SERVICES

Advisory
SFA is an art advisory specializing in modern and contemporary art.  Founded by Lisa Schiff in 2002, SFA serves a select group of dedicated collectors around the world. SFA is made up of experienced art professionals able to assist in every aspect of collecting with the utmost confidentiality and discretion. SFA strategizes all aspects of building a fine art collection, from education and acquisition to installation and collections management.  SFA prides itself on making the art world transparent for its clients, helping them navigate the complex web of relationships and platforms. SFA engages with artists, non-profits, and museums and participates in curatorial and special projects. SFA principal, Lisa Schiff, is frequently called upon to share her expertise and provide in-depth analysis to the press. Lisa makes a point to speak regularly on panels and to engage in public discussions, covering a variety of art related topics.

SFA assists in all aspects of building a fine art collection, meeting each client's unique needs, objectively and with discretion and confidentiality. By drawing on years of experience, long-term relationships and industry knowledge, SFA is uniquely positioned to help collectors acquire significant works of art from both established and emerging artists. SFA educates and guides its clients through purchases from galleries, artist’s studios, private collections, and at auction - both domestic and abroad. SFA staff regularly monitors art schools, fairs, and auctions, enabling us to provide clientele with knowledge of current developments globally.

Collections Management
The life of an artwork necessitates a certain responsibility and SFA assists in all aspects of a collection's future care. From archiving and documentation to shipping, insurance, storage, framing, installation, and conservation, SFA staff will oversee all activities. SFA also manages museum and other institutional loans, donations, or private resale/deaccessions. Additionally, SFA is well versed in legal issues such as droit de suite, authentication, and estate planning.

The Market
Collecting art is an aesthetic endeavor as well as another form of asset allocation. SFA educates the collector on assessing value prior to acquisition and reappraises works as they change in value over time, keeping close track of relevant artists' performance both privately (through its knowledge of undisclosed sales) and publicly (through its awareness of auction sales).

TEAM

Lisa Schiff
President and Senior Advisor
lisa@sfa-advisory.com
One of the leading and internationally recognized art advisors, Lisa Schiff, has over a decade of experience building private collections and foundations. As the founder and Principal of SFA Art Advisory, she has offices in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

 

Lisa is ABD on her Ph.D. in Art History from the Graduate Center, CUNY. She holds an MA in Art History from the University of Miami, Florida, and a BA in Art History and French from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She attended Columbia University’s Reid Hall in Paris where she wrote her senior thesis and completed one year of Law School at the Faculte de Droit de Montpellier. Additionally, she has taught as an adjunct professor of art history, lectures continually, and is regularly sought out for her opinion in the press. Lisa has also curated exhibitions, has mounted four benefit auctions for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, and consults on visual culture for various Foundations. She collaborated with Economic Theorist Jeremy Rifkin on an exhibition called “Open Source: Art at the Eclipse of Capitalism” in 2015. Lisa has produced special projects for artists such as Alex Israel and Doug Aitken and launched the Art & Environment series for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. 



Lisa co-founded VIA Art, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting artistic production, thought leadership, and public engagement. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Swiss Institute. She is also a member of the Women’s Council at DIA. 

Marika E. Kielland
Advisor and Director / London
marika@sfa-advisory.com
Joining SFA in 2016, Marika Kielland launched the advisory’s London office. Since graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in Art History, Marika has five years of experience with non-profit contemporary art institutions; first as Development Director at Independent Curators International (ICI) in New York and then as Deputy Director at LAXART in Los Angeles. As Director of Special Projects, Marika worked on creative fundraising and cultural projects with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and continues this work with the launch of One All Every, SFA’s sustainable production wing. As an advisor at SFA, Marika created the advisory’s European base in London and works on expanding its services in her native Scandinavia and Switzerland.

Francesca Richman
Director / New York
francesca@sfa-advisory.com
Francesca joins SFA after over three years at Christie’s, where she was part of the Post-War and Contemporary Art department, serving as the point person for the Day Sale. Through coordinating several successful auction seasons, she gained exposure to the core art market and non-profit fundraising. In her first role at Christie’s, Francesca supported the International Photography and Design teams. Francesca grew up in Connecticut and currently resides in downtown New York City. She has an MA in the History of Art from the University of Pennsylvania and BA in Art History and Italian Studies from Bucknell University. While attending graduate school, Francesca curated her first gallery exhibition and served as a docent at the ICA in Philadelphia. Francesca has held internships at notable auction houses, non-profits and museums, such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy. 

Aelish Donohue
Director / New York
aelish@sfa-advisory.com
Aelish Donohue joined SFA Advisory in 2021. She was raised in Connecticut and Los Angeles and graduated from the University of St Andrews with an MA in Art History in 2020. Her prior experience includes working for art galleries, auction houses, and non-profits.

Albert Weaver
Registrar / New York
albert@sfa-advisory.com
Albert Weaver comes from a fine arts background, having studied painting at UC Santa Cruz where he completed a BA in Studio Art and their post-graduate 5th Year Program. He also studied drawing and painting at the New York Studio School and has an MFA in Painting from American University in Washington DC. After completing his Masters, Albert taught and managed American University’s undergraduate and graduate study abroad program in Perugia and Rome, Italy as an Artist in Residence. He has extensive knowledge of art handling and logistics due to his experience as Head Preparator and Shipping Manager at major galleries in Los Angeles and New York.