The role of the art collector involves an assortment of responsibilities to the works acquired. Due diligence often includes a proper inventory, insurance coverage, professional storage, and quality conservation. Yet, a frequently overlooked task is credible research into an object’s history. It may be ignored because verification of provenance can appear daunting at first perusal. After all, there is no guarantee that you will successfully substantiate claims of previous ownership. Possible leads may turn cold with chunks of information forever missing, especially when works are centuries old. The more antiquated the piece, the chances of collating a complete chain of custody diminishes proportionately. But for those acquiring Contemporary artwork,[i] you have the opportunity to gather primary evidence with relative ease. The key, however, is to act now while memory is fresh, and source material is readily retrievable.

Dusting of Seeds from Kinship series by Crista Matteson, kiln cast glass and clay, 9″ h x 4″ w x 6″ d.This piece is available at Bender Gallery in North Carolina.Learn more about Crista Matteson at her website (cristamatteson.com). You can also visi… — *Dusting of Seeds* from Kinship series by Crista Matteson, kiln cast glass and clay, 9″ h x 4″ w x 6″ d.
This piece is available at Bender Gallery in North Carolina.
Learn more about Crista Matteson at her website (cristamatteson.com). You can also visit her Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNiLPZjAp7M) and follow her on instagram at crista_matteson/
You can fine her current work at Bender Gallery in North Carolina, Habatat Gallery in Michigan, and coming soon to Museum of Glass in Washington.
Image courtesy of the artist.

Although not the most exciting aspect of ownership, taking the time to establish clear provenance is well worth the effort. In the 21st century, documented provenance has become increasingly important in regards to authenticity, legal title, and potential resale. With realized prices for blue-chip works and the ongoing trend to treat fine art as a type of financial asset, governmental bodies are paying closer attention. Remember, the art trade is the least regulated commercial activity in the world – for the time being. As laws and policies are enacted to regulate the art market, “paperwork” surrounding cultural property will become a requirement rather than a pleasant bonus. One method of safeguarding your collection is to obtain title insurance from specialized companies. Another option is to create an object pedigree with factual proof.

For Contemporary art, we tend to be chronologically close to a work’s biography – from the moment of creation to its first appearance in the market, and resulting purchase.[ii] This timeline is likely a short one, making the steps to verify more manageable. Another perk is that these more current works will unlikely experience any repatriation or patrimony issues that can plague antique pieces. However, one of the unique challenges in today’s environment is the element of digital content. Catalogue descriptions listed online may be here today and gone tomorrow. An unintended consequence is that such pertinent data may be near impossible for posterity to discover. Aid the future by capturing transient material before it disappears into the internet ether. Make a copy and save in several formats, be it a cyber-secure system or an old-fashioned printed version.

Nothing Is Sacred is an experimental short film, starring artist Brandon Sadler aka Rising Red Lotus.Sadler brings us into his world and introduces us to The Three, spirit beings embodied as the tiger, the praying mantis, and the snake. The Three dw… — *Nothing Is Sacred* is an experimental short film, starring artist Brandon Sadler aka Rising Red Lotus.
Sadler brings us into his world and introduces us to The Three, spirit beings embodied as the tiger, the praying mantis, and the snake. The Three dwell in the mind of the protagonist in the film, and reveal to him the path to enlightenment. As Brandon travels the landscape of his psyche, each of The Three guide him through worlds of fire, air, and water and teach him the skills he will need to defeat his ultimate enemy. Himself..
You can watch the film by clicking here or visit his website (www.risingredlotus.com).
*Nothing is Sacred* film by Andrew Litten and Brandon Sadler, starring Brandon Sadler, written by Christopher Bolduc, voiceover and translator by Takashi Takemura, original score by Nevr, cinematography and edited by Andrew Litten, art direction by Brandon Sadler, created in 2013.

As a discerning collector, you should fact-check any narrative that accompanies a work of art. A smart move is to begin questioning an object’s origins before purchase. Complications of provenance research accrue with the level of frequency that the property changes hands. It may take a creative solution to compile evidence of its journey. A few initial points of contact in research may include the artist/studio directly, galleries/dealers, auction houses, previous owners, and curators. Possible materials to accompany a piece could be a catalogue, retail listing, invoice copy, exhibition brochure, auction sales record, photograph, artist bio/CV, and email correspondence. You can do the legwork yourself or hire an art professional to assist.

Whatever information you find, make sure to keep all details in a single document and then save in multiple formats. I recommend storing a copy along the item’s verso when possible and not harmful to the work, as well as saving a digital file. Original sources can be archived elsewhere, perhaps in a fireproof file cabinet or a safety deposit box. Another option is to use a cloud-based inventory system that allows you to add records as attachments to an object file, like Artwork Archive. Don’t forget to inform a trusted individual where the documentation is kept in the event that you are not able to access it yourself.

Savvy collectors know that time is of the essence, even for Contemporary art. If it stays in the family, then you ensure communicating a true story to the next generation. Or perhaps you decide to donate later in life; institutions will be far keener to accept well-documented property. You, as one of the early owners of a Contemporary work, have the unique ability to start an object’s legacy. Do the best you can, and reap the benefits for years to come. Consider it a nuanced form of philanthropy for our collective history.

About the Artists

Crista Matteson

Crista is a glass artist whose work speaks of her love for the wild spaces of the Pacific Northwest, which she calls home. Learn more about her work by visiting the artist’s website (cristamatteson.com). You can also view her Youtube video and follow her on Instagram at crista_matteson.

Mario Loprete

Mario is an artist who paints and sculpts in Italy. His works frequently combine untraditional materials to create classically rendered portraits of hip-hop figures. You can learn more about his Mario in Worthwhile Magazine’s interview with the artist, visit his website (https://www.marioloprete.com), and follow him on Instagram at marioloprete.

Nicole Kutz

Nicole is an abstract painter and graphic designer based in Los Angeles. In addition to creating fine art, she is also a curator and featured artist on the art streaming platform Loupe LLC, an innovative company which Worthwhile Magazine has interviewed in the past. You can learn more about Nicole by visiting her website (https://www.nicolekutz.com) and follow her on Instagram at nkutz.

Brandon Sadler

Brandon is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Atlanta, Ga. He is renowned for his public murals and his solo and group exhibitions have brought him accolades as one of Atlanta's most prolific artists. In addition to contributing to the fine art world, he has also worked with several major brands to successfully bring his unique vision into the commercial space. You can learn more about Brandon by visiting his website (https://www.risingredlotus.com/) and follow him on Instagram at risingredlotus.

About the Author

Courtney Ahlstrom Christy is Co-Editor of Worthwhile Magazine and Principal Appraiser of Ahlstrom Appraisals LLC. She has worked with museums, galleries, and auction houses. During her years in the art business, Courtney has encountered many works with fascinating stories behind them, often enriched by well-documented provenance. Courtney can be reached at ahlstromappraisals.com and on Instagram at ahlstromappraisals.

Endnotes

[i] You may be wondering what period encompasses the term Contemporary art versus Modern art. And you are justified in having questions as these categories can be somewhat nebulous. Modern Art is usually given the timeframe of the 1860s to the 1970s. Meanwhile, Tate Galleries describe Contemporary art as “loosely used to refer to art of the present day and of the relatively recent past, of an innovatory or avant-garde nature.” In both Modern and Contemporary art, the shared characteristic is the provocative visual expression for the times that is often forward-thinking in concept and/or experimentation.

[ii] Once a work art starts appearing in the secondary markets (i.e., for resale), following the provenance can begin to become problematic if no documented history accompanies the item.

Provenance Now: Documenting Your Contemporary Art