save
The Art Lawyer's Diary: Prospect 4 - The Lotus in Light of the Swamp

Nov 28, 2017

Art lawyer, Barbara Hoffman had the opportunity to attend the VIP/press opening for Prospect 4, New Orleans’ citywide international contemporary art exhibit founded by Dan Cameron, former senior curator of the New Museum, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In producing works in response to the current cultural, socioeconomic and environmental landscape, Prospect […]
Read more
save
5 Questions on Art in a Digital Era

Oct 26, 2017

New digital technology and an influx of online art businesses are changing the way we research artists and art professionals, build and manage our collections and even crack the most advanced art forgers. Hear from Jessica Paindiris, CEO and a Founder of The Clarion List, as she discusses the rise of the online art market […]
Read more
save
The Art Lawyer's Diary: Out of Africa - Reflections on the Opening of Cape Town's Zeitz MOCAA, the Joburg Art Scene and the Power of Ought

Oct 13, 2017

On Friday, September 22, the first public institution dedicated to contemporary art and the art of the diaspora in Africa, Cape Town’s Zeitz MOCAA, opened to a sold out weekend of more than 50,000 visitors, with 5,000 visitors per day since. Zeitz (not Zulu, Xhosa or even Afrikaans, but the name of its German founder) […]
Read more
save
Creative Technology Can Be Disruptive. Just Like Many of the Women Working with It

Oct 2, 2017

Galleries and art fairs are showing a growing array of digital work. This new creative technology can include installation, video, interactive, virtual reality, and forms that are yet to be invented. When speaking to a gallery owner at a recent art fair, it was explained that many children have become so accustomed to touching the […]
Read more
save
Best Practices in Art Advisory - The 101 Program for Art Advisors

Sep 13, 2017

Collecting art is exciting, intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding. And if you know what you’re doing, it could also be worth your while financially. So how do you get to know the art world and make sure you buy quality art at a reasonable price? Well, unless you are willing to spend years acquiring the […]
Read more
save
5 Questions on Becoming an Art Advisor

Sep 8, 2017

This may come as a surprise but the opacity of the art market is not just confusing for art collectors, it’s also confusing for emerging art advisors. Annelien Bruins, CEO and Senior Art Advisor of Tang Art Advisory, shares her expertise on how to become an art advisor and the role they play. What does […]
Read more
save
Ai Weiwei to Receive the 2017 Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship in Toronto

Aug 25, 2017

6 Degrees has announced that Ai Weiwei will be coming to Toronto to receive the 2017 Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship. The great Chinese artist and activist will accept the award on Wednesday, September 27, at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning in Toronto. Among the most renowned and revered of living […]
Read more
save
Art Changes with the Times. Apparently so do Collectors.

Aug 18, 2017

The aesthetic value of art is almost impossible to quantify and the emotions that it elicits can be priceless. But what about the actual cost. This is where art finance is helpful. It’s the component of the art market that enables us to know the monetary store of value in a piece of work. This […]
Read more
save
The Art Lawyer's Diary by Barbara Hoffman: Grand Tour - Documenta 14, Skulptur Projekte 2017, Mondrian

Aug 8, 2017

With a scheduled business trip to Amersfoort, Netherlands (yes, I am still practicing art and cultural heritage law), I took the opportunity to travel six days earlier to continue what the art world has called “The Grand Tour”: from Venice, to Kassel (“Documenta”) and Münster (“Skulptur Projekte”). Whilst the “Grand Tour” included Basel, my self-guided […]
Read more
save
Eliminating Art World Borders Through Education and Technology

Jul 28, 2017

Leading online and experiential art network, One Art Nation, unites art collectors and experts around the world The online art market is experiencing rapid growth like never before. Today, collectors can buy art from almost anywhere in the world without ever having to leave home. But purchasing is only one part of the puzzle. More […]
Read more
save
Building a Collection Can Take a Lifetime. Don’t Rush the Details When Selling Your Work

Jul 24, 2017

Art collectors spend years building up a collection of work. Many rotate their art between walls and storage. Depending on the value and/or cultural significance of the work, some collectors may also loan out work to institutions such as galleries and museums. That being said, collections often evolve with times, taste, and financial considerations. There […]
Read more
save
The Primary vs Secondary Art Market

Jul 12, 2017

The art market is split up into the primary and secondary market. If an artwork comes straight out of an artist’s studio, by way of a gallery or a contemporary art fair, it’s most likely being offered for sale for the first time. This is the primary art market when the price for the piece […]
Read more
save
Ebook: Managing Relationships in the Art Market

Jun 19, 2017

For aspiring art advisors and new art collectors This Ebook addresses the relationship between art advisors and art collectors – from both perspectives. It describes the idiosyncrasies of the art market and why they are problematic for new art collectors. The Ebook further discusses the ways in which art advisors provide value to their clients. […]
Read more
save
Stephen Bulger Gallery to Open New Space at 1356 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Jun 12, 2017

After nearly 15 years in their current location, Stephen Bulger Gallery have finally found a new gallery space in their neighbourhood that is large enough to accommodate their ambitions to be one of the world’s leading commercial galleries for great photographs of all types. On September 9, 2017, they open the doors of 1356 Dundas […]
Read more
save
The 57th Venice Biennale 2017: Getting to the Art of the Matter

Jun 7, 2017

© Barbara Hoffman, 2017 Barbara T. Hoffman is a preeminent international art lawyer with an undergraduate degree in art history. She has been a passionate follower of the contemporary art scene for years and a regular attendee at the Venice Biennale since the early 1980’s. She has written frequently on law, art and politics for […]
Read more
save
Themes of Globalization, Identity and Spirituality Expressed in a Variety of Media are Prevalent Throughout the Biennale

May 26, 2017

As is so often the case in Venice, the Giardini’s Central Pavilion where the “historic” national pavilions from 1907 are located generated a space for artistic commentary. For example, the United States Pavilion, a Palladian-style structure built in 1930 in a style resembling Thomas Jefferson’s home, presents Mark Bradford’s exhibition critiquing this Jeffersonian structure and […]
Read more
save
The Issue of Fake Paintings Within Indonesian Modern Art

May 18, 2017

In April 2012, during the opening of the exhibition Back to the Basics, at the OHD Museum in Magelang, Central Java, the most senior collector and supporter of Indonesian modern and contemporary art, Dr Oei Hong Djien (OHD) exhibited paintings by late Indonesian master’s that were yet to be seen in public. OHD’s museum houses […]
Read more
save
Art As An Asset Class?

Apr 28, 2017

During the Hellenistic Period, 4th – 1st century BC, the Greeks first developed the taste for art collecting, valuing it for aesthetic purposes rather than religious or civic significance. The impulse to invest in art however is a new phenomenon. The 17th century diarist John Evelyn noted that ‘even Dutch farmers pay high prices for […]
Read more
save
A Wider Array of Artists and Collectors

Apr 20, 2017

The trend toward globalization is creating an art market that includes a wider array of artist as well as collectors. When it comes to artists, Latin American art provides us a great example of this shift. Kaeli Deane, Head of Sale for Phillips Latin American Art department, says that Latin Americans typically purchased work created […]
Read more
save
5 Questions on Art & Digital Copyright Law (Part 2)

Apr 7, 2017

With the dual phenomena of increase in art world wealth and the ease of exploiting content online, self proclaimed specialists and bloggers in “art law” and digital copyright law are multiplying. Recently named one of 51 High Wattage Women in the Art World, Barbara T. Hoffman’s writings and cases have generated legislation, influenced the development […]
Read more
save
Art Collecting 101: Finding Gems (Without Breaking the Bank)

Apr 3, 2017

Art is one of those investments that pays off in the future and you can enjoy it in the here & now. While you should choose pieces that speak to you, it’s also wise to consider their potential to appreciate in value. But where to start? Julia Wehkamp and Amanda Dunn are co-founders of One […]
Read more
save
5 Questions on the Need for Art Law (Part 1)

Mar 31, 2017

As the art world becomes more complex, so does the need for qualified legal professionals. Barbara Hoffman of The Hoffman Law Firm, who practically invented “art law” forty years ago, shares her insights into how this need developed. You are one of the pioneer practitioners of art law. What are the characteristics of the field […]
Read more
save
VIDEO: Collecting Art - Have You Been Bitten by the Bug?

Mar 28, 2017

What tips could you give to first time art buyers? Why did you start to collect art? How have you grown your collection over the years? Where have you purchased art and do you have a preference? Joined seasoned Toronto based collector, David Angelo, as he provides advice on building a collection by educating yourself […]
Read more
save
A Snapshot of Art History and Photorealism

Mar 23, 2017

The camera has been arguably one of the most disruptive technological advancements in art history. From the first cave paintings, art was used to tell stories and record historic events. Then roughly 150 years ago, the camera changed the way we captured the visual world. Suddenly art wasn’t the only way to depict historic events, […]
Read more