Philip Hoffman

Spear’s Review

Philip Hoffman launched The Fine Art Group in 2001 after 12 years at Christie’s — where he became CFO at the age of 27. Noting the need for investment- focused approaches to the art market, the firm was the first company to launch a successful $25 million ‘art hedge fund’, which later morphed into seven successive funds.

‘We are the merchant bank of the art world,’ Hoffman says, and the group has now expanded to offer a broad spectrum of services for the art and collectible markets. Offering end-to-end services including art finance, advisory, appraisals, agency, and investment, and with over a billion dollars passing through its books, the firm delivers innovative proposals to clients to provide liquidity, profits and advice. 

The global team now numbers 80 with some 32 ex Christie's and Sotheby's team members, as well as a collaboration with Allan Schwartzman in New York, and a partnership with Patti Wong & Associates in Asia. 

The firm has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia.