Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilya Kushnirskiy.
Fine Art Shippers is a fine art services company. How would you define fine art services?
Fine art services encompass a range of specialized and comprehensive offerings tailored specifically for the art community. Fine Art Shippers provides art transportation services, which involves several key aspects. First, this includes art handling by seasoned professionals adept at managing delicate and valuable items, and custom packing solutions designed to safeguard artworks during transit: hand-made crates, acid-free materials, and customized padding.
Second, it’s the shipping itself. I’m proud to note that our trucks are not only equipped with modern climate control systems and suspensions that protect art from vibration and bumps but also have cutting-edge security systems. Regarding transportation modes, we offer various options. Domestically, we utilize trucks and smaller vehicles for individual orders. Additionally, we operate consolidated art shuttles throughout the East Coast (New York, Washington, DC, Miami) and cross-country. This is an ideal solution for those needing to transport one or a few artworks. We also provide international transportation, either by air or sea, working with trusted partners worldwide.
Third, our art services extend to the installation of artworks. This includes hanging paintings, setting up sculptures, and arranging installations in galleries, museums, or private collections. Another service is art staging, which enhances the visual appeal of properties for sale by placing art within the interior.
When people think of art shippers, they often envision museums, galleries, and large art fairs. How do you engage with individual clients, and what are the reasons they choose to hire your services?
While our company does work with museums, galleries, auction houses, and large art fairs, we also offer specialized services to individual clients. These clients—artists, private collectors, and others—choose us for several reasons. One of them is that Fine Art Shippers has over twenty-five years of experience in the art logistics field, making us a trusted partner for shipping art and antiques globally. Our services are particularly beneficial during high-profile art events like Art Basel Miami Beach or TEFAF New York, where we manage all aspects of art shipping and installation. We provide logistics support not only to exhibitors at international art fairs and exhibitions but also to art buyers, ensuring the safe and secure transportation of their valuable artworks.
Additionally, as I just mentioned, our expertise extends beyond merely transporting artworks. The key to our success with individual clients is our commitment to ensuring that every piece of art is handled with the utmost personalized care. This is what our clients expect from us and what we never fail to provide.
You mentioned working with artists, among others. Does your process differ when handling their works? Artists are often very sensitive about their creations, and understandably so. They invest their heart and soul into their art and have a strong emotional attachment to it.
Our collaboration with artists involves moving their artworks to various exhibitions and shows, both within the United States and internationally. Many of the artists we work with have been our clients for years, which is important to us. We connect with them on a personal level. They know they can trust us both as professionals and as people who genuinely care about their work. I’m proud to say that they often invite us to their shows and other significant events as friends. These relationships are precious to us, and we do our best to nurture them.
Now, let’s talk about some practical aspects of art shipping. How do you pack and transport fragile or oversized items?
When packing and transporting delicate or oversized art, the approach needs to be meticulous and tailored to each piece. Firstly, it’s crucial to assess the artwork’s materials and structure. For fragile items, we use high-quality, acid-free packing materials to prevent any chemical interactions that could damage the art. Kraft bubble, special art plastic, foam, glassine paper, double-wall cardboard, and custom-built crates are often employed to ensure the item is immobile within its container.
For oversized artworks, the challenge is it’s not just about packing but also about ensuring the transportation vehicle can accommodate the size safely. We construct custom crates that protect the art and can also be easily moved. This often involves strategic planning for the loading, transport, and unloading phases.
What’s the most common misconception about art shipping, in your opinion?
One of the most common misconceptions about art shipping is that it’s similar to shipping any other item. However, it’s much more than just putting an item in a box. People often underestimate the complexity and expertise required for safely transporting art. Unlike standard items, artworks can be incredibly diverse in terms of materials, size, and fragility. Each piece demands a unique packing and handling strategy.
For instance, people might think that wrapping a painting in bubble wrap and placing it in a cardboard box is sufficient. However, this method can actually cause damage. Bubble wrap can sometimes leave imprints on delicate surfaces or react with the paint or varnish. Similarly, cardboard isn’t always sturdy enough to protect against impacts or environmental changes.
Moreover, there’s a misconception that art shipping is just about the physical movement of the item from one place to another. In reality, it involves careful planning, including climate considerations, insurance, security, as well as customs regulations when it comes to international shipments. These aspects are often overlooked, but they are critical to ensuring the artwork arrives in its original condition.
What are the top three projects that your company has undertaken in the last four years from your perspective?
Our work with museums, auction houses, and private collectors often involves confidentiality agreements, so I can’t reveal many details. I can share a few highlights from some of our recent projects. For example, we transported a multimillion-dollar Joan Miró sculpture from New York to California. We also delivered a Rodin bronze cast to Florida, which had arrived in New York straight from the Rodin Museum in Paris. Our team managed the sculpture’s installation as well. In another notable project, we transported a significant collection of large-scale paintings by Ukrainian artists from the Zimmerli Art Museum to the Coral Gables Museum for an exhibition.
We have international collaborations as well, working closely with consulates and embassies of Turkey, Italy, Australia, Peru, and other countries, and handling the international shipping of many valuable art pieces and antiques for them.
You feature an extensive art section on your website and are also involved in other projects, such as 300Magazine and Russian Icon Collection. Could you tell us more about them?
300Magazine is an online publication born from a profound passion for beauty. It covers a wide array of topics, ranging from fine art and antiquities to luxury items, fashion, and lifestyle. Our content features previews and reviews of exhibitions worldwide, expert tips on collecting and purchasing valuable items, market insights, stories about artists and celebrities, and more.
Russian Icon Collection is a project dedicated to the research and promotion of Russian Orthodox icons. It originated as an extension of the collection of Russian icons established by my father, Oleg Kushnirskiy, in the mid-1990s in the United States. The collection showcases Orthodox religious art from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries created in ancient icon painting traditions. It offers insight into a relatively lesser-known facet of Russian religious painting, a period that was until recently largely overlooked in art history research. The collection has been cataloged by recognized experts in the field. This year, we published a book featuring the entire collection, which received high acclaim from the art community. I am also excited to announce that in June 2024, we will exhibit the collection at The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) in Minneapolis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fineartshippers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fineartshippers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fineartshippers
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fine-art-shippers/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fineartshippers
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/FineArtShippers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fine-art-shippers-new-york
