Auction House Appoints Asian Art Experts For NYC, Tokyo Roles

Tom Burroughes

4 December 2015

International auction house Bonhams has made two senior appointments to its art teams, both of whom carry expertise about the Asia art world.

Ingrid Dudek joins as department director of Bonhams’ Modern and Contemporary Art, Asia and will be based in Madison Avenue in New York from February 2016. Dudek will be responsible for building the consignment and buyer base in the US for the Hong Kong sales of Modern and Contemporary Art. She is also going to be responsible for growing the consignment and buyer base in Asia for Post-War and Contemporary Art sales in New York.

Previously, Dudek worked at rival auction house Christie’s, where she was vice president and international senior specialist in Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art from 2006-2015.

In the second appointment, Ryo Wakabayashi has joined the firm as senior specialist – Modern and Contemporary Art, Asia. Wakabayashi will be based in Bonhams’ Tokyo office with immediate effect.

Prior to joining Bonhams, Wakabayashi worked at Mizuma Art Gallery, the Japanese contemporary art gallery, where he held senior positions since 2001. He was appointed CEO in 2007. Wakabayashi has been a consultant for several international Asian auction houses.

Among other senior moves in the global auction business this year, Sotheby's in March appointed Tad Smith as chief executive. He will take on the role from 31 March, replacing William Ruprecht, who has served in the post since 2000.