Welcome to The Art Brief

A New Direction, a Reintroduction, and a Fresh Look

Hello Again

Thanks for joining me again as I refine the direction of my writing here on Substack. For more than two years I’ve been writing about the art world—art I love, interesting exhibitions, artist profiles, art history, and general goings-on. But what I research, read about, and talk about for most of my projects is art law. So we’ll start to focus more here on the stories behind the art and take a deeper look at the systems at play in the art world.

This Substack started as Art Advisor, and now I’m renaming it The Art Brief: Stories. Law. You.

Having said all of that, this Substack and audience has grown a bit so I’d like to welcome new subscribers and thank the OGs for continuing to support this journey. Here’s a reintroduction.

I'm Beth, and my fascination with art and culture stems from a unique blend of academic backgrounds. My masters in Arts and Culture Management provides a firm foundation in the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic expression. I also earned a certificate in Cultural Preservation and another in Art History while I was living in Italy. Furthermore, I have a PhD in Business Psychology so I also enjoy exploring the psychological impact of art and its enduring influence on human experience.

Extensive travels, particularly throughout Europe, have further enriched my perspective. It’s fair to say that I’m a museum and gallery enthusiast. My professional background started in the military and aviation. These roles gave me a deep look at cultures throughout the world (I’ve been to over 90 countries and all 7 continents) and gave me a growing concern about how heritage is protected and preserved, how artists are supported, and how the art world operates.

My sister was an artist. There are artists in my family and closest friends circles. I’m a hobby artist in multiple genres. Artists are very important people to me, and I believe that the work of art is to tell the story of our world. It’s spiritual. But the “Art World” is a beast, and the business of art is complex.

It all came together for me during a course in Art Gallery Management, when a lecture turned to topics like art transportation, taxes, and Freeports. Something clicked. The mystery. The scandal. The legal questions. The international implications. That spark launched a deeper pursuit. In the past few years, I’ve visited hundreds of galleries and museums, consulted on art projects, co-written two art books, and created this newsletter—originally called Art Advisor.

Now, the journey continues: I’m heading to law school to focus on art and international law, bringing forward my research into cultural preservation, contracts, legal frameworks, and the global complexities of the art world.

Thanks for joining me—I’d love to hear from you.