Matt Bangser, a longtime fixture at Blum gallery and experienced broker of high-stakes art deals, will join Art Intelligence Global (AIG) as senior director on September 8, the advisory firm announced Tuesday. Bangser's appointment brings to the firm a valuable combination of gallery expertise, auction house discipline, and an extensive network built over two decades in the art trade.
Bangser spent 16 years at Blum, formerly known as Blum & Poe, where he played a crucial role in overseeing global sales and securing major estates, including the estate of artist Robert Colescott. During his tenure, he worked closely with prominent artists such as Mark Grotjahn and Henry Taylor. Before joining Blum, Bangser held senior positions at Van de Weghe Fine Art and worked across various departments at both Phillips and Christie's auction houses. From 2017 to 2020, he served on the board of the Art Dealers Association of America.
Bangser's move to AIG follows the recent closure of Blum's Los Angeles and Tokyo galleries last month, when founder Tim Blum announced his decision to step away from the traditional gallery model. Blum explained that his decision was motivated not by market conditions but by frustration with the art world's demanding system of endless fairs, openings, and professional obligations.
The closure of Blum's galleries prompted numerous calls to Bangser, including one from AIG co-founder Amy Cappellazzo. Their subsequent conversations revealed what Bangser described to ARTnews as "a real meeting of the minds about the market." He stated that "joining AIG is a natural evolution of my time in the art world."
Cappellazzo, who launched AIG with partner Yuki Terase in 2021, told ARTnews that she had not been actively looking to expand her senior leadership team, but adding Bangser represented "one of those rare opportunities you don't pass up." She praised his comprehensive understanding of the entire art ecosystem, from artist studios to secondary-market trading floors, and noted his perspective that the current market downturn should be viewed as an opportunity to advance rather than retreat.
"Because he's worked in galleries, at auction houses, and directly with artists, he brings a range of experience that's incredibly valuable—especially now," Cappellazzo explained. Art Intelligence Global, which operates from offices in New York and Hong Kong, provides advisory services to private clients, artists, estates, and institutions on acquisitions, sales, and long-term collection planning. The firm's third founding partner, Adam Chinn, is no longer with AIG and currently heads International Art Finance, a boutique art-lending company.
