Art Concierge — guides to buy, sell and collect contemporary art
Art Concierge
- CDMX
- --:--
- NY
- --:--
- LON
- --:--
- TOK
- --:--
Notes on finding, buying and living with art, from the gallery.
Contemporary art
The latest from the gallery’s desk.
What is inside the price of a work of art
What the price of a work of art includes at a gallery: who it pays, what comes with the work, what is quoted apart and what a discount tells you.
Unique or edition? Both are the real thing
Is a print in an edition of ten a real work of art? Yes. The difference between a unique work, an edition and a reproduction, in one coffee.
What a gallery’s commission pays for
What commission does an art gallery charge? Usually a share of the sale, never a fee. What that share pays for and what to agree in writing.
Painting
Oil, acrylic and what a hand leaves on a surface.
Also for sale
ReadBuying your first work of art, without the nervesDisplaying art in your home: height, light, walls and the mistakes that damage worksHow to build an art collection that means something
Works on paper
Drawing, watercolour, ink: the closest thing to an artist’s handwriting.
- Composición 03/10Pedro Tombo Lomboy
- Simulación IICocó Santibáñez Aránguiz
- Nunca he comprado nada en IkeaMariana Tof
- Rápido y EternoSofía Acosta
ReadShipping, storing and insuring art: what a collector should demandDisplaying art in your home: height, light, walls and the mistakes that damage worksHow to search for affordable art without buying badly
Prints and editions
More than one, each of them an original.
Castillo DesdénJuanna Pedro · Print on Canvas Fabric, 2023
ItzelMilka Goldaracena · Printing on bamboo sheet, 2025
L154680Andrea Wolf · Lenticular print of botanical illustration digitally manipulated with pixel-sorting algorithm, 2024
La Tianguis Sexo Disidente IIObvioquesi · Digital printing on transparent self-adhesive PVC and mounted on semi-rigid transparent PVC mica, 2022- L463218 (Lilium auratum / Lirio de montaña)Andrea Wolf · Lenticular fine art print of a digitally manipulated image created through a pixel-sorting algorithm., 2025
guide
Unique or edition? Both are the real thing
Is a print in an edition of ten a real work of art? Yes. The difference between a unique work, an edition and a reproduction, in one coffee.
Is it original? Three things to look at before you fall in love
Contemporary sculpture
Works that ask for room, and give it back.
- ATLMarcos Sánchez · Opaline plastic, PVC couplings, Neopixel LED strip
- Todo evento comprende su tiempoValentina Guerrero · Marbled glass with copper foil and magnifying lenses. Articulated steel support arm.
- UntitledMaría Rébora · Ceramic
ReadShipping, storing and insuring art: what a collector should demandDisplaying art in your home: height, light, walls and the mistakes that damage works
Video and new media
Art that happens in time.
- Reel 01ATLMarcos Sánchez
- Reel 02Queda en lo íntimoCocó Santibáñez Aránguiz
- Reel 03The EndGianfranco Foschino
- Reel 04Todo evento comprende su tiempoValentina Guerrero
- Reel 05Weather Has Been NiceAndrea Wolf
- Reel 06Casa del Lago UNAM (Mexico City)Camilo Ángeles
ReadIs it original? Three things to look at before you fall in loveWhat is an emerging artist? Definition, the signals that matter, and how to collect one
Art certificates of authenticity
Every work that leaves the gallery leaves with its certificate: what it says, and how to read one.
Every work that leaves the gallery leaves with its certificate: what it says, and how to read one.
Verify a certificate →Unique or edition? Both are the real thing
Is a print in an edition of ten a real work of art? Yes. The difference between a unique work, an edition and a reproduction, in one coffee.
Is it original? Three things to look at before you fall in love
How to tell if a work of art is original without being an expert: who answers for it, what paper comes with it and how to check it in a minute.
The certificate that travels with your work
What comes with a work from our gallery: a certificate signed by the artist, the gallery and you, that anyone can check and that moves with the work.
How to protect yourself from art scams: the seven patterns and the one habit that defeats them
Fake galleries, invented artists, “investment” editions, overpayment tricks and pressure to pay in crypto. The seven scams we see and the single habit that stops all of them.
Art advisory for collectors
For the first work and for the fortieth.
What is inside the price of a work of art
What the price of a work of art includes at a gallery: who it pays, what comes with the work, what is quoted apart and what a discount tells you.
Buying your first work of art, without the nerves
Your first original work of art, without the nerves: what it really costs, how to choose, three questions to ask and what arrives with it.
How to protect yourself from art scams: the seven patterns and the one habit that defeats them
Fake galleries, invented artists, “investment” editions, overpayment tricks and pressure to pay in crypto. The seven scams we see and the single habit that stops all of them.
Why a gallery sometimes asks for your ID
Why an art gallery sometimes asks for an ID when you buy: when it happens, what is asked, what happens to it and what a gallery should never ask.
What is an emerging artist? Definition, the signals that matter, and how to collect one
An emerging artist is in the first decade of a professional practice, with a body of work, a first gallery and prices that reflect that stage. What the term means, the five signals we read, and how to collect one well.
Understand the art market: primary, secondary and where prices come from
The art market is two markets with different rules. How primary and secondary prices are set, what galleries, fairs and auctions each do, and how to read a price.
Sale and consignment of works of art
For artists and for collectors who want to pass a work on.
- No. 01
What is inside the price of a work of art
What the price of a work of art includes at a gallery: who it pays, what comes with the work, what is quoted apart and what a discount tells you.
- No. 02
What a gallery’s commission pays for
What commission does an art gallery charge? Usually a share of the sale, never a fee. What that share pays for and what to agree in writing.
- No. 03
Thinking of selling a work of art? Three ways to do it in Mexico
Three ways to sell a work of art in Mexico, what to have at hand and how the price is found. A gallery’s short guide, without the fine print.
- No. 04
Marketing for artists who would rather paint
A short course by Olena Yara on brand, pricing, Instagram and email for artists, and a discount code for the readers of the Concierge.
- No. 05
Art and taxes: the short, calm version
Taxes on art in plain words: what shows on the invoice, what happens when a work crosses a border and what to keep if you ever sell it.
- Sale and consignment of works of artSell through the gallery →
Auction house
The second market, brokered by the gallery: offers, private sales and how the market moves.
Art and taxes: the short, calm version
Taxes on art in plain words: what shows on the invoice, what happens when a work crosses a border and what to keep if you ever sell it.
Why a gallery sometimes asks for your ID
Why an art gallery sometimes asks for an ID when you buy: when it happens, what is asked, what happens to it and what a gallery should never ask.
What is an emerging artist? Definition, the signals that matter, and how to collect one
An emerging artist is in the first decade of a professional practice, with a body of work, a first gallery and prices that reflect that stage. What the term means, the five signals we read, and how to collect one well.
Where art sells: a short tour of the market
The art market by region, in a short tour: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Mexico and Latin America, and what it means if you collect from home.
all the guides, by date
- 9 Oct 2026What is inside the price of a work of art
- 6 Oct 2026Unique or edition? Both are the real thing
- 3 Oct 2026What a gallery’s commission pays for
- 3 Oct 2026Thinking of selling a work of art? Three ways to do it in Mexico
- 3 Oct 2026Is it original? Three things to look at before you fall in love
- 3 Oct 2026Buying your first work of art, without the nerves
- 2 Oct 2026The certificate that travels with your work
- 1 Oct 2026Marketing for artists who would rather paint
- 29 Sept 2026Art and taxes: the short, calm version
- 25 Sept 2026How to protect yourself from art scams: the seven patterns and the one habit that defeats them
- 22 Sept 2026Shipping, storing and insuring art: what a collector should demand
- 18 Sept 2026Displaying art in your home: height, light, walls and the mistakes that damage works
- 16 Sept 2026Why a gallery sometimes asks for your ID
- 15 Sept 2026What is an emerging artist? Definition, the signals that matter, and how to collect one
- 11 Sept 2026Where art sells: a short tour of the market
- 9 Sept 2026Understand the art market: primary, secondary and where prices come from
- 8 Sept 2026How to search for affordable art without buying badly
- 4 Sept 2026How to build an art collection that means something
- 2 Sept 2026What is an art certificate, and what should yours say?
- 1 Sept 2026How to start buying art: a collector’s first five decisions
first conversation
Book a consultation
Thirty minutes by video with the gallery to understand what you want to live with, your range, and how we could help. Choose a time; we confirm within one working day.
- office@avant.dev
- Based in
- Mexico City · Geneva · London