New York–based Acquavella Galleries announced today that Jean-Paul Engelen will join the business as a director, beginning July 1.
Engelen is currently president for the Americas, and worldwide co-head of modern and contemporary art at Phillips auction house, where he has been for the past decade. In 2022, Engelen was promoted to Americas president after having been deputy chairman, alongside his role heading the modern and contemporary art department. During his tenure at the house, he helped Phillips increase its auction sales by 72 percent worldwide between 2015 and 2021.
In a statement, Bill Acquavella said Engelen “brings invaluable experience and an unparalleled understanding of the post-war and contemporary art world to our global business. JP’s executive expertise, institutional and client relationships, and keen commercial insight will be an asset to our growth. His vision and leadership will undoubtedly enrich the gallery’s future, and we look forward to his contributions in shaping the next chapter at Acquavella.”
Acquavella, which is currently run by two generations of the family and was founded nearly a century ago, is primarily known for its secondary market dealings, mounting shows spanning Impressionism to Cubism and Surrealism to Abstract Expression and Pop. Additionally, it has mounted secondary shows for contemporary artists, and represents four contemporary artists— Miquel Barceló, Jacob El Hanani, Damian Loeb, and Tom Sachs—on the primary market.
Engelen’s departure from the auction world comes after the marquee May auctions last week. All three major houses—Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips—held sales that saw considerable drops from the equivalent sales last May. Phillips, in particular, generated $52 million in its modern and contemporary sale, a 40-percent drop from the previous year.
Prior to Phillips, Engelen served as director of public art and exhibitions at the Qatar Museums (previously Qatar Museum Authority), where he oversaw the installation of works by Richard Serra and Damien Hirst. Previously, he had worked at Christie’s for 16 years, beginning in the mid-1990s. It was around this time he first met Bill Acquavella.
“The Acquavella Family has always been the gold standard in our industry as long as I have been in the Business,” Engelen said in a statement. “Their business acumen, discretion, and family values make Acquavella unique in the art world. Now, after five years in Qatar and building Phillips as a serious competitor to Christie’s and Sotheby’s for the last ten years, it is time for a new challenge in my career. We are entering a new era in the art market, and together with the Acquavellas we see a lot of opportunities to continue growing the business. I am grateful for their trust.”
