A Minute With Todd Levin
I don’t think I have the right to summarize Todd’s incredible career and success in a introduction on a substack post but will just tell you that there is a reason he was chosen by Cultured Magazine as “one of the top 20 art advisors shaping the world’s collection.”
Whenever he is giving an interview or insight, I listen.
Aside from his expertise in art, I loved being able to peak into his world whenever he IG’s from his Frank Lloyd Wright home. Getting a peak here and there of a architecturally significant home in an unfiltered way is always a gift.
If you have time, visit Todd’s site to view the incredible art he has placed around the world.
For our readers and for those starting to have an interest in buying contemporary art, what are some resources you would recommend?
TL: Depending on the client and how much education they have, I always strongly suggest that newer collectors increase their knowledge of Art history. A good general place to start is “The Voices Of Silence“ by André Malraux. Although this book was written in the 1950s and does not address any contemporary movements post-1950s, it is still one of the most trenchant overviews of Art history that exists. E. H. Gombrich’s well known “The Story of Art” and “Art And Illusion” are also standbys that provide a good basic source of Art historical framing. The resources I would not suggest are anything dealing with social media fads, and/or trendy periodical/magazine writing (whether it be Vogue or Artforum).
One thing i’ve noticed about you, through IG, is not only your art advising achievements and collection, but your FLW house. How does living in a house like that match with your career. I guess where I am getting at is most often, it seems a bit rare to have people that are just as passionate about art as they are their home. I love this for many reasons but can you talk about the back and forth between your own personal collection and the restraint needed due to a house like yours?
TL: Although no two people are obviously alike, many of my clients, friends, and people I know in the Artworld put as much thought and care into their environment as they do into the Art they surround themselves with. In terms of the “restraint“ you mention, I’m not exactly sure what you’re getting at - the Art I’ve bought over the past 45 years has been a long-term ongoing collection – I’ve only owned the Frank Lloyd Wright ‘Stuart Richardson House’ for the past five years, and so consider it simply another Artwork in my collection.
What is some advice you would give to our readers who are starting out and collecting?
TL: There’s a lot of advice people offer newer or younger collectors interested in potentially purchasing Art and/or starting a collection. In broadest terms, I feel education is the most important modality - it is something that takes an application of effort over time, and combined with experience gained over time, should result in some level of expertise in a collector’s area(s) of interest. All that should take place before a collector reaches for their purse/wallet to move towards transactions in the market.
Thank you Todd for your time!
September stuff from past guests…..
-Claudia Keep has a wonderful show up that opens tomorrow at Galerie Marguo
-Hasani Sahlele has a show up at CANADA Gallery
-Sebastian Gladstone has a beautiful show up in a temporary space in NYC with Tristan Unrau
-Harley of Castle Gallery guest curating a show for PLATFORM online.