A curator is only as good as the sum of their past experience. Levin AG has been thoroughly immersed in the art market for over twenty-five years. The depth and breadth of our expertise allows us to formulate swift, sound judgments about potential art acquisitions. Methodical scholarship also demands scrupulous research, and a review of each artwork’s authenticity, condition, provenance, and clear legal title is completed prior to each purchase. In addition to academic expertise, a curator must also possess astute financial acumen. Numerous avenues of access for appraising art all require exhaustive investigation, including the public primary market of gallerists, who act directly as artist’s representatives; the private secondary market, where important artworks return to the market; and the auction house, which operates as a ‘tournament of value’ selling artwork to the highest bidder. Being able to locate and access the most desirable artwork is based not only on an insider’s knowledge of who and what one knows, but also on past experience leveraging the best possible result out of each of these sectors.

After committing to the purchase of an artwork, there are many details to immediately consider, such as clear title, tax liabilities, crating and shipping, framing, storage, insurance, and installation. Collaborating with elite specialists on a global scale in each of these specific areas allows our firm to provide a complete, bespoke management solution personally tailored to a collection’s specifications. We also partner with the most respected conservators in the art world, who offer detailed condition inspection and conservation solutions for any exigencies that may occur, utilizing separate experts for sub-specialties such as works on paper, paintings, sculptures, video/film, and complex installation-based work.

Collectors working with Levin AG are regularly approached by museums, institutions, and foundations for the loan of artworks in their collections for important one-person surveys and group exhibitions. Familiarity with contract law (both domestic and international), as well as insurer responsibilities, crate design, museum handling and installation practices, security provisions, and condition reporting are all critical aspects of loan contracts. Our firm has handled over 400 loan requests from the most distinguished international institutions, developing our own proprietary loan form that institutions must sign in order to protect the collector. Furthermore, we insist institutions cover the cost for someone from our home office to fly with, and oversee, the installation and deinstallation of artwork, when we deem that it is in the collector’s best interests.