Calling all artists.
1/02/2005
Do you paint? Draw? Sculpt? Is your passion photography? Perhaps you make jewellery? No matter what your discipline, we would be interested in hearing from you.
Our intention is for the exhibition to remain a specifically private equity affair. Although we would like the displayed artwork to be created solely by those people working within private equity, we also want this to be an inclusive event. We have therefore decided to include the work of artists who are close family members of private equity practitioners as well.
The only thing we unfortunately cannot cater for is music. We are aware that a number of people compose and play music in their spare time and although we would very much like to be able to include these pieces in the exhibition, it is not going to be possible on this occasion.
Private Equity International article February 2005.
02/2005
FIRST ROUND
PRIVATE EQUITY AT CHRISTIE'S
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It is often said that private equity investment requires both artistic flair as well as scientific acumen. If that is true, one wonders just how many closet painters, sculptors and photographers are in fact holding down jobs as private equity professionals. A group of London-based investment consultants with a weakness for water colours are about to find out.
John Hess, Steen Villemoes and Marcus Simpson are permanently resident artists at gatekeeper Altius Associates. Much of their free time is spent brush in hand, and it was after a week spent painting Cornish landscapes in the Southwest of England that |
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From Altius’ studio: “Valencia”
by John Hess
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the trio decided there must be other private equity professionals out there with similar ambitions in the field of fine art. If Altius’ in-house artist-to-non-artist ratio was anything to go by, about one in five industry practitioners must enjoy their weekends in front of an easel, right? So why not organise an exhibition of their work?
That was four years ago. Day job distractions at Altius meant the project was slow to take shape, but once George Loudon, the firm’schairman, former chief of HSBC Private Equity and an avid collector of fine art, had pulled a few strings at Christie’s, the auctioneers, contours started to emerge. Christie’s agreed to host a one-day event, and so it happened that in December of last year Altius formally invited private equity people (spouses included) to submit their creations to be shown at the auction house on September 1, 2005.
In the invitation sent to friends and clients, Altius described its expectations for the evening thus: “...an opportunity for those involved in private equity to gather socially in a relaxed and informal setting to marvel at hitherto unknown talents of colleagues and peers.”
The firm is hoping to receive about 250 works from artists in the asset class around the world. Each submitted piece will be shown, and artlovers turning up on the night will buy tickets that will entitle them to take one of the exhibits home by the end of the evening. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to charity: Altius is using the event to raise money for Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, and the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.
So for all the artists reading PEI, now is the time to pull something from your studio and get in touch with Altius. Private equity people at Apax Partners, Quadriga, VenCap International and Helix Associates have already committed to participate. For details, visit the official Altius Art Exhibition website via www.altius-associates.com, or contact Jenny Finlay or Barty Pleydell-Bouverie at +44 20 7838 7673 or +44 20 7838 7651 respectively. |
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