The Gordon Grand Fellowship hosted a lecture with Amy Capalazzo and Mike Goss, exploring the mechanics of the art world.
Alex Geldzahler
Staff Reporter
Alex Geldzahler, Contributing Photographer
On Friday, the Yale University Art Gallery and the Gordon Grand Fellowship invited Amy Cappellazzo and Mike Goss — two professionals in the fine art industry to explain their respective journeys into the art world.
The event, moderated by Andres Rincon ’25, consisted of both a moderated discussion and Q&A session. Throughout the hour-long panel, Goss, Cappellazzo and Rincon explored subjects ranging from the future of the contemporary art world to the day-to-day schedules of art sellers and consultants.
“These are people who are interested in creating a story for themselves through art,” Rincon told the News. “It’s a thing of passion and that’s what drives a lot of these people and drives a lot of those big collections.”
The Gordon Grand Fellowship, which was responsible for the event, was created in honor of Gordon Grand Jr. ’38, and supports a member of the current graduating class to travel, research and work — either domestically or abroad — for up to a year after graduation.
The conversation was divided into three distinct categories: Cappellazzo and Goss’s respective beginnings in the art world, the relationship between the art and business sectors and the future of the industry and in contemporary art.
According to Rincon, Cappellazzo and Goss are “extremely well-versed” in their field.
“What, at the end of the day, matters in this part of the humanities or the commercials, is that there’s a curiosity to learn more, a curiosity to understand why kind of art is so important,” said Rincon.
Cappellazzo and Goss, who are partners at Art Intelligence Global, founded by Cappellazo and Hong Kong-based art consultant Yuki Terase, have their own unique journeys to becoming deeply engaged in the art world.
Before founding AIG, Cappellazzo had spent decades in the art world as a part of Art Agency Partners, which was acquired by Sotheby’s. Goss transitioned to the art world “fairly late in life,” after working in finance as the chief operating officer and managing director at Bain Capital and chief financial officer at Sotheby’s.
Cappellazzo referred to the work of examining art and advising potential buyers and sellers as “deal hygiene.”
“It’s a work of art they’re going to live with and hang on their wall and enjoy, but the sum of money that’s being paid for it means we better behave as if we have a greater fiduciary duty to do the absolute I-dotting, T-crossing aspect of what needs to be done,” said Cappellazzo. “I think we are extraordinary in our deal hygiene.”
Both speakers elaborated on various aspects of the art world that would not be otherwise obvious to those outside of the field. They described, through the use of infographics, the art world as an almost “self-contained organism.”
They also discussed the elements of good advising within the art world, explaining the balance between finding something a client may want to purchase and working to save them from a bad deal.
They also enumerated their different roles in assisting various agents within the art trade. Cappellazzo works with a buyer and seller until they agree on a price; then, Goss steps in to iron out the rest of the details regarding the actual purchasing and legalese of the transaction.
Cappellazzo said that working in the art world shifted her “aesthetic horizon,” as well as her perceptions of certain artists. Both speakers also spoke on the evolution of the art world over time and the difference between merely buying art and growing to love it.
“After being at Sotheby’s, I really got the bug for art,” said Goss. “I can tell you, even though finance people have the benefit of being able to go to a lot of industries, some are more fun than others … It’s intellectually stimulating, and you’re learning, and you’re around a bunch of bright people.”
After the moderated discussion, the event shifted into a Q&A session, during which audience members could voice their own curiosities about life in the art world.
Responding to questions, Cappellazzo elaborated on the dynamic landscape of the art world and how the major “art capitals” continue to change and differ. New York and Hong Kong have emerged as new preeminent spaces for collecting and distributing art, she said.
Nearing the end of the hourlong event, Cappellazzo and Goss were asked what advice they had for those seeking careers in the art business world.
Cappellazzo highlighted the benefits of “trying new things” and being “bold in experimenting” before becoming dead-set on a specific career path. Goss emphasized the importance of communication skills and the utility of “persuasive communication.”
Art Intelligence Global was founded in 2021.
