It is unsurprising that amidst the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first few months of the year saw the art market largely grind to a halt. TEFAF Maastricht, the first major art fair of the year, took place in early March by which time northern Italy was already in crisis mode; with a much reduced attendance, the fair was cut short after an exhibitor tested positive for the virus. Fast forward a few months, and the art world is adapting to the new normal; museums and galleries have begun to open with appointment bookings and masks the norm, while the auction calendar has filled up once again, albeit with a focus on online sales. So what does this mean for the value of art and antiques?
Charlie Horne
President
New York
Charlie Horne, President of Gurr Johns, has a diverse senior management background specializing in fast developing companies, primarily in specialized business services. In 2010 Charlie was recruited into Philips de Pury by the company’s Chairman, CFO and President to create a corporate infrastructure and stable environment for the company’s headquarters in New York and London. He guided the auction house through one of the largest downturns in the art market and helped to prepare and participate in the sale of the company to the Russian luxury holding company, Mercury Group. From 2003 – 2008 Charlie spent five years growing a small business service company into a major regional player in the furnished apartment business space. This was highlighted by growth into three new markets and acquisition of major clients such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. From 1999 – 2002 Charlie worked at Regus Business Centre, the largest global provider of furnished offices, where he quickly rose to Area Director of Greater China, a key region in their global growth. Earlier in his career, he was the New York Specialty Sales Manager at Starbucks, where he played a key role in their global partnership with Barnes & Noble and Delta Airlines. Charlie received his Bachelor of Art from St. Mary’s College in 1989.