Start private inquiry ↗Arushi Kapoor · The Agency Art House
Art Advisory for Family Offices
The Agency Art House, led by Arushi Kapoor, advises family offices on art collection strategy, governance, acquisitions, art financing, art philanthropy and the long-term stewardship of significant collections. We work alongside the family's existing legal, tax and investment counsel as an independent voice on art decisions.
Why family offices need an independent art advisor
Family offices increasingly hold art as a meaningful part of the family's wealth, identity and philanthropy. As the collection grows, the questions become governance questions: who decides what enters the collection, who coordinates acquisitions, who manages the relationship with auction houses and galleries, who oversees conservation and insurance, who handles deaccessions, and who plans for intergenerational transfer. An independent art advisor brings structure, transparency and accountability to all of these decisions.
What art advisory for a family office looks like in practice
A family office art engagement typically begins with a strategic review of the existing collection, the family's goals, and the governance questions that need to be answered. From there, the work typically includes: (1) a written collection policy that defines the collection's direction, (2) a coordinated acquisitions programme across the primary, secondary, auction and private-sale markets, (3) an annual stewardship review covering conservation, insurance, documentation and storage, (4) a philanthropy and loan strategy in dialogue with institutions, and (5) a clear deaccession and intergenerational-transfer framework.
Working with the family's existing advisors
The Agency Art House is structured to work alongside a family's existing legal, tax, investment and philanthropy counsel — not in place of them. Arushi provides the art-specific expertise; the family's existing advisors retain their roles. This separation is important: art decisions are aesthetic, cultural and long-term in ways that are not captured by the family's other advisory relationships.
Confidentiality and the family office relationship
Family office work is, by definition, confidential. The Agency Art House maintains the same confidentiality standard as the family's legal and financial advisors, and the relationship is governed by a clear engagement letter from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
- How does art advisory for a family office work?
- The engagement typically begins with a strategic review of the existing collection and the family's goals. From there, the work includes a written collection policy, a coordinated acquisitions programme, an annual stewardship review, a philanthropy and loan strategy, and a clear deaccession framework.
- What is a family office art collection policy?
- A collection policy is a written document that defines the collection's direction, the criteria for new acquisitions, the governance around decisions, and the framework for stewardship, deaccession and intergenerational transfer. It is the single most important governance document for a family office art collection.
- How is a family office art advisor compensated?
- Family office art advisory engagements are typically structured as a flat annual retainer, with separate fees or buyer's premiums for specific acquisitions. The Agency Art House is transparent about its fee model and discusses it during the initial conversation.
- Can you work with our existing legal and tax counsel?
- Yes. The Agency Art House is structured to work alongside a family's existing legal, tax, investment and philanthropy counsel — not in place of them. The advisor brings the art-specific expertise; the existing advisors retain their roles.
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