Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Clanci Jo Conover. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Clanci Jo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
A pivotal project in my career so far involved cataloging the entire portfolio of an artist who is now in her 90s. I was working at an art gallery full time and taking on side projects to expand my professional network when I was approached by a family from Long Island with the special task of documenting their mother’s career. The job involved digitizing hundreds of 35mm slides, scanning printed photographs and exhibition material, transcribing hand written notes, compiling a complete artist CV, photographing and recording details of artworks, and sorting through discs full of various media files. The end goal was to build an inventory database and construct a website to preserve the artist’s legacy for years to come. It was such a fulfilling project, which I took rather seriously given that I was documenting decades of work by an artist who was not only a gifted creative, but also a mentor and colleague to many other Long Island artists.
The success of the project combined with the positive feedback I received from the artist and her family inspired me to take the leap and invest in my independent business full time. Clanci Jo Fine Art Services now serves clients on both coasts, including artists, art galleries, museums, art advisors, and private collectors. I view it as an honor to work hands-on with all levels of artwork, whether it be work by local/emerging artists, the classic Frederic Remington, or a contemporary favorite like Jeff Koons.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
After obtaining a bachelor’s in art history, I moved to Manhattan to complete a master’s in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art by 2018. The program prepared me to work in all facets of the art world and introduced me to leading professionals in the business. My education in combination with years of experience running New York art galleries led to the foundation of my own business, Clanci Jo Fine Art Services.
I provide dynamic solutions for clients in the field of fine art. My specialties include curation, photography, research and writing, appraisals, collections management, catalog and book design, estate planning, and cataloging/archiving. I see my business as a type of “one stop shop” for the art collector or dealer; when it comes to the private client, I tailor my approach to their unique needs, as no two collections are alike. Galleries and other arts businesses utilize my services in lieu of hiring a full or part-time employee, which allows them to invest more of their budget into exhibition planning and acquisitions while still having a trained professional on hand for any needs that arise.
The most important tenets in my business are professionalism and excellence – I want my clients to trust me to be discrete and to deliver on whatever is asked of me. Simultaneously, I believe work is not everything; quality time with family and the ability to travel, gaining new inspiration, is essential to my company culture. By valuing and investing in personal growth, I am able to meet my clients with determination, enthusiasm, and out-of-the-box thinking on any new undertaking.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
An important lesson I am still unlearning is that life has to be determined by work. I have built my business to complement my life, not the other way around. As I’ve mentioned, family and travel are incredibly important to me, so I’ve created a business model that allows me to incorporate those things into my work and vice versa. A lot of my work can be done remotely, which makes it possible for me to travel overseas or take a trip for a sister’s birthday without putting work on pause or having to painstakingly budget time/money.
This doesn’t mean I take work any less seriously – I am highly invested in all of my clients and their own businesses or collections. By letting my non-work interests influence my professional philosophy, I avoid burnout and retain a level of excitement for my day-to-day.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Believe it or not, I have found the best clients through word of mouth. Working with others who have a love for art really pays off – there is a mutual appreciation and understanding between myself and my clients that we are both here, in the art world, because we simply love art and cannot deny our passion for it. Referrals are really important because a new/prospective client can trust they are being pointed in the right direction by a colleague, and I feel confident that they are genuinely interested in my specific expertise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clancijo.com/fine-art-services/
- Instagram: @clancijo.fas
- Other: clancijo@gmail.com
Image Credits
Clanci Jo Fine Art Services.