Editor’s Note: This story is part of the journalist, and it’s a new one Artnews For the series, we interviewed porters and shakers who changed in the art world.
The mission of two London galleryists is to inject more purposes, perspectives and patrons into their collections, which they say has become “overly traded”. Alice Black, the founder of her gallery of the same name, and Tatiana Cheneviere, founder of Pipeline Gallery, recently launched Black + Cheneviere (B + C), a new art consultancy that they say “provides a bold alternative to traditional art consultancy.” The two hope to encourage collectors to align their purchases with their personal value by promoting slower, more measured ways of building collections. For some buyers, this may mean developing a patronized mindset, “a purchase that originates from continuous, interrelated, rather than short-lived, is the length of the weapon.”
The B+C launch is because the art market is still struggling during a two-year correction, many dealers told Artnews That collector is becoming increasingly picky in what is called the “buyer market.” In short, there seems to be a lack of urgency as collectors take the time to make more measured decisions while working harder to negotiate prices more and more, and keeping higher prices over the past decade or so. As the dealer jointly wrote via email, the spirit of B+C fits with this approach.
Artnews:B+C introduces “a fresh, value-driven collection method that prioritizes artist participation, curation depth and long-term cultural influence.” Do you think art collection loses its values, artist participation, curation depth and long-term cultural influence? Is B+C an antidote?
B+C: The art world is undergoing a quiet transformation. The old boundary line is being re-painted – between artists and collectors, institutions and audiences. In this ever-changing landscape, B+C represents part of a new generational movement in a more positive value-led form of participation. It emerged from a period when art collection became increasingly more and more, and dialogue focused on the art market rather than in its more fulfilling, more comprehensive sense of the art world. Although collectors play a central role in maintaining and shaping cultures, in recent years they have often positioned it at the distance of disinfection, often removed from the creative act itself. Like any ecosystem, the health of the art world depends on active, interconnected participants at all levels who feel purpose and agency in their roles. As short-term speculators leave, we witness the swing of swings, a market correction that opens up space for a new type of art participant. B+C attempts to restore the direct connection between artists, artworks and collectors to bring them closer to the creative process and help foster a deeper form of engagement that is slower, more considerate and human and art-centric, treats art as a life experience rather than just a leveraged asset.
The announcement from B+C states that your background in your gallery business allows you to “invite” The collector will align the acquisition with personal value” and encourage “A slower and more intentional way of collecting architecture.” Why is this?
As gallerists and mediators, we are particularly suited to the conversations that take place between artists and collectors. We are used to interacting with the art world (artists), and we are passionate about the collection going back to the heart of things. Today’s collectors are already far from the source of artists and collections, and as consultants to galleryists, we have a unique place to correct this goal. Our respective galleries are open compared to the historical period when the art market booms, and this has always been about pushing cultural capital toward commercial capital, which requires a long-term perspective. This journey of art has a great reflection of our times and we intend to share it with similar art collectors.
Do you think too much art advice encourages transaction collection?
The nature of contemporary art makes art a commodity, which paves the way for picky collections, which is sometimes very speculative. People don’t necessarily encourage people to buy what touches them and talk to them on a personal level. Many consultants only offer collection of buildings. We offer more by considering how other collectors can support artists, galleries and institutions. B+C encourages independent thinking, individualism and curiosity. It tries to get rid of homogeneous collections, but instead focuses on intentional, value-driven approaches that reflect individual beliefs and interests. It’s not just about getting a job, it’s about collecting it with a purpose.
Did your consultation start time reflect the current health of the art market? People keep telling me that collectors are becoming more considerate and selective and spend more time buying.
People are slowing down and becoming more conscious, looking for ways to participate in slower markets. People have a sense of inventory and reflection on the intention behind the collection, and ask important questions about driving it. Like any market correction, we have to step on and listen. People have had enough of constant PDFs and art exhibitions to find meaning in it. B+C provides a strong foundation for the collector’s ecosystem, and a more intentional role is more than just buying and selling.
How will you reflect the new project Art+Apitivo, a slower philosophy of B+C?
Art+Aperitivo is our opportunity to understand the community values we engage with through meaningful conversations and accessibility. Each gathering will be combined with a curated gallery tour or studio visit with a salon-style aperitif to provide a relaxed and insightful way to experience art while building a vibrant, dedicated community with like-minded people. The art world has become a closed race. Many possible participants found it difficult to access. We intend to open these hidden corners and closed doors.
What are the challenges of building art consulting in today’s sluggish art market?
Our model relies on collectors who are not only chasing the market. We invite collectors to consider not only the benefits they want from their interactions with the art, but also the contributions they are willing to make.
How do you plan to encourage collector sponsorship?
Black + Cheneviere invites collectors to consider what they care about – their values, the problems of moving them, and how art becomes the lens to explore them. For some, this will be an opportunity to interact with artists in a way that supports their practice, whether that means contributing to production or studio costs, sponsoring new projects, or providing direct support outside of traditional gallery systems. It may include developing a patronized mindset – a purchase rooted in persistent, interrelated rather than transient, is the length of the weapon. We want to develop a culture that encourages more sponsoring mindsets, and sometimes these doors have to be open to allow you to even see what is possible. This is an opportunity for us to jointly define our typical art of the 21st century. We think this is a compelling claim.
