Open VISIONS Forum: Espresso - Aviva Lehmann - Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 PM

Free virtual event; Tune in by visiting www.thequicklive.com.

For decades, many curators and collectors have categorized Illustration Art qualitatively apart from American Art. Today, a Norman Rockwell painting may sell for more than an Edward Hopper oil! Considering how many artists during the “Great Age of Illustration” planted their families and studios here in Connecticut, this program is especially relevant to local art history. With a rising interest in the illustration market, more obscure illustrators are rising to stardom, and categories such as Pin-Up, Pulp, and Commercial Advertisement are seeing dramatic increases in demand – and in value. Aviva Lehmann will break down the categories of Illustration Art, discussing the evolution of this marketplace and the rising stars within the genre. Join us for a fascinating presentation as Lehmann explains the who, what, and how of the broader trends of the auction market for American masters – from Rockwell to Rothko.

Aviva Lehmann joined Heritage in January 2013 after 14 years in the auction industry. With more than 20 years of in-depth knowledge and experience in American Art, she holds a broad interest in all aspects of the field. Aviva previously served as vice president, specialist in the American Art department at Christie's, where she was instrumental in establishing dozens of auction records in virtually every category of American Art. While directing their mid-season auctions in 2004-06 she doubled the value of these sales. Aviva lectures on American Art at museums and institutions throughout the country. She also serves as an adjunct professor of appraisals and valuation in the Art Administration Master's Program at New York University. As an expert on the art market, Aviva has been a contributor to broadcast television shows on Fox News and Bloomberg. Prior to her tenure at Christie's, Aviva worked for two years as assistant curator of Judaica at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Ms. Lehmann graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in art history from Yeshiva University.