Art enthusiasts can be intimidated by the complexities of the art world, unsure of how to go about acquiring an artwork. There are many different types of art professionals that can facilitate a sale, including galleries, auction houses, art dealers, art consultants and advisors. With so many individuals to approach, it can be difficult to find the right professional to meet your specific needs.
Two of the most common types of art professionals are art dealers and art consultants. In this article we will discuss the similarities and differences between these two seemingly interchangeable professions.
What is an Art Dealer?
Almost everyone will have heard of an art dealer; the cliché is of a silver-haired gentleman in a tailored suit, surrounded by rare artworks with a magnifying glass to hand. Although there is a new generation of art dealers emerging, the essence of the profession has remained unchanged since its inception—wherever there have been artists, there have been art dealers, dedicated to discovering, promoting, and selling their work.
Art dealers are defined as individuals that buy and sell works of art often from a specific genre, period or artist. If they do not own the artwork, they may facilitate the sale between the art buyer and seller for a fee. An art dealer will be a person who is highly specialised in a specific area of the art market and may have worked in a specialist department at Sotheby's or Christie's.
An art dealer's primary goal will be to build long-term relationships with collectors as well as other dealers and auction houses. They may represent an artist or an artist's estate and will be highly knowledgeable in the investment potential of the artworks they deal in. Additionally, art dealers may offer services such as authentication, valuation and conservation.
What is an Art Consultant?
An art consultant, an often lesser-known profession, is an art professional who provides expert advice on art acquisition to private individuals, institutions or corporations. Art consultants are client-focused; they are the collector’s representative in the art world and so can provide unbiased advice and adapt to the type of art the client is looking for. A consultant will also have areas of expertise but will typically cover a much broader range of the art market, as they can quickly adapt and change their focus to meet their client’s changing objectives.
Art consultants do not typically own artworks out-right but will likely have a team of art curators that can conduct in-depth art market research. They can help with collection management and provide strategic advice on curating art for maximum impact within a space. Consultants take the time to understand their client’s taste and ideas and are often the preferred choice for those looking for art for hotels, residential interiors, private planes or corporate projects such as Fortune 500 companies.
The Key Difference Between Art Dealers and Art Consultants
The difference between art dealers and art consultants can be understood through how they earn their income. Art dealers rely on buying and selling artworks for a profit, while art consultants will charge an advisory fee to their clients for their time and expertise.
Art dealers are often also gallery owners, and so may represent certain artists, both living and deceased. Art consultants, on the other hand, provide advice and so do not typically represent artists; their interest is in securing the best deal for the client acting as their representative in the art world.
Both art dealers and art consultants will be great at relationship building, fostering strong partnerships with their clients and other arts professionals. An art dealer’s primary focus, however, will be on building relationships to facilitate sales, while an art consultant will be more concerned with fostering a long-term advisory relationship with their client.
Education and Required Job Skills
Choosing to work as an independent art dealer or art consultant will require years of industry experience and mentorship from others that have come before. Many will also hold degrees and master's in art history or fine art from a reputable university. Over the years, both art dealers and art consultants will have found their area of focus through a love and passion for a specific art genre . Working in this field will mean a lifetime of learning, reading books, visiting galleries as well as travel, to cities like London and New York to visit an art fair or purchase a piece for a client.
Both roles require great sales and negotiation skills, good business acumen, in order to run their own company, either as an art consultancy firm, art dealership, or gallery. When working in this field it is also important to be detail oriented, with great analytical skills for investment advice, strong research skills as well as excellent communication skills including holding your own in conversation on topics related to art history or other arts related topics. Lastly, art consultants, in particular will need to have the skill to be able to manage and curate entire art collections.
Artelier Art Consultancy
Working with Private and Corporate Clients
Artelier is a leading art consultancy with a reputation for excellence. Based in the UK with offices in London and internationally, the team of art curators and consultants work hard to provide the latest art market research and to source the best artworks available on the market.
Artelier can provide unbiased advice, and is specialised in commissioning bespoke artworks from contemporary living artists. The team has an extensive network of contemporary artists working today as well as decades of experience in sourcing art for private clients, corporate projects, hotels and public art initiatives.
Our Art Concierge Service - Navigating the Art World
In partnership with art dealers, galleries and auction houses, the team at Artelier has launched a completely tailored 'Art Concierge' service with a focus on art investment. This offering is making it possible for clients to access unique and hard-to-find pieces with investment potential. This new approach also offers extensive art market research to identify sought-after artworks with investment potential. From acquisition to final installation, our service can provide a seamless art buying experience.
Need Some Assistance?
If you are looking to purchase artworks from an art dealer or auction house consider our ‘art concierge’ services which can act as your representative in the art world. If you are looking for an art consultant for a private residence, corporate project or public art initiative, discover our full range of services in art consultancy. If you feel you are ready to start talking about your needs with a trusted advisor then you can book a free initial consultation by getting in touch today.