Sharikay Sloboda - Art Peritus

22/Apr/24

Springtime is a season of renewal and rejuvenation- and in this same spirit, Art Peritus has undergone a transformation as well! After months of meticulous crafting, we’re thrilled to unveil our new branding and invite you to learn more about it here, because it’s not merely a new logo and website; it embodies our identity.

Why New Branding?

Art Peritus has been growing and evolving for close to twenty years based on the strength and quality of the appraisal, consulting, and art crisis management services we provide. But it is not our services that define us. It’s our expertise.

Private collectors, insurers, trust & estate attorneys, wealth managers and fellow art industry professionals have come to rely upon Art Peritus to deliver the knowledge and insight they require to make informed decisions. The large collections in our charge, comprised of the valuable fine and decorative artwork that we handle, often hold tremendous importance, and thus merit the trust and discernment only a deeply experienced firm can provide.

Like the artwork and antiques we appraise and manage, our aim was to cultivate a brand that was timeless, elegant, and distinct.

The Golden Ratio

Our new logo has a look that might seem somewhat familiar. That’s because the design is based upon the “Golden Ratio.”

The Golden Ratio (also known as Phi or the Fibonacci Sequence) is found throughout the natural world, such as in the logarithmic spiraling shape of the nautilus or snail shell, artichokes, hurricanes, and pinecones for example. Like Pi, which describes the ratio of a circle to its circumference, Phi is also an irrational number that follows endlessly past its decimal point.

Artwork and natural elements that follow the Golden Ratio are almost universally perceived as more attractive or beautiful than those that don’t, leading scientists to surmise that humans may be hard-wired to appreciate it all its various forms.

From Leonardo da Vinci to Salvador Dali, the Golden Ratio has been widely embraced by a myriad of artists over the centuries. So much so, that understanding the Golden Ratio is a fundamental element of understanding fine art, design, and art appreciation.

As professional appraisers and consultants, we encounter the Golden Ratio in our work every day, so reflecting it in our new logo and branding made perfect sense. In many ways, Art Peritus shares its sublime values. For example, you may not be able to identify what attracts you to a certain work of art, but it may well be the Golden Ratio that is held within it. Similarly, a collector may not fully understand what makes their art or antiques so valuable, but our expertise is able to not just identify, but also qualify the value that is held within.

Beyond the Logo

Naturally, a brand transcends a mere logo; thus, Art Peritus is unveiling our fresh brand alongside a new, cutting-edge website. This revamped platform fully embodies the scope and sophistication of our services, while simultaneously elevating our aesthetic profile.

We wanted our new website to mirror the caliber and prestige of the artwork and assets entrusted to us. Given Art Peritus engages with some of the most notable private collectors, auction houses and institutions in the world, it was paramount that our website convey this same facet of our brand.

A striking element of our reimagined brand is our revitalized color palette. We’ve intensified our iconic vermillion, exemplifying the passion and vigor we infuse into our work. This is complemented by accents of brushed gold symbolizing the depth of knowledge, value, and warmth inherent in our services and client interactions, and a light beige representing the reliability and objectivity in the work product we produce. Together, these hues harmonize to craft a refined and elevated aesthetic that is beautifully reflective of the august and urbane nature of the industry and individuals we serve.

Additionally, Art Peritus has diligently honed the language in our brand messaging. These are the strokes that bring a brand to life, while also expressing the most salient facts about the work we undertake and the services we provide. Just as in our meticulous appraisals, we aim for truth and transparency, ensuring we consistently surpass our clients’ expectations.

The New Brand Goal

Precision underscores our brand, as it epitomizes the essence of our expertise. Clients rely on Art Peritus’ vast knowledge and seasoned experience to deliver the most effective art crisis management solutions, meticulously detailed appraisals, and comprehensive consulting for their collections. Without the need for words, our new brand speaks volumes and effortlessly conveys our commitment to truth.

Art Peritus collaborated closely with DAMN GOOD agency in bringing this new brand and website to life, and we’re struck by how deep and insightful the journey with them has been. We consider our new brand to be a true work of art. Wouldn’t you agree?

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Sharikay Sloboda

01/Jan/24

From passion assets to planned giving does estate planning affect the growth and development of a collection?

The Art of Collecting

A variety of factors drive collectors to collect. Perhaps its investment, notoriety or by inheritance. Regardless of if they are collecting art, wine, jewelry, baseball cards or vintage autos, arguably the greatest force behind any serious collector is their passion.

At least, at first.

As collectors build their collections, they inevitably discover more about the items they are seeking, and their interests deepen and evolve. They may focus on specific genres, eras, or artists, creating a collection with a certain theme or meaning, or they may broaden their scope to incorporate greater variety to reflect their personality or lifestyle.

There is no “right way” to collect. However, there are a myriad of reasons why a collector should think about what will happen to their collection once they are gone.

An Investment in the Future

For many collectors, a high-value collection represents a joyful investment in the future. While appraisal values may rise and fall with the tide of fluid markets, those who collect passion assets are still able to appreciate and enjoy their investments throughout their lives while remaining confident that it will provide a valuable and worthy legacy to leave behind.

But the problem with passion is that it’s hard to pass on. The same is true with one’s passion assets.

Even in close-knit families where collecting is embraced generation after generation, it is easy to understand how heirs may not share the same tastes or interests for collected items. Inheriting a valuable collection is simply not the same as assembling it yourself, and minus the passion for the collection, its value defaults to its appraised market value.

This is why it is so essential for collectors to engage in estate planning as early as possible.

Leaving a Legacy

Although a collector, especially one that is young, may be loath to begin thinking about their inevitable passing, it is crucial that they consider the ultimate fate of their collection well in advance.

Not only does it help facilitate the bequest of the valuable items they’ve collected, but it may also help guide them in the growth and development of their collection.

For example, if a collector has multiple heirs, they may not wish to “break up” their collection by distributing its parts to different beneficiaries. And even if they do, they may find it impossible to do so equitably, due to the variance in value of some pieces. If the bulk of the value in a collection is held within one or two pieces, how can it be evenly (and amicably!) distributed between three heirs?

Having no estate plan in place is easily the worst scenario. In this situation, a collection is likely to fall under the control of an executor who may choose to liquidate the collection altogether to allow for an equitable distribution of assets. Selling a collection at auction in the interests of expediency could very well minimize the exit value of many objects. Further, sales of tangible assets will be subject to capital gains taxes at a rate of 28%, whereas items bequeathed directly to heirs will not trigger estate taxes (unless they turn around and sell them).

Planned Giving

Perhaps a collector knows a single piece, or their entire collection would be appreciated by a broader audience. Maybe they have a strong relationship with an institution with the same subject matter focus or that is committed to their same philanthropic values. Having invested much time and capital in obtaining their assets of passion, the consideration of donation and Planned Giving is an important one.

Any major gift can be an effective way of not only circumventing capital gains and estate taxes, but it may also entitle the estate to claim a charitable tax deduction. However, there are limitations to this process.

For example, a collection must be donated to a public charity that will use the items for non-commercial purposes, rather than to a private foundation. This can be problematic in that the terms of the donation may be more difficult to negotiate with a public entity than with a private foundation, especially if it is a foundation set up to administer the collection.

If the desire is to make one’s collection available for the public to enjoy, strict conditions must be placed on the collection to ensure that it remains intact and outlines what can and cannot be done with it in perpetuity.

The Advisory Advantage

In addition to consulting with a financial planner, collectors can avoid many of the pitfalls of passing on their passion assets with the aid of an art advisor who has expertise and experience navigating this kind of conversation. Collectors will inevitably need to have their tangible assets professionally appraised for both insurance and tax purposes. This is when consulting with a team like Art Peritus provides invaluable insight and can help direct collectors in the best way to grow, protect, and maintain their collection for both posterity and financial value.

An experienced consultant for example, may identify certain niche collecting markets that can encapsulate a collection, giving it form and shape for future acquisitions. This type of advisory relationship can help the collector continue to develop their collection in such a way that stays engaging, desirable and true to the passion that inspired them in the first place, whether it is ultimately sold or donated to charity.

An Art Consultant may even help forge connections with viable charities, and otherwise lay the groundwork for legacy giving that will protect the collection and its value once the collector is gone. It is estimated that art and passion asset collectibles comprise around 10% of the net worth of individuals worth $30M or more. Globally, that amounts to more than $3 trillion in privately held assets, nearly all of which have a value determined solely by market conditions.

Collecting passion assets may well begin as a fervent personal pursuit, but what happens to those assets in the end is something collectors truly need to consider, because it will likely affect the development of the collection itself.

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