Elaine Breidenstein

I am fascinated by modern and contemporary art because of its stylistic diversity, its social relevance and its often surprising forms of expression. It opens up an incredibly broad spectrum of content and form – from painting and sculpture to photography and new media. My work allows me not only to analyse these works from an art-historical perspective, but also to place them in a market context and make them accessible to a diverse audience. This complexity of content and the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of contemporary trends make modern and contemporary art the most exciting department for me.

It is the combination of artistic diversity, dynamic market activity and intensive engagement with individual works that makes my work in the Modern & Contemporary Art department so special. In contrast to more traditional departments, which are often characterised by clearly defined art-historical categories and established market structures, this area is particularly dynamic, open and closely linked to current art events. Every day, I work with exciting artists – from established names to promising new discoveries. Every step of the process, from the initial appraisal to pricing and cataloguing, requires precision, care and a keen sense of how to deal with both sellers and buyers. It is particularly rewarding when our work helps works find new collectors and thus enter new contexts and meanings.

Thanks to my art history education and my ongoing interest in modern and contemporary art, I approach each individual object with great curiosity and care. It is important to me to consider works with equal attention, regardless of their market value or degree of recognition – whether they are established collector's items or pieces that have received less attention to date. I particularly appreciate the exchange with consignors and buyers: the stories behind the works, personal connections and sometimes even little surprises make these encounters very special for me. I enjoy not only classifying the artworks in terms of art history, but also presenting them in an appealing way and creating new spaces for communication – with the aim of making art accessible and passing it on.