Megan Fox Kelly Elected President of Association of Professional Art Advisors

Today, the Association of Professional Art Advisors announced that it has elected as its new president Megan Fox Kelly, who has run her own advisory firm since 1999 and assists institutions, private collection foundations, and estates. She will replace Joe Houston, the curator of Kansas City’s Hallmark Art Collection, who served a two-year term.

“Joe has raised APAA’s profile as a resource for collectors, and the general public through online platforms and our newly designed APAA News,” Fox Kelly said in a press release. “Thanks to his work, we continue to educate the public, media, and broader art community as advocates for standards of professional practice for qualified art advisors.”

The organization also elected Elizabeth Szancer, an advisor to the collection of Ronald Lauder, vice president; Lisa Austin, who is president of the Miami-based Lisa Austin & Associates, as secretary; and Jennifer Duncan, who is the director of the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies in Washington, D.C., as treasurer. 

There are also three new board members: Gabriel Catone of Ruth|Catone in New York; Patricia Dellorfano, who is the curator of Fidelity Investments in Boston; and Mary Hoeveler of M.G. Hoeveler, Ltd. in New York.

Founded in 1980, the APAA acts as a watchdog that sets the ethical standard for art advisors.

“We are not private dealers or auction house personnel and do not maintain inventories of art for sale. APAA members are independent advisors and advocates on behalf of their clients,” Fox Kelly said in the statement. “We continue to grow our membership and look forward to welcoming art advisors and private collection curators who share our level of connoisseurship, scholarship, expertise in the art market, and ethical business practices.”