Looking for an art-centric vacation focused to your needs and interests exactly? Pinacoteca may be the service for you. They specialize in Curated Art Travel Programs with personalized itineraries for small groups that offer intimate tours and discussions with top curators, museum directors, and art specialists in New York and abroad. We spoke with Anna Di Stasi, the founder of Pinacoteca, about what a bespoke art travel program can do that other travel services can’t.
WHITEWALL: You’ve worked as a Christie’s auction house specialist, a historian, an advisor with a background in Latin American Art. How did those positions lead you to founding Pinacoteca and how has it informed your work there?
ANNA DI STASI: Pinacoteca combines my expertise in these fields and three lifelong passions: contemporary art, the art market, and travel. I relate the history of art to that of collecting, approaching both as symbiotic and deeply intertwined, particularly in today’s global market. Pinacoteca’s foundation is rooted in my desire to provide art aficionados and emerging collectors with an enriching context in which to develop both their understanding of contemporary art and its institutional network. My goal is to help them develop practical connoisseurship through personalized and impartial guidance.
Likewise, working at an auction house is an intense experience and arguably the best training ground for becoming an advisor. It is boot camp for your eye! While my art historical background is vital, my work at Pinacoteca has been informed by the ability to ascertain aesthetic value, to recognize varying degrees of quality, and to price hundreds of works accordingly, all skills learned at Christie’s.
WW: Pinacoteca offers a bespoke art travel program. How does that differ from an art-oriented tour or trip?
ADS: More than a “tour” Pinacoteca specializes in Curated Art Travel Programs defined as personalized itineraries that are culturally enriching. The difference between the two is evident in the bespoke nature of our itineraries. We maintain no pre-departure dates or agenda, preferring instead to work with each client’s interests allowing them to determine key components of their itinerary. From beginner to expert, all programs are customized according to their degree of familiarity with contemporary art.
For example, an emerging collector may come to us with a desire to visit an event such as the Venice Biennial in order to have a bespoke immersion in the contemporary art scene. Conversely, others may request to have an itinerary developed exclusively around Surrealist painting in New York for which we would plan curated visits to landmark collections and exhibitions dealing with art and artists from this period.
WW: At the moment, you’d like to keep Pinacoteca New York based. So who are you gearing this towards, international visitors or young collectors in New York?
ADS: Both. New York City continues to be an exciting cultural destination given its great resources and landmark collections. Yet it is perplexing how many New Yorkers have not yet had the opportunity to experience the cultural treasures in their own city! For them, we have developed One-Day programs that introduce the most important local collections and galleries, which at times may not seem entirely welcoming spaces.
While we are based in New York, we count with an international network of lifestyle and luxury travel professionals with whom we co-develop programs for those visiting other art world capitals.
WW: How are the International programs determined? I see you have some in Spain and Argentina. Are these to introduce collectors to emerging markets?
ADS: Currently, our International Programs include exciting cosmopolitan centers with bourgeoning contemporary art scenes such as London and Buenos Aires as well as those with established cultural traditions like Rome and Paris. While some of our international programs do coincide with prestigious art fairs and biennials, they also provide authentic cultural experiences designed in consultation with culinary experts and the participation of local contemporary art leaders.
One of these programs is ARCO Madrid 2010, which has invited Los Angeles as its host city, the first time a city and not a country takes central stage in the fair. For this occasion, Pinacoteca will be collaborating with the management of ARCO and their International Collectors Program to provide museum board members and collectors with an exclusive agenda.
WW: Can you tell me a bit about the art advisory component of Pinacoteca?
ADS: The art advisory component of Pinacoteca complements the Art Travel Programs that are specifically geared toward art collecting. One of these is the upcoming Art Basel Miami Beach program in December to which we will travel with a small group of emerging collectors.
Miami is always an exciting platform for contemporary art and design but one that needs to be curated given the numerous fairs and social events that take place in five short days. For those who want to leverage their time we offer: a curated selection of leading galleries, access to private collections, invitations to artists’ studios, designer showrooms, reservations at the best restaurants, and parties! Lots and lots of parties!
