n e w z e a l a n d
About Us
Fine Art Society New Zealand was begun as a collaborative venture involving several of the country’s leading art dealers last century.
Numerous exhibitions, auctions and other events have been staged around New Zealand, in various venues, under the Fine Art Society banner over the last 33 years. Our directors have over a century of combined experience operating in the New Zealand art market. Our longevity in the industry has ensured that we have excellent contacts in all parts of the art world. This has helped to make it possible for us to procure and sell some of the finest artworks available in New Zealand.
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We act as agents for artists and artist's estate collections as well as collector estates. Fine Art Society events are staged around the country, including auctions and exhibitions. We also collaborate with both public and dealer galleries in staging exhibitions of works from the various collections we manage.
Valuations are undertaken for all purposes, including insurance, estate and relationship property settlements. Freed from the responsibility of running a retail dealer gallery, we have more freedom to travel around the country regularly visiting collectors, artists and galleries.
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Our home base is now ‘Maungakawa Villa’ in Cambridge, where we also have a purpose-built art storage facility to house the various collections we manage, as well as our own extensive fine art stock.
The People
Grant Bezett
Director
Over 50 years’ dealing in both New Zealand and European paintings, makes him one of the country’s most experienced art dealers. Grant is the Fine Art Society valuer and managing director. He has owned and operated galleries in both Auckland and Hamilton.
Kaye Bezett
Director
Coming from a farming background with a strong interest in the arts. Building her own collection developed a good knowledge of the art market. Kaye has owned and operated a successful gallery in Cambridge. She is Grant's wife and a partner in Fine Art Society as a full-time director.
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Michael Dunlop
Director
Michael joined a major UK dealer gallery in 1974. Arriving in NZ in 1986 he joined an Auckland dealer gallery before taking up a position in a leading auction house. He has owned and operated three galleries in Auckland. His in-depth knowledge is invaluable to Fine Art Society.
Robert Eagle
Associate
Robert has been operating as a dealer on the New Zealand art market for over 20 years. His roles with Fine Art Society include assisting with the staging of events and cataloguing of the artworks held in our storage facility.
Samantha Care
Registrar
Samantha acts as the Fine Art Society registrar, recording all movements of artworks handled by Fine Art Society, while also undertaking the responsibility of clerking at the Fine Art Society auctions.
Crispin Caldicot
Exhibition assistant
Crispin’s career in the arts began at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Still maintaining an involvement in music, Crispin is also a free-lance journalist. He assists with the staging of our events around the country.
Steve Davis
Auctioneer
A renowned equine auctioneer, Steve brings his finely-honed skills on the rostrum to the Fine Art Society art auctions. His experience ensures a professionally run event which is as entertaining as it is successful.
