ARTISTS

We offer our services to artists actively creating contemporary works of art.

We authenticate value, assess and catalogue art works for the purposes of insurance, accountancy or probate

We carry out searches on the records and provenance of art works, as well as giving estimates on restoration.

We produce critiques, studies and texts for presentation.

We prepare official documents prior to auctions.

We draw up marketing plans aimed at increasing your sales

Our legal department is on hand to offer advice on contracts, formalities, export or import procedures, etc...

A few things worth knowing:

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art is created by living artists : "Present-day artists producing their own art, freely following their muse. " - J. St Aubin.

However, the term “contemporary art” is generally understood to include works produced within the past 50 years.

Contemporary art in the world today:

Our data base lists between 200,000 and 250,000 recognised artists worldwide, to be found listed in their own countries. However, we believe that there is double this number of works available on the market

There are about 80, 000 artists in USA, about 45,000 in France and about 40,000 in Great Britain.

Worldwide market share of traded art:

USA = 35% - United-Kingdom = 30% - China = 20% -Germany = 4% - France = 3% - Italy = 2% - others = 6%.

Turnover through auction houses, July 2007 - June 2008 (Artprice source):

USA = 348M€ ; GB = 262M€ ; China = 259M€ ; France = 15M€, Italy = 10M€ ; Germany = 6M€.

For the last 20 years, the art market has grown progressively in Gret Britain.

The significant decline of France can mainly be explained by the fact that many wealthy buyers have left the country a more favourable tax environment.

Added to this are economic difficulties and extreme centralisation, with a bias toward public acquisition, which tends to block out potential private buyers. The French middle class is buying less and in the main only visits galleries and contemporary art exhibitions.

Base line price movements, 1990 - 2005

• 1990 : base
• 1991 : 120
• 1992 to 1997 : 40
• 1998 to mid-2001 : 60
• Mid-2001 : 49
• 2002 : 60
• 2003 : 65
• 2004 : 70
• 2005 : 75

Major fairs and internationals salons :

• Frieze art fair - London : 260 exhibitors
• Miami Beach - USA : 190 exhibitors
• Basel - Switzerland : 275 exhibitors
• Cologne - Germany: 250 exhibitors
• Fiac - Paris - France : 220 exhibitors
• Arco- Madrid- Spain: 290 exhibitors

Present day artists "Super Stars"

• Jeff Koons (USA) : Turnover : 20 millions dollars in 2004.
• Damien Hirst (GB) : + 500% in 7 years.

The number of valuations requested along with the growth in the number of auctions through to the end of 2008 shows the buoyancy of the market. (+12.5% over the 12 months, + 50% year on year, (source: Artprice annual report)