www.bencapozzi.com

So, for a while now people have remarked favorably on my taste. They like my home, my art collection, or some other thing I’m into, and it’s struck me how many of them have asked me to help them choose similar items. After enough of these compliments, I decided that instead of my taste always costing me money, I’d put it to use earning me some as well. So I started an art collecting consultancy, Ben Capozzi Visual Art, to put my talents into service outside of my own life.

Ben Capozzi Visual Art

Motto:

“I collect art, and think you should too.”

Location:

Southwest Virginia

Sample portfolio:

Coming Soon

Favorite Subjects:

Old subjects, new styles

professional memberships:

Coming Soon

Current Favorite Art Town:

Richmond, VA

Recent Acquisitions

New pieces in my own collection. Clockwise from top left: Split Obsession print by Angry Woebot; Ileana print by John Kacere, Buff Monster Untitled St. Patty’s (Face - alt) print; Kidrobot 8” Tiger Dunny by Joe Ledbetter

Favorites from My Own Collection

1.Takashi Murakami’s “727” Litho
2.Takashi Murakami at the Pompidou Center “Hiroppon” Subway Poster
3.Frank Miller’s “Dames” Prints
4.Frank Frazetta Original Sketch
5.Justin Nissley “Used” Painting
6.Anything by Buff Monster
7.Tim Biskup “Dragon” Serigraph

What I Do

How It Works

First we talk about what you like, what you don’t like, your aims and your budget. Then I prepare a portfolio for you with recommendations. The portfolio is a printed document with photos and names of artists, galleries, and possibly specific pieces I think you would be interested in. If all you want is the portfolio, I charge you a flat fee and you’re off to find the work. If you want me to arrange for the work to be purchased, delivered, and installed, then I’m paid the flat fee, plus a percentage of the purchase budget.

If you have 8 grand you’d like to spend, I can recommend some gorgeous meditations by Ray Kass, or some steel by Steve Bickley. You’d like unique gifts for friends and family on a small budget? Shack 29, or any other of the myriad print and poster shops, can get you tricked out in style on the cheap. If you’re looking to drop 10 grand or 10s of grands, we probably don’t move in the same circles yet and you’ve likely already got somebody to talk to about investing in art.

I’m just trying to keep people from picking up a poster at Target or Michael’s and putting that on their wall when oftentimes, for the same amount of money or less, you could have something truly unique, original, and expressive of your personality.

What I Don’t Do

1) I don’t represent any of the artists I recommend. I don’t have an arrangement with anyone other than myself, so it’s not like I’m only recommending a stable of artists who give me kickbacks. I just like who I like, and if I think their work fits what you’re after, then I encourage you to check it out.

2) If you’re after flower paintings, charming still lifes, staid portraits, or other bland, conservative recycling of art of the past, I’m likely not your guy. I can appreciate some of these things - talent is always a turn-on - but I look for things with an edge, a twist, or an innovation that I haven’t seen before. I’m not into art that shocks for the sake of shocking, but really it’s the unique that piques my interest.

Having said that, my taste is not your taste and I’m not saying I can’t accommodate. I know some very talented people who make that sort of art and I’m happy to put the two of you in touch, but it’s not necessarily the most engaging thing to hunt for.

For an example of the difference, consider the wildlife drawings of Audubon, and then check out this new book from Taschen featuring work by Modern Audubon Walton Ford. Great talent and conservative subject matter at first glance, but look closer...