5 Questions with Nina Kong-Surtees, Founder and Chief Art Legacy Advisor of smART Advisory

Apr 16, 2025

Nina Kong-Surtees has long been a go-to when it comes to legacy preservation. But the NYC-based art advisor also specializes in collection management and cultural stewardship. As the Founder of smART Advisory, she bridges the gap between artists, collectors, and institutions—helping collectors build meaningful collections that appreciate in value while inspiring future generations.

We wanted to better understand how her strategic perspective helps collectors navigate the complexities of the art market while securing their place as cultural stewards. So, we sat down for a chat with Nina and this is what we found out.

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1AN: Building an art collection is a deeply personal journey. What advice do you give collectors who want their collection to reflect not just their tastes but also a lasting legacy for future generations?

Photo Credit: Eric Minh Swenson

Art collecting is both a mirror and a time capsule. I always encourage collectors to think of their collection as a living archive of values, interests, and stories. The most impactful collections go beyond aesthetics and financials—they carry the collector’s vision of the world they want to preserve or provoke. My advice is to start by defining what matters most: Is it cultural preservation? Social impact? Championing underrepresented voices? Once that foundation is clear, we build with intentionality. I help clients think about how their collection can serve as a bridge between generations, whether through museum donations, exhibitions, or archival storytelling. Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind—it’s what you stand for.

1AN: I love that! Many collectors focus on acquiring art, but clearly, legacy planning adds another layer of responsibility. What are some of the most overlooked aspects of maintaining and preserving an art collection for future generations?

Art isn’t static—it needs care, context, and contingency planning. One of the most overlooked aspects is documentation—provenance, condition reports, exhibition records, even artist correspondence. These are the invisible threads that hold a collection together over time. Without them, even the most significant works can lose context, value, or even visibility. 

Another critical element is succession planning. I work with collectors to develop stewardship strategies: Who will care for the collection? What are the long-term goals—public access, philanthropic giving, or continued private enjoyment? I also often advise setting up a dedicated foundation or working with estate attorneys and appraisers to ensure the collection’s financial and cultural legacy is protected. Future-proofing a collection means balancing preservation with access, and passion with planning.

1AN: “Future-proofing” a collection is not the first thing many think of! Although collectors are familiar with art advisors, fewer understand the role of an art legacy advisor. How does your approach differ, and what unique value do you bring to the collecting process?

While a traditional art advisor helps collectors acquire and manage works based on market knowledge and taste, my work as an art legacy advisor goes deeper—I help clients articulate and activate the why behind their collection. It’s a holistic approach that blends curation, collection management, and long-term visioning. I bring together the creative, financial, and archival aspects to build something enduring. Whether it’s preparing a collection for museum donation/exhibition, advising heirs on how to engage with inherited works, or mapping out cultural impact, my role is to ensure that the collection outlives trends and generations—while remaining deeply personal. Legacy is not just a final chapter; it’s a living and breathing entity.

Think of me as a cultural futurist—I help collectors shape how their art lives on in the world long after it leaves their walls.

1AN: That’s so important! Now, you’ve integrated business principles from tech, design, and beauty into the art world. How has this cross-industry experience influenced your approach to advising collectors and artists?

Innovation and storytelling are at the heart of every creative industry—and the art world is no exception. My experience in tech taught me how to scale systems and think about digital legacy: How do we preserve, catalog, and share collections in a way that transcends physical space? Design taught me the importance of cohesion, user experience, and spatial storytelling. And beauty—especially brand-building in that space—taught me how to translate emotion into identity. I bring all of these lenses to my work in art advising, helping clients not only build thoughtful collections but also communicate their values, support artists meaningfully, and create experiences that resonate. It’s not just about what you collect—it’s about how and why you show up in the art ecosystem.

1AN: As a member of multiple organizations that support women in the arts, how do you see the role of female collectors, curators, and advisors evolving in today’s market?  

We’re in a pivotal moment where women are not only shaping the narrative—they’re leading it. Female collectors are investing with conviction, supporting overlooked artists, and building more inclusive legacies. Female curators are rewriting institutional priorities. And as advisors, we’re championing transparency, collaboration, and long-term impact. I see the rise of a new kind of collector—one who is values-driven, community-minded, and fearless in forging new paths. Organizations that uplift women in the arts are essential in sustaining this momentum. I’m constantly inspired by the women I work alongside and advise—they’re redefining what power and presence look like in the art world. And we’re just getting started.

Connect with Nina Kong-Surtees here!

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