Meet the Specialist

What do you do at Bonhams?

I am one of three specialists in the Prints & Multiples department at New Bond Street, where we hold two live auctions every year. Our next departmental sale will be in December.

I am also Head of Sale for the upcoming cross-departmental sale, Pop x Culture, which is taking place on 11 November.

Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the auction world? 

I grew up in a tiny village in the South of France, where there very few galleries and exhibitions, so it was my mother who first introduced me to art and her favourite artists through books and craft activities. She strongly believed I should study art and I ended up convinced. My high school art teacher introduced me to contemporary art and even took our class on a school trip to the Venice Biennale. After that, I was determined to pursue a career in the art world, and I moved to London as soon as I got my A-levels.

What was your first job?

In the last year of my BA in Art History, while I was working as an au-pair and in a café to make ends meet, I was also helping out with odd jobs at an art gallery on Saturday afternoons. They were about to take part in the Paris Photo fair, found themselves a member of staff short and, as I could speak French, asked me to come and help. So, from stuffing envelopes one week I was suddenly selling photographs in an international fair at the Grand Palais the next. I did well and they took me on as a Gallery Assistant. No job is ever too small to get you started!

 Name one of your triumphs.

I consigned the signed Banksy Girl with Balloon print in our 2020 Pop x Culture sale. The work sold for £350,062, against an estimate of £120,000 – 180,000. The best part for me was that the vendor, who originally bought the print for £60 at the time it was made, was beyond happy – which is always the best kind of triumph.

What has changed in the business since you first started? 

Since I joined Bonhams 3 years ago, it has become more and more obvious how important the digital experience is for art aficionados and collectors, especially with prints. We have sold mostly online in our most recent auctions, and the Banksy Online Sale in June was, in fact, an online-only auction.

What is your strength as a specialist? 

I am passionate, curious, and I never give up. I sing in a pop-rock choir and our choir leader is always reminding us to perform unreservedly and with passion, even if you’re unsure of your note. That way you’ll not only capture your audience, but you will also have a great time. I apply this in my work too: believe in yourself, throw yourself in every task wholeheartedly and enjoy - it pays off.

What’s exciting you about your upcoming sales?

I’m very excited to be Head of Sale for the upcoming cross-departmental sale, Pop x Culture. Taking place on 11 November, it is a celebration of Pop Art and Street Art, as well as their huge impact on all forms of culture - from fashion to music. As a specialist of Prints and MultipIes, it's a great opportunity to work in collaboration with a variety of different departments at Bonhams, including Designer Handbags & Fashion, Popular Culture, Post-War & Contemporary Art, as well as Modern British and Irish Art.

I am also looking forward to our next Prints and Multiples auction in December. Our first sale at New Bond Street in June this year was a roaring success, a testament to the current strength of the Prints & Multiples market with demand at an all-time high. A wonderful David Hockney iPad drawing from his 2011 Arrival of Spring series, for instance, sold for £125,250 inc. premium - over double its high estimate.

We are currently consigning for both sales, and it is great to be able to offer such a fantastic variety of prints in both auctions.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I make very good (French) pancakes. But really my main hidden talent is as a flag-bearer. I was the “barjaktar” at a Croatian wedding a couple of years ago, a very important role where you carry the country’s flag ahead of the procession and during the ceremony. In my case it also included waiving that flag relentlessly during the 40 minutes journey to the venue.

Which object has changed your life? 

I can’t name one work in particular, but I do know that art has completely changed my life. Visiting the Venice Biennale in 2007 was a turning-point; for the first time I could see art everywhere in a city: museums, foundations, galleries, the arsenal, the Giardini, churches. From Giorgione and Bellini at the Gallerie Accademia, to Picasso, Brancusi, Arp and Magritte at the Guggenheim palazzo and such great names as El Anatsui, Sophie Calle, Tracey Emin and Anish Kapoor at the Biennale itself. It was heaven and I knew then that to fully be myself and feel complete I would have to see as much art as possible for the rest of my life.

Bonhams is now inviting consignments to the Pop x Culture sale and the next Prints & Multiples auction. To request a complimentary and confidential valuation, contact Laetitia at laetitia.guillotin@bonhams.com