Advisory

S otheby’s Advisory offers bespoke services encompassing the full range of the art market, building off of the longstanding expertise of Art Agency Partners, together with access to the global resources of the auction house—an extraordinary combination without peer or precedent. Whether you are an individual collector, a museum or a corporation, we spend time getting to know every client and their individual needs, tailoring each relationship accordingly.

Sotheby’s Advisory will thoughtfully pair you with a dedicated point of contact who understands what animates your collection and how best to enhance its quality, while ensuring that any transaction is to your financial advantage. At the same time, you will have our full team at your disposal, representing Advisory staff as well as the expertise of hundreds of specialists positioned around the globe. Whatever you require—from insider access to the most desired works, shipping & logistics, to installation—we will take care of every detail.

Collection Development

Developing a tailored vision and strategic plan; guiding acquisition and potential sales; objective recommendations and preferred access to works across the full spectrum of the art market

Collection Management

Cataloguing and collection database; coordination and oversight of shipping, framing, installation, storage, and conservation; appraisal services for insurance, taxation, or loan collateral.

Artist Commissions, Installations & Exhibitions

Assistance in planning, coordinating, and overseeing complex commissions; curating and managing collection installations or exhibitions

Legacy & Fiduciary Planning

Estate planning for artists’ estates and foundations and other not-for-profit models

Knowledge Building

Tailored enrichment opportunities, including accompanied visits to galleries, fairs, museums and artists’ studios

Market Access & Intelligence

In-depth market analysis, including reports on auctions, fairs, and activity across the market

For inquiries please contact individual.advisory@sothebys.com

Throughout the celebrated history of Sotheby’s, we have been privileged to work with a host of the world’s great museums and remain steadfastly committed to the growth and success of museum collections. From large museums to small non-profits, Sotheby’s offers institutions a variety of services internationally, including:

Valuations & Real-Time Market Advice

Appraisals for institutions for purposes of insurance, fair market value, donation, indemnity and auction estimates

Flexible Selling Options

Including live and online auctions, as well as private sales; management of all aspects of consignment process

Collection Review and Refinement

Collection assessment and analysis; assistance at all stages of acquisition process

Strategic Guidance

Advice on communications and public positioning, guidance on cultural best practices and legal issues

Strategic Planning

Operating models, legal and governance structure, and, market study including economic impact assessments; advice on architectural and space planning

Recruitment Services

For curatorial, directorial, development, communications and collection management

Board Building and Cultivation

Identifying new sources for membership and support

Fundraising Strategies

Developing framework for tax-advantaged giving and support; attracting local and international grant-making foundations and individual donors
Benefit auctions and cultivation opportunities such as providing panelists and hosting museum groups in our selling locations globally

For inquiries, please contact museum.advisory@sothebys.com

Sotheby’s is the only auction house with its own dedicated Corporate Art Services team. For over 25 years, we have specialized in helping corporations assess and manage their collections, find value in the art marketplace, and maximize the inherent value in their art collections. As a result of our success and experience, we understand the nuances involved in partnering with large corporations. We are the trusted auction house for the most important corporations. From negotiating contracts to sensitively handling messaging, we are able to assist you at every stage with many aspects of your collection. Sotheby’s is pleased to offer a range of services to corporate clients, including the following:

Collection Review and Refinement

Collection assessment and analysis; assistance at all stages of acquisition or deaccession process

Collection Management

Cataloguing and a detailed collection database; coordination and oversight of shipping, framing, installation, storage, and conservation

Market Intelligence Access

Periodic reports and data analysis, utilizing access to unparalleled data and market intelligence

Buying and Selling at Auction

Assistance with identifying works for acquisition on a corporation’s wish list; management of all aspects of the consignment process to sell property at every level

Private Sales

Help with privately sourcing and selling works of art, providing time, flexibility, and discretion

Appraisals

For purposes of insurance, fair market value, donation, indemnity, collateral loans and auction estimates

Cultivation Events

Providing guest speakers, panelists, charity auctioneers and mock auctions, hosting corporate groups in our selling locations around the world

For inquiries, please contact corporate.advisory@sothebys.com

With access to the unparalleled data and market intelligence of Sotheby’s global business,Advisory at Sotheby’s provides clients with unbiased, transformative market insights that are explicitly relevant to their interests and goals.

Thread Genius

AI-based art recognition and recommendation technology

In Other Words

Newsletter offering an unbiased editorial content and art market reports

Sotheby's Mei Moses Indices

The most reliable and widely cited measure of art market price levels as far back as 1755, used for bespoke analytics services, including periodic reports and analysis of activity across all market sectors