In December 2022, Guido Van der Vorst met with a new client in Frankfurt, Germany, to discuss a series of graphic works by Irish-British painter Francis Bacon. The meeting resulted in Van der Vorst acquiring two exceptional quality works by Bacon, and due to the individuals shared passion for art, the collector went on to also entrust the gallerist with a work by Alex Katz on consignment, which quickly sold.
This encounter speaks to the core ethos and practice of Van der Vorst–Art, a family-owned gallery founded in 2009 in the Netherlandish town of Zeist specializing in 20th-century art, specifically that of early Parisian art movements and subsequent generations, ranging from Andy Warhol to Pablo Picasso, Raoul Duffy to Henri Matisse, and more. Built upon a foundation of trust and transparency, Van der Vorst and his eponymous gallery have established connections with collectors both locally and internationally—no small feat in light of the many barriers that often hinder relationship building today, including distance, time, and the rise of online-first discovery of new artworks.
“The trust-based foundation makes the location of a client less of a barrier,” said Van der Vorst. “Meeting via video call, something that became more common after the pandemic, allows us to connect, get to know each other, and share all necessary information and answers on rising questions in a relaxed manner that effortlessly crosses borders.”
Alexander Calder, Black Stalagtites (1975). Courtesy of Van der Vorst-Art, Zeist, the Netherlands.
During the same meeting in Frankfurt, the collector showed a photo of a gouache by American artist Alexander Calder, Black Stalagtites (1975). The work was intriguing both due to its hallmark Calder color palette as well as the fact that the collector had owned it since 1992. There was just one missing element when apprising the piece, which was that it had not yet been evaluated by the Calder Foundation.
The collector agreed to consign the work to Van der Vorst based on their shared passion for the painting as well as a work proposal from the gallery, and in May 2024 the gallerist brought Black Stalagtites to the Calder Foundation in New York City. While a simple authentication would have been ideal, the foundation was able to do so much more: provide the complete historical provenance of the work prior to its acquisition in 1992. Black Stalagtites, now for the first time in over three decades after being in a private collection, is available once again through Van der Vorst-Art. “This achievement is only possible because of the trust placed in us—something we will never take for granted and always deeply appreciate.
Learn more about Van der Vorst-Art here.