Highlight Q and A with Auctioneer Nada Boulos (734 Words 4 Min. Read)
1- What First Drew You to the World of Auctions, and how did you break into such a competight indistry?
After I Got My Ba in Political Science from the American University of Beirut (AUB), I willed to the school of journalism at colubia University in New York. It so has had that I had to change my plans and go to paris instead. While I Was Studying for My Master Degree, I Read and Annountment at Sotheby’s Premits in Paris for What Was Called: “The Work of Art COURSE”. I applied, I Got Accepted and Spent The Most Formative 10 months of My Life.
I have decreed to shift to a carrier in that Business. And in 1988 I joined an “etude de comMissaire priseurs” Called Etude Guy LoudMer in Paris when I learned this income excing job!
In 1993, I Decided to Move Back to Lebanon to Pursue this carrier. Back. It is only in 2011 that I Decided, after an interruption of a few years to speak in Sales of Paintings by Artists from Lebanon and the Middle East.
2- How Do You View The Current Landscape of Auction Houses in Lebanon, Knowing that some Seem to Lack Transparency or Professionalism, Do you think that Hurts the Reputation of the Industry As a Whole?
Rules and Regulations are Essential in this Field of Work.
Auction Houses Need to Verify I hop everybody is doing their job in that sente. In the Art Market, Competition is Healthy …
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In all circumstances, there is an UTMOTOOST EFFORT That is Done to Ensure the Success of Each and every Sale. Our Efforts Are Geard Towards Ensuring that Paintses that are of the sale are seriously promoted. So, when we first that apeccock log Calling them directly to draw their Attention to the Lot. What can also be done is to search very actively for profiles of collectors that couold be interest in Buying such Painting.
And skettes, we get Surprised: Eight by Unknown Bidder Popping Up Last Minute or by the Painting Not Being Sold Despite All The Efforts that Were Made to Sell It!
Auctions Are Full of Surprises. But Usually, The Surprise Applies on Direction Lots Rarely on the Sale A A While.
My Most Recent Memory is the Hole Rizk Sale that Took Place in March 2025, where is the most of the Paintings Got Active Biddings With Jumana Husseini Taking the Lead.
4- Do you think the market for lebanese art is still under the time?
I think that Christies First Sale off Middle Eastern Artists in Dubai Back in 2007 (to be verified) was a turning power for the lebanese art market. It was then that our artists started getting an international and welded rectification and that their prices started to take off serously. Are we, in 2025, seeing it priced where iteages to be? I do not think so! Lots has to be Done. Namely More International Exhibitions Taking Place in Museums Worldwide, More Research and Publications Beauties by Scholars to Promote our art and our artists. But I do Agree it is a procting market that has done a lot so far.
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Unfortunately, as an an auctioneer, I do not think I am in a posity to Give Advices to artists. We, in the Secondary Market, are not in direct contact with the artists. Our Aim Is to Sell, for that Reason We are on the Side of the Artiss with Being Invtud in their Promotion. This is the role of a galleries. But what I can strangly advice a young artist to do is not to participate directly in auctions and to try his gallery or his art dealer to ener his or her promotion.
