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. The company has now expanded to offer a broad spectrum of services for the art and collectible markets, including art investment, financing, advisory, sales and appraisals. With over a billion dollars passing through its books, it aims to provide its clients advice, liquidity and profits. 

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 Patti Wong & Associates in Asia. 

With its headquarters in London, the firm also has offices in Europe, the US, Australia and Dubai.