Inspiring Conversations with Nora Desruisseaux of California Art Advisory

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nora Desruisseaux.

Hi Nora, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a kid, I was lucky enough to grow up just outside of Washington, D.C., home of the National Gallery, which remains one of my favorite art museums of all time. It’s a free museum, so my family got into the habit of visiting the museum on Saturday mornings to see special exhibits, rooms we’d yet to explore, or just to visit our favorites – I was a big fan of their Alexander Calder mobiles (especially his wire fish, which has glass scales all over it) and the enormous Matisse collages on display in their tower. It’s such an amazing place and I loved the feeling of just popping in for an hour or so – that way, no one feels any pressure to see everything. Later on, as a college student studying abroad in Paris, I developed my own half-hour “highlights” tour of the Louvre, including the statue of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Botticelli frescoes, a quick peek at Mona Lisa if it wasn’t crowded, the Galerie d’Apollon to see the painted ceiling and French crown jewels and their indoor sculpture garden. I enjoyed the museum so much more when I just edited down what I most wanted to see and didn’t worry about what I might be missing in such a huge museum – there’s a reason the people who work behind the scenes at the Louvre supposedly get around on roller blades! I think this approach to art – seek out the art that you respond to, and don’t feel burdened by what you think you “should” like or understand – sort of sums up my philosophy on art advising.

Having had a childhood in which art played a big role – we even planned vacations around art exhibitions – I decided to pursue art history in college. I earned my B.A. from the University of California Berkeley, graduating with high honors in 2007. While still an undergrad, I began work at Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. What began as an internship in the fine art department of the estate auction house ultimately grew into a permanent position as department head, where I was responsible for identifying, valuing and cataloging over 500 lots of art each month. Some of it was incredible, and some of it was painted on velvet, but all of it helped me develop my eye and ability to quickly sort out the wheat from the chaff.

A move to Orange County led to an eight-year position as a gallery director, appraiser and consultant for private and corporate clients. I founded California Art Advisory in 2011 and now offer my own art appraisal and advisory services full-time.

I am a member of the Appraisers Association of America and adhere to their Code of Ethics. My published work includes contributions to exhibition catalogs – Michael West: Paintings from the Forties to the Eighties and Andy Wing: Works from 1954-1997 – as well as a research guide for artworks, published by the University of California and accessible online on the Berkeley Art and Architecture library website. I have appeared as an art appraiser on the reality television show Storage Wars, and my art advisory work has been featured on the design website Style by Emily Henderson.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My biggest challenge has been balancing my personal and professional life. Since 2017, my husband has battled recurring stage 4 colorectal cancer, and there have been many stretches of time when he has had to undergo treatment or have surgery. At the same time, he was only 32 when he was diagnosed, so when he’s doing well, we always try to live life to the fullest with our now-eleven-year-old son. Obviously, taking care of my family is my top priority, so sometimes my business has needed to take a backseat, and I do feel as though there have been times when I’ve lost some momentum in terms of building a clientele. I hate to have to say no to taking on new projects.

I’d love to be able to say that this experience has helped me not sweat the small stuff, but I hold myself to a high standard, and it’s still important to me to do things the right way, down to the last little detail. I will say that having tough days at home has made me even more appreciative of the art we’ve chosen to hang on our walls – it lifts my spirits, and I’m grateful to be able to help other families find art that makes them happy and completes their home.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about California Art Advisory?
My mission is to make the art world more transparent and less intimidating. Holding myself to the highest professional and ethical standards, I offer tools and services to guide clients through the often complex process of buying, selling or valuing artwork.

I offer art appraisal services, and while I frequently work with experienced collectors needing to establish or update insurance coverage, many of my appraisal clients have inherited or discovered artworks that they just don’t know what to do with.

They’re faced with questions like: What do I have? Where do I go from here? How do I make the most of this asset?

At California Art Advisory, not only do I produce professional appraisal reports suitable for any legal, insurance or tax-related purpose, I also pride myself on sharing my resources with the public whenever possible. Solving art mysteries ourselves is always rewarding, but so is empowering those who have inherited or uncovered artworks to start to answer some of their questions on their own.

I offer a “starting point package,” which includes half an hour of resale market research for people who need guidance about the potential value of their art before they’re able to decide whether to sell, donate or keep and insure it, and that has proven to be a very popular service. Clients walk away with concrete information, such as comparable sales records, that help them determine the best course of action.

Separately, I offer art advisory services. If a client is intimidated by the idea of galleries and auction houses, doesn’t have the time to track down the perfect addition to their collection, or isn’t sure of the best way to display art in their home or workplace, I can step in to help.

California Art Advisory offers thoughtful, specific recommendations to help clients create or expand a beautiful collection of significant artwork, regardless of the price point. I tailor my process to the client’s preference, escorting them to galleries and artist studios, for example, or bringing art to their home to consider in situ.

However clients prefer to work, I’m here to make collecting art fun – as it should be.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I am a good listener and a creative problem-solver. These traits have helped me assist clients strategize as to how to sell or donate an artwork advantageously, as well as kept my mind open when researching an artwork to be identified and appraised. It’s surprising how many aspects of my job involve investigation and puzzle-solving.

My listening skills have also helped me as an art advisor. I recently worked with a client who was hesitant about abstract art. They didn’t feel as though they understood it, so it was harder to see the value in it, and they assumed they didn’t like it. However, in listening to the way they talked about art that appealed to them, I immediately thought of some abstract artists that might give them a similar feeling. I’m happy to say that over the course of several months, they came around and ended up purchasing several abstract pieces that they really enjoy in their home.

Pricing:

• $75 for starting point package
• $200/hour for written appraisal reports
• Free initial consultation for art advisory clients

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.caartadvisory.com
• Instagram: @caartadvisory
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/californiaartadvisory
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-desruisseaux-b46a1016a
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/california-art-advisory-mission-viejo?osq=California+Art+Advisory

Image Credits
Allison Bernier
Nora Desruisseaux