What an Art Appraiser Sees That a Collector Doesn’t
A collector’s story is a starting point; attribution, condition, documentation, and market evidence help establish what an opinion of value can support.
Read on Substack →Insights
Perspectives on art, value, collecting, and the market.
Clear explanations and considered observations for collectors, families, professional advisors, and anyone making consequential decisions about art.
Ron Shipmon writes about appraisal, provenance, collecting, documentation, market behavior, art-world power, and the people and institutions that shape how art is understood and valued.
APPRAISAL & VALUATION
Why the Purpose of an Appraisal Matters
An artwork does not have one universal value. The intended use of an appraisal helps determine the appropriate definition of value, relevant market, effective date, and scope of research.
Read more →Insurance Value Is Not Fair Market Value
Insurance replacement value and fair market value answer different questions. Understanding the distinction matters before the valuation process begins.
Read more →What Executors Should Know Before Distributing Artwork
An estate should understand what it holds before artworks are sold, divided, donated, transferred, or discarded.
Read more →What Documentation Matters After Damage or Loss
Condition, prior records, photographs, invoices, conservation history, and market evidence can all affect how a damage or loss matter is understood.
Read more →FROM SUBSTACK
What the Price Tag Doesn’t Tell You
Selected essays on art and the people who shape its value.
SELECTED ARTS WRITING
Ron Shipmon’s arts writing extends beyond appraisal and valuation to contemporary art, artists, exhibitions, collecting, culture, and the forces that shape the art world.
How to Build a Great Art Collection on a Budget
December 27, 2022 · January 2023 issue
A practical guide to developing your eye, discovering your interests, and building a collection without a large budget.
Read Article →Acclaimed Artist Mickalene Thomas Finds Inspiration in Her Camden Roots
May 8, 2025 · June 2025 issue
A conversation with Mickalene Thomas about Camden, honoring women, and making art accessible to a wider public.
Read Article →