“Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it.”
— Ai Weiwei
About Us
Ethel and Arthur Furman—founders of Capital Art Advisory.
When fine art dealers and collectors Ethel and Arthur Furman moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in 1967, the art world was quite different than it is today.
Back then it was less developed, more domestic, and most business was conducted with a handshake agreement over a cocktail or two.
Ethel and Arthur observed a gap in the D.C. art scene—an absence of elite art advisory services, specifically those of the caliber found in more established collector communities like New York (where they frequented for business) and Palm Beach (where they wintered). No one was helping top D.C. collectors build and manage their collections.
Ethel and Arthur decided to fill this void. The two combined their passion, expertise, and vast network to advise governments, corporations, museums, galleries, and numerous private individuals. They established Ethel A. Furman & Associates in 1970, one of the first art advisory firms in the D.C. area.
As the art market grew, so did their reputation and influence. With their success, Ethel and Arthur also supported the arts by donating much of their collection to museums and universities worldwide (philanthropy list).
Ethel and Arthur’s legacy continues, as the company they founded remains the premier art advisory firm of the Washington D.C. area.
Our Current Generation
Leo Braudy—grandson of Ethel and Arthur Furman and current owner of Capital Art Advisory.
Leo’s passion for the arts was evident from a young age—he grew up assisting in the family business, which he took over in 2015.
Sadly both Ethel and Arthur have passed away, but Leo proudly carries on his family’s legacy. Under his leadership, the company has moved to NYC where it continues to thrive, advising clients throughout the United States and internationally.
Leo travels to major art fairs and regularly lectures on the business of art, including procuring, investing, and collection management. He is currently working on a book he plans to publish soon about these topics.
Leo changed the firm’s name to Capital Art Advisory to reflect the firm’s roots in the Washington D.C. area. While Leo serves clients in New York and globally, he remains committed to providing personalized service to his client’s in the Washington D.C. area.
Leo also maintains the same commitment as Ethel and Arthur to supporting the arts via philanthropy and local mentoring.
Vision for the Future
The Merge by artist Pak—most expensive NFT sold to date and largest public sale of an artwork by a living artist ($91.8 million).
Leo knows art is evolutionary, and sometimes revolutionary. CAA understands the art market and its ever-changing connections and trends, making it a premier partner for securing the best pieces and best prices.
Recently, the art world has seen the largest overall appreciation of value in modern history. This has led sophisticated investors to turn to art as significant parts of their asset portfolios.
Market data indicates this is just the beginning of a golden time to enter the art market. These trends are driven by several factors factors, including global economies, an increase in the number of high-net-worth individuals, and a rising interest in alternative investments.
CAA helps advise clients and institutions build collections that appreciate and outperform more traditional markets over time. Doing so requires a disciplined approach of studying trends, quantitative price analyses, and spreadsheet level organization reminiscent of traditional finance.
Recently, Leo began advising collectors on blue chip NFTs (more info).
When you choose Capital Art Advisory, you are tapping into three generations of art wisdom and a deep understanding of how the past affects our future.
Arthur, Ethel, and Leo in a lively discussion on the artistic influence of Arshile Gorky.
“The idea is not to live forever. It is to create something that will.”
— Andy Warhol