Annual General Meeting, Guest Speaker: François Curiel on 'Art Market and Its Trends'

Auction houses have played an increasingly important role with the upsurge in the art market. Art trends have appeared, changed or shifted in dynamic ways. Supply and demand, collectors’ taste, galleries’ and dealers’ preference, rise of new talents, technology outburst, global economy and media’s attention have all contributed to create this vibrant phenomenon. François Curiel, President of Christie’s Asia, will talk with us about the international art market, with special emphasis on the Asian market.

Speaker

Born in France in 1948, François Curiel began his career at Christie’s as a jewellery specialist in London in 1969. After working in Madrid, Paris and Geneva, he moved to New York in 1977 to launch their jewellery department. In 1989, he returned to Europe as Managing Director and worldwide Head of Jewellery. In 1998, he was appointed Chairman of Christie’s Europe and in 2001, he took over the rein of Christie’s France, while maintaining his other responsibilities. In January 2010, he was appointed President of Christie’s in Asia, based in Hong Kong, and one of the seven executives to lead the Group International Management Team.

In 1996, the Diamond High Council in Belgium awarded François Curiel the prestigious Antwerp Diamond Career Award, given to fewer than ten personalities in the world. From 2001 to 2009, the French Minister of Justice nominated him to join the French Market Auction Authority, the regulatory body overseeing the auction system in France. In 2009, he received France’s most prestigious distinction when he was promoted Officer of the Legion of Honour. Often described in the press as one of the greatest auctioneers of our time, he regularly holds the hammer for sales in Europe, Asia and America. Most recently, he was the auctioneer for Elizabeth Taylor’s important estate jewellery.