ARTSPACE Interview March 2013

3/22/13 Art Advisor Ariel Meyerowitz on Reading Between the Lines | Art for Sale | Artspace

www.artspace.com/collecting/art_advisors/ariel_meyerowitz_reading_between_the_lines 1/4

Next Collection: Our Picks From Armory Week >

INTERVIEWS: ON READING BETWEEN THE LINES

Art advisor Ariel Meyerowitz

Curator: Ariel Meyerowitz

Profession: Art Advisor, Ariel Meyerowitz Art Advisory

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Website: http://www.arielmeyerowitz.com/

As an art advisor, Ariel Meyerowitz has helped bring fine works of art into

some of New York City's most illustrious spaces, from Mayor MichaelBloomberg's office at City hall to the Plaza and Carlyle hotels, as well as

numerous private residences in the city and the Hamptons. Her tasteful

approach to fitting these spaces with contemporary and historical works speaks

of a deep sensitivity to art—one that she absorbed from childhood as the

daughter of the celebrated photographer Joel Meyerowitz and artist VivianBower.

Meyerowitz’s art advisory business is the culmination of a long career in the art

world. Until 2006 she operated an eponymous photography gallery, first in SoHo

and then in Chelsea, and prior to that she worked at Danziger Gallery in New

York and Scott Nichols Gallery in San Francisco (where she also wrote art

reviews for a local San Francisco newspaper). We spoke to Meyerowitz about

her seasoned approach to helping match her clients with art, and how the

various points in her career have informed her vision.

SEE ARIEL MEYEROWITZ'S CURATED SELECTION OF ARTWORKS ONARTSPACE AT RIGHT

Prior to being an art advisor, you operated your own art gallery where you

Home / Collecting / Art Advisors / On Reading Between the Lines

Like 74

About The Collection

Artworks in this Collection

$2,000

nature / black-and-white

Web #11Sally Gall

$5,000

architecture / nyc

Roebling's ArchMark di Suvero

$12,000

black-and-white / architecture /

classical / vintage

Breakfast Room at Belle Grove …Walker Evans

$1,500

abstract / minimalist / geometric / text

Folded SpaceRichard Tuttle

$2,800

Composition in Grey and BlackJohn Fraser

CART|BLOG|eGIFT CARDS|INVITE FRIENDS: GIVE $50 GET $50|JOIN ARTSPACE|SIGN IN

Search

BROWSE ART ARTISTS PARTNERS PRIVATE SALES COLLECTING

NEW

MAGAZINE

NEW



showed the work of artists like Richard Caldicott, Roy DeCarava, and Gail

Albert Halaban, as well as the photography of the actor Jeff Bridges. How is

working as an art advisor different from working as a dealer?

The end goal is the same: to pair great art with great collectors. I loved owninga gallery—it was thrilling to do exhibitions, launch artists’ careers, and connectwith the gallery-going public on a daily basis. But I find being an advisor to bemore liberating. One of the main differences was that my gallery exhibitedphotography exclusively and now, as an advisor, I am not focused onsupporting only one medium but also place paintings, drawings, prints,installation, and sculpture in my clients’ collections.

As the daughter of the renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz and the

painter Vivian Bower, you grew up in a richly creative environment. How

did this experience influence your perspective as an art advisor?

I feel very lucky to have been raised in that environment. Most of my parents’friends were artists, so much of my childhood was spent in galleries, museums,and artists’ studios. If only I had had the presence of mind back then to reallyappreciate who we were hanging around with! I was taught, not formally butorganically, how to “see” and not just “look.” When we traveled or even justwalked down the streets of New York my parents were always pointing out “life”they found exciting—it could have been the way two people danced aroundeach other as they negotiated a busy sidewalk, or the way the light movedacross a building and created interesting shapes and lines out of the shadowsand sunlight, or even the mysteriousness that arises from walking through agust of steam. As a child, I would frequently keep my father company duringthe hours he spent editing his slides, chiming in occasionally to say, “That’s agood one.” What I didn’t understand at the time was that I was learning theessential basics of curating—learning to see what makes a visually successfulphotograph versus a missed opportunity, as well as how to create a whole storyvisually. This artistic environment has influenced every aspect of my lifepersonally and professionally, and for that I am deeply grateful.

What drew you to the artworks you chose on Artspace?

After perusing all the artworks on your site, a theme developed among theworks I set aside: they each have a strong linear element in one form or another.Either there was a linear alliteration, lines and forms created from light andshadow, or a layering of lined pattern. The line can have numerous meaningswithin an artwork, as an exclamation, a definition, a means to an end, a pathtraveled on the road of an unknown adventure. Or it can simply be an elegant orstriking gesture. While some see just a line, I like to read between them.

What advice do you have for beginning collectors?

Regardless of what a new collector’s acquisition goals may be, I always tellthem to buy what they love. It’s important that they have an “aha!” momentupon seeing an artwork. A powerful visceral response is an essential part of thisprocess. As with any investment, one needs patience. However an art collectoris paid dividends on the pleasure they get from looking at the artwork everyday.

What is your process of working with clients?

I assume my process is much like that of most advisors—I meet clients in theirhomes or offices for a conversation about their aesthetic interests and budget,followed by a presentation of artworks. Even after 20 years of working in thisindustry, it never ceases to amaze me how frequently clients end up buying themedium or style they originally said they weren’t interested in. Of primaryimportance in this process is helping clients define and refine their taste in art.In the beginning, they often shy away from work they feel they don’t get. Myprocess is to educate and instill in my clients a confidence in their artacquisition choices.

What approach do you take in advising your clients?

I don’t follow the hard-sell tactic. I gauge my clients’ reactions to the artwork,and provide them with all the information they need so that they can make asinformed a decision as possible. I am not one to say, “You must buy that!” Artis not something that should be forced upon you—it’s such a personal decision.

What was the first piece you ever bought?

A 4-by-5-inch nude study by the photographer Frederic Ohringer back in 1992.

graffiti / curve / abstract

UntitledChristopher Wool

$3,500

abstract

Floppy CombsJames Siena

$2,500

curve / colorful / abstract / minimalist

Two Centimeter Wavy Bands In…Sol LeWitt

black-and-white / nature / water /

seascape

WaveRobert Longo

$3,000

interior / people

GenieEric Fischl

$1,000

erotic / love / birds / animals

Superman And The BirdsGhada Amer

$500

light

Untitled (2012.LE) from "...and t…Uta Barth



Who are your favorite artists, both emerging and established?

My interests are quite varied, but some of my favorite contemporary artists areVik Muniz, Robin Rhode, Teresita Fernández, Alyson Shotz, Ghada Amer, PaulVillinski, Edward Burtynsky, nearly all the artists who were in the Museum of Artand Design's “Slash: Paper Under the Knife” exhibition, and of course, mybrother—also a photographer—and my mother and father.

If you had an unlimited budget to purchase any artwork at all, what would

you buy?

Mark Rothko. And all the artists mentioned above.

Where do you find most of the work you show your clients?

Galleries, art fairs, artist studios, auctions, and from collectors who are de-acquisitioning.

Do you always show work to your clients before your purchase it for them?

Absolutely.

What do you consider the best perk of the job?

I’m doing what I love.

How did you become an art advisor?

I started working in galleries in 1992. By the time I chose to close my gallery inDecember 2005, I felt I had enough work experience and contacts to smoothlytransition from public to private dealing. In doing so, I could balance raising ourdaughter as well as expanding the variety of art mediums I sold.

Do you have an art collection of your own, and if so what's in it?

Yes. Since the earlier part of my career was in photography, that’s what mycollection is mostly comprised of. But I also have painting, wall installation, andworks on paper. And tons of paintings by my four year old.

What is the key to being a great art advisor?

Ideally, previous experience working in the art industry, having a genuinepassion for the arts, good contacts, patience, humor, and a thick skin.

$15,000

interior

Emerson

James Welling

$3,000

water / environmental / expochicago

Oil Spill #9

Daniel Beltrá

$7,000

china / black-and-white

Approaching Shadow

Fan HoStarting at $300

artspace

Golden Showers

Jessica Craig-Martin

$40,000

black-and-white

Jacobs Creek

Hiroshi Sugimoto

geometric / acrylic / expochicago

Green Space

Patrick Wilson

$1,500

Kyoto. Katsura Palace, an old I…

Werner Bischof



op-art / interior / japan /

black-and-white

ABOUT US

ARTSPACE MISSION

TEAM

PRESS

JOBS

CONTACT

MY ACCOUNT

ACCOUNT SUMMARY

ORDER HISTORY

SEND INVITES

SUGGESTIONS &

FEEDBACK

WHAT COOL NEW STUFFWOULD YOU LOVE?

CUSTOMER

SERVICE

FAQ

SHIPPING AND TAX

FRAMING AND CARE

RETURN POLICY

PRIVATE SALES

EGIFT CARDS

FOR OUR

PARTNERS

PARTNER INQUIRIES

INSPACE TRADEPROGRAM

PRESS INQUIRIES

MARKETING INQUIRIES

QUICK LINKS

PHOTOGRAPHS

SCULPTURE

PAINTING

DRAWING

MUSEUMS

GALLERIES

NON-PROFITS

GIFT GUIDES

WORKS UNDER $100

LIMITED EDITION PRINTS

TERMS GLOSSARY

SITE MAP

TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | STAY CONNECTED

JOIN ARTSPACE

EMAIL

[email protected]

PASSWORD

••••••••

Already a member? Sign in here

ARTFULLY MADE IN NY

Copyright © 2012 Artspace Marketplace, Inc. All rights reserved.

Like 74

Or

I accept the terms and conditions

ARTSPACE Interview March 2013

Documents

Transcript of ARTSPACE Interview March 2013