The Curator’s Eye (www.CuratorsEye.com) spoke with Ann Lesk of Alaska on Madison gallery in New York, which features Inuit art of the twentieth century Canadian Arctic, two-thousand-year-old objects from the Old Bering Sea cultures, and nineteenth century art from the Northwest Coast peoples and Yup’ik Eskimos. The discussion centered on the advertising and exposure benefits delivered by The Curator’s Eye, which Eve M. Kahn of the New York Times recently mentioned in her article on New Antiques Websites as an “older competitor” in the field.

Lesk and her husband were established collectors of Northern indigenous art and regular clients of Alaska on Madison when the gallery’s previous owner decided to retire. The pair “acquired Alaska on Madison two and a half years ago” in order “to keep the gallery going,” Lesk said, out of a love for the art. “The gallery has about 2000 square feet of display space on the second floor of 1065 Madison Avenue in New York, which is a block from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

Immediate and Measurable Results Through Visible Advertising

The added exposure The Curator’s Eye gives Alaska on Madison has been both immediate and measurable. Lesk said, “In less than a year, almost 500 clients have been introduced to Alaska on Madison through The Curator's Eye.” She continued, “A very high proportion of TCE clients is international.”

As a testament to the targeted online marketing provided by The Curator’s Eye, Lesk confirmed that she sees ads placed by The Curator's Eye around the internet while she browses, saying “I do see them frequently,” including “on the website of WQXR radio.”

The Curator's Eye Helps in Many Ways

Lesk detailed the way Alaska on Madison makes use of the clients and client data delivered by The Curator’s Eye. “First, every client captured on The Curator’s Eye will receive a welcome email introducing the gallery and its areas of interest. Second, The Curator’s Eye clients receive our monthly newsletters, which feature our exhibitions and events of interest.” Additionally, she noted a benefit to the gallery, saying, “Third, it is informative to see which pieces interest The Curator’s Eye clients.”

When asked what the gallery’s most popular item was, Lesk explained, “I have two Northwest Coast masks posted on The Curator’s Eye, and they attract more attention than anything else. Other Northwest Coast items also fare well; Inuit, Old Bering Sea and Alaskan items draw a smaller audience.”

The Online Space is Expanding Rapidly

As an enthusiastic adopter of new business practices in the online realm, Lesk believes “the online art space is expanding by leaps and bounds....Clients will browse online and identify pieces that they would like to see in person.” She continued, “In addition, clients with a good relationship with a dealer may buy simply from what they see online, backed by the dealer's assurance that if they don't like the piece in person they can return it.”

Alaska on Madison Emphasises Online Exposure and Advertising, Which Is Why They Chose The Curator's Eye

Lesk finds that “online access has made the entire market operate more quickly and also more transparently; clients have access to auction results, and can compare offerings from multiple galleries with a click of the mouse.” Because of these trends, Alaska on Madison places a strong emphasis on their online exposure and advertising, which led the gallery to incorporate the marketing provided by The Curator’s Eye.

The Curator’s Eye offers specialized, targeted online advertising and marketing services that help private dealers compete in a global art market. To view exceptional items for the distinguished private collector available from the top dealers across the globe, visit www.CuratorsEye.com.