A CONVERSATION WITH MARK ROBINOW
AVIAIR: Mr. Robinow, your career path has taken many exciting turns – from PR and advertising to television and finally to founding your own artist agency. Was this a deliberate development, or a series of fortunate coincidences?
MARK ROBINOW: If I claimed I had a master plan from the start, I’d be lying. I spent many years in PR and event marketing before realizing that my true passion lay in art. And once I fully understood that, the right people entered my life at the right time. One of those pivotal moments was my encounter with Gunter Sachs.
A Legend of the Art and Luxury World! How Did That Come About?
His son Rolf introduced me to him in 1995 – a meeting that changed everything. I started working for him and suddenly found myself immersed in an art world that would have otherwise remained out of reach. Suddenly, I was sitting in meetings with star gallerists and world-renowned artists. The way Gunter Sachs understood and lived art was a completely new experience for me. He wasn’t just a collector – he was a true visionary with an uncanny ability to recognize which works and artists would stand the test of time. His network, his knowledge, his fearlessness – it all left a deep impression on me. I learned so much from him, not just about art but about people.
That Sounds Like a Leap Into a Whole New League. What Was It Like Working with Gunter Sachs?
It was an incredible honor. Gunter wasn’t just a visionary collector; he was also an incredibly charismatic person with a sharp instinct for the extraordinary. His passion for art was infectious. He could talk about art for hours – not in a dry, academic way, but with pure instinct. He felt art, and he passed that feeling on to his friends and guests. It was never about simply owning big-name pieces — it was always about the unique, the exceptional.
You Have Lived in Many Places – New York, Ibiza, Munich. Which One Shaped You the Most?
Without a doubt, New York. Those five years, from 1997 to 2002, sharpened my eye and my taste — not just for photography, but also for painting and sculpture.
What Made New York So Unique?
That city is a living organism that constantly feeds you new impulses. The sheer number of galleries, the energy of the art scene — it was an endless source of inspiration. I still vividly remember my first visits to the Chelsea galleries, the endless conversations with collectors and artists. And, of course, the major auctions, where you could witness in real time how the market moved.
New York didn’t just shape me – it changed me. You always had to stay sharp, ready to react to new trends. The competition was brutal — but that’s exactly what pushed me forward.
Photography Holds a Special Place in Your Work. Yet It’s Often Seen as a “Second Choice” Compared to Painting. Is That Justified?
Not at all. That’s an outdated prejudice. Over the past decade, photography has firmly established itself in the art world. Anyone looking at auction results from Christie’s or Sotheby’s can see that photography is now taken seriously as a major art form.
So, a Shift in the Art Market?
Absolutely. Paris Photo, for example, has become the leading fair for photography galleries, and it grows every year. There are now collectors who focus exclusively on photography. And photography has a key advantage: it’s often more accessible than classical painting. Many people can afford a high-quality photograph more easily than a painting by an established artist. That’s why the collector base is continuously expanding.
What Makes a Work of Art Valuable – the Artist’s Name, the Story Behind It, or the Subject Itself?
There are probably ten different answers to that question. I can only give you mine: a work of art has to speak to me on an emotional level.
So, More of a Gut Feeling Than Market Value?
Exactly! The composition has to fascinate – it should either have a unique beauty, a touch of humor, or something you’ve never seen before. Picasso put it best when he told his collectors: “Does the work speak to you? Can you afford it? Then buy it.” And that’s how I approach it as well. Market value is often just a snapshot in time – but true art endures.
What Major Projects Are Coming Up in the Next Few Years?
One particularly exciting project is Ars Gratia Artis, which will debut in Munich in 2024.
A New Fair Format?
Yes, it’s a hybrid between an art fair, a selling exhibition, and a charity auction – a unique concept. Our goal is to bring this format to various cities across Europe and the U.S.
What makes it special? The atmosphere. Many traditional fairs are extremely formal, almost sterile. We want to create a space where collectors, artists, and curious newcomers can meet in a relaxed, inspiring setting. Art doesn’t have to be elitist – it should be accessible and alive. And that’s exactly what we aim to achieve with Ars Gratia Artis.
