A Conversation with Art Advisor Jennifer Li
Art Muse LA Art Advisory Partner
Some of you may know Jennifer from the tours you've taken at the many museums and gallery shows across Los Angeles. What you may not know is that in addition to being an educator, she's a longtime writer for arts publications such as Frieze, Art in America, and ArtAsiaPacific, as well as a seasoned art advisor, helping clients buy artworks and build collections. In advance of the Frieze LA coming up next week (Feb 20-23), we sat down with Jennifer to learn more about her capacity as an art advisor.
For those that might be wondering: What does an art advisor do?
It is my job to know what's going on in the art world at any given time by staying in touch with the hundreds—if not thousands—of galleries operating around the world. I'm constantly visiting galleries, artist's studios, and museums, as well as reviewing exhibition previews and pdfs, to stay on top of what's going on in the art world. When I meet a client, the process is a little like matchmaking. I learn as much as I can about the client's likes/dislikes, lifestyle interests, passions, travels, and then I propose artists and artworks that suit the client's vibe, style and persona. It is incredibly satisfying to make a great match!
What is the advantage of working with an art advisor?
Similar to working with a real estate agent or a financial advisor, it's wise to enlist the help of an expert to ensure that you're making prudent decisions when acquiring a work of art. I hear many clients say, "I just buy what I love, not for the investment." The thing is, when you work with an advisor, these two concepts are not mutually exclusive, but in fact, they go hand in hand. You can buy what you love and rest assured it will also hold its value and/or grow in value over time
The other major advantage to working with an advisor is access. I have strong relationships with galleries and artists that I've built over twenty years of working in the art world. I'm one of the first on their list when a new body of work is completed or an exhibition is about to open, ensuring that I get priority access to the best works of art, not the leftovers. Especially with lower priced works of art, that access is crucial as more affordable pieces tend to sell quickly.
What do you do to prepare for an art fair like Frieze LA?
A few weeks in advance of the fair, I get in touch with all the galleries that will be exhibiting. I review previews, do a ton of research on works that will be shown, and make decisions on what I might send to certain clients, what I think certain clients will love, and what I'd like to take them to see during the run of the fair. Typically, the best artworks are sold prior to the opening of the fair. Even if no acquisitions are made, fairs are an efficient way to see a lot in a short amount of time and space, like a crash course in the contemporary art market.
Who are some of the artists you're looking forward to seeing at the fair?
I'm really excited to see the outdoor installations, especially Greg Ito's inflatable sculpture that will bring his colorful paintings about family history and rebirth and renewal to life. I always love seeing familiar but continually surprising works by the Korean minimalists such as Ha Chong Hyun and Lee Bae from galleries like Blum, Tina Kim and Johyun. One of the best Los Angeles galleries, Commonwealth and Council, will be showing beautiful new works by Gala Porras Kim and Suki Seokyeoung Kang. Lisson will have some of my favorites such as a Kelly Akashi sculpture and an Olga de Amaral woven work. The "Focus" section of younger galleries is often the most exciting and fresh: Tyler Parks Presents, Make Room, Bel Ami. In the past few weeks, I've pointed some clients specifically to artists whose homes or studios — or in some cases, both — were destroyed by the recent wildfires. After all we've been through in light of the devastation, I think this year in particular will be a wonderful iteration of the fair as we all rally together to support artists and the city of Los Angeles.
To find out more about working with Jennifer, please reach out to jennifersli@gmail.com and mention Art Muse!