The Art Business

David Bellingham interviews Ricardo Gonzales, founder of Art Collector IQ, about building AI tools for the art market. They discuss the origin of the project, the data and technical challenges of cleaning and standardizing auction records, and how AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and others) are combined to produce valuations, artist dashboards, weekly market briefs, and provenance checks.

The episode covers the suite of tools Ricardo has developed—including Art Collector IQ, ArtCheck, ArtGallery IQ, the Cultural Signal, and an iOS app that scans paintings for on-the-spot valuations—explaining how each tool works and who uses them (collectors, galleries, advisors, and researchers). They also explore legal and ethical considerations like hammer prices vs. buyer’s premiums, gaps in provenance (including Nazi-era concerns), and the need for human judgment alongside AI outputs.

Listeners will hear case examples, practical workflow descriptions, and tips for students and professionals on using AI responsibly in art business research and valuation.

Links:

https://www.artcollectoriq.com/

https://www.instagram.com/artcollector_iq/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/art-collector-iq/posts/?feedView=all

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

Host Dr David Bellingham, Programme Director of the MA Art Business, Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, speaks with independent London curator and writer Maria Hinel about building a curatorial career outside commercial institutions and the philosophical threads that shape her exhibitions. They discuss her training (UCL, Courtauld), early work at Skarstedt Gallery, and independent projects at spaces including General Assembly, Shtager & Shch and Hypha Studios.

The episode covers recurring themes in Hinel's practice: the relations between the human and the non-human; language; identity; gender; temporality; ecology and the agency of animals. They explore how these ideas informed exhibitions such as Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Timescapes, Carbon, Carbon Everywhere and The Middle Voice. Artists referenced include Susan Eyre, Amalia Pica & Rafael Ortega, Francis Alÿs, Jochen Lempert, Anne Marie Maes, Kat Lyons, Claudia Losi and Alina Zamanova.

Key points: the dialogic process between curator and artist; staging multi-media shows across project spaces; making invisible forces (cosmic rays, magnetic vision) and animal perspectives visible; ethical and political questions around animal personhood, activism and visibility; and upcoming projects and ambitions, including a broader focus on contemporary Ukrainian art.

Official / profile pages

Website: mariahinel.com

Hypha Studios bio: hyphastudios.com/maria-hinel-2-2/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/4b7b98b9/

Instagram: @mariahinel

ArtRabbit curator profile: artrabbit.com/people/maria-hinel/curator

Exhibitions (in episode order)

Timescapes (Shtager & Shch, 2023) — covered on her FAD Magazine tag page

The Middle Voice (Shtager & Shch, 2024) — listed on ArtRabbit

Carbon, Carbon Everywhere (Hypha HQ, 2025) — artplugged.co.uk write-up

The Pleasure of Misuse (Royal Society of Sculptors, 2025) — her own page or the institution's page

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Hypha Gallery 1, 2026) — artplugged.co.uk write-up

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode of The Art Business Podcast, Dr David Bellingham, Programme Director of the MA Art Business at Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, is joined by leading antiquities specialist Dr Judith Nugée. Drawing on more than forty years of experience as a scholar, auctioneer, advisor and valuer, Judith offers a fascinating insight into one of the art market's most complex and compelling sectors. Together they explore how antiquities challenge conventional ideas of value, ownership and authenticity, discussing provenance research, cultural heritage, collecting, ethics and the valuation of national treasures. Far more than a conversation about the ancient world, this episode reveals what the antiquities market can teach us about the wider art business today.

 

https://hornsbynugee.com/

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode David Bellingham interviews Michalina Maria Franasik, an MA Art Business graduate who now works as Communications Manager for the Treasure House Art Fair in London and as creative director of a contemporary art space in Lodz, Poland. They discuss: Michalina’s transition from business studies to the art world; her use of social media and content creation to learn and make connections; and practical career advice for graduates.

The conversation covers behind-the-scenes logistics of staging Treasure House at the Royal Hospital Chelsea (24–30 June), the role of art fairs in a digital and sustainability-conscious age, and trends in antiques, decorative arts and small boutique fairs. Michalina also describes her work representing Polish artists and upcoming exhibition projects that bridge Polish and UK audiences.

Listeners will hear actionable tips on networking (attending previews, speaking to exhibitors), the value of experience in smaller organisations, and how digital storytelling and consistent, genuine content can open professional doors in the cultural sector.

 

Links:

https://www.treasurehousefair.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalina-maria-franasik-597849249/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kantor-sztuki/ 

 

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode David Bellingham welcomes back alumna Blythe Hogan, Vice President and Senior Director of Art & Collections Practice at Aon Private Risk Management. They explore Blythe’s journey from studying art history to nearly two decades specializing in art insurance, risk management and collection strategy for private collectors and family offices.

Topics covered include how fine art insurance works (scheduled vs blanket policies and retail replacement values), common collector misconceptions, valuation and provenance, emergency planning, transit and storage risks, climate and catastrophe considerations, and the role of technology and AI in modern risk assessment. Blythe shares practical examples and anecdotes, discusses the evolving global market and logistics of works on the move, and offers career advice for young professionals interested in interdisciplinary art careers.

Listeners will learn what to expect in protecting valuable collections, the importance of proactive risk management and documentation, and how leadership and trusted relationships shape success in this niche field.