maintaining and presenting art for their clients. Members are united by standards of professionalism, and uphold these standards in their work with corporations, public art projects and private collections.

APAA members are recognized experts in their fields and are committed to promoting the value of art in the public and private sectors. As advisors, individual members are objective advocates who work solely in the best interests of their clients.

APAA fosters excellence in the art advisory field by emphasizing integrity, connoisseurship and education as the foundations of professional practice. APAA members have a demonstrated expertise in the art market and maintain good working relationships within the arts community. Members are expected to have a depth of knowledge in a broad range of areas including museum-quality methodology and all aspects of the care and maintenance of fine art collections.

APAA Code of Ethics

Members of APAA are distinguished by adherence to a core set of ethical principles. By joining the APAA, members accept its code of ethical and professional practices which must be observed in relations with clients, artists, gallerists, dealers, auction houses and related professionals.

  • APAA members may not maintain inventory for sale, accept artwork on consignment or act as private dealers in any transaction.
  • APAA members maintain lawful practices, complying with state and federal laws in taxation, exercising due diligence in researching the provenance of recommended acquisitions, and refusing any requests by clients or vendors to subvert the law in any fashion.
  • APAA members should not perform services that would be, or appear to be, adverse to the interests of his or her client unless those services are fully disclosed to the client and the client provides advance consent to the services in writing.
  • APAA members do not accept financial compensation that creates a conflict of interest between the member and their client.
  • APAA members do not solicit or accept compensation from service providers or vendors.

APAA membership is by invitation and based on the following criteria:

  • Working as a principal of one's art advisory firm for a minimum of 5 years.

  • Obtaining an advanced education and experience in the study of fine art.

  • Not maintaining inventory or accepting art on consignment.

  • Being compensated by one's clients and being paid by only one source per transaction.

  • Transparency with clients regarding compensation structure.

  • Prioritizing clients' interests.

To learn more, please email info@artadvisors.org.

Board of Directors

Alex Glauber, President AWG Art Advisory, New York, New York

Elizabeth Szancer, Vice President ESKart, LLC New York, New York

Jennifer Duncan, Treasurer Director, FAPE, Washington, DC

Elizabeth Parks, Secretary Parks Fine Art, New York, New York

Victoria Burns Victoria Burns Art Advisory, Los Angeles, California & New York, New York

Gabriel Catone Partner, Ruth|Catone, New York, New York

Kay Childs Topol Childs Art Advisory, New York, New York

Wendy Cromwell Cromwell Art Advisory, New York, New York

Patricia Dellorfano Lead Curator, Fidelity Investments, Boston, Massachusetts

Courtney Pettit Co-Director, Pettit Art Partners, New York, New York

Michele C. Quinn Principal, MCQ FineArt, Las Vegas, Nevada

Skarlet Smatana Director, George Economou Collection, London, UK

Candace Worth Founder, Worth Art Advisory, New York, New York

Lee White Galvis Attorney, New York, New York*

*Non-Voting

Committees

Corporate Curators Committee
Patricia Dellorfano, Lead Curator, Fidelity Investments
Mary Edith Alexander, Curator, Bank of America

European Steering Committee
Anne Varick Lauder, Ph.D. Art Advisor

Sara Pearce, Art Advisor

Maria de Peverelli, Executive Chairman – Art Management, Stonehage Fleming

Susannah Pollen, Art Advisor

Skarlet Smatana, Director, George Economou Collection

Selena Skipwith, Independent Art Consultant

Membership Committee
Wendy Cromwell, Co-Chair
Elizabeth Szancer, Co-Chair
Aileen Agopian, Gabriel Catone, Kay Childs, Marc-Jan Van Laake, Susannah Pollen, Candace Worth

Public Programming Committee
Courtney Pettit Erica Samuels

APAA History

APAA encompasses the Association of Professional Art Advisors, founded in 1980, and the National Association of Corporate Art Management, founded in 1984. Recognizing their shared mission, the two groups merged in 2002.
Past Presidents
Carla Caccamise Ash (Founding President, NACAM)
Wendy Cromwell
Megan Fox Kelly
Stacey Gershon
Mary Anne Goley
David Hanks (NACAM)
Joe Houston
Margize Howell (NACAM)
Michelle Isenberg
Margaret Kelly Trombly (NACAM)
Sandra Lang
Mary Lanier (Founding President, APAA)
Elizabeth Levine
Beatrix Medinger
Janice Oresman
Joyce Pomeroy Schwartz
Katherine Smith Warren
Elizabeth Szancer
Lynn Sowder
Saul Wenegrat (NACAM)

Art Advisor: Victoria Burns Artists: Pae White, tapestry and Daniel Arsham, sculpture.

Art Advisor: Victoria Burns
Artists: Pae White, tapestry and Daniel Arsham, sculpture.

 

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