Exploring Life & Business with Shelli Beermann of Beermann Art Advisory

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelli Beermann.

Hi Shelli, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in South Florida and started working at a local art gallery while I was in high school, continuing there whenever I came home from college. Even then, I knew I wanted a career in business, so I majored in finance and marketing at the University of Miami. But the more time I spent in the gallery, the more I realized I was drawn to the art world but I wasn’t sure what that career looked like.

Everything clicked when I discovered the Master’s in Art Business program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City. I immediately knew it was the path I wanted to pursue. I spent a summer taking as many art history courses as I could and added a minor in art history to complement my business degree.

Spending my early twenties navigating New York’s art world was both exciting and overwhelming and the financial crisis hit just as I was finishing graduate school. I had imagined beginning my career at a gallery or auction house, but instead I landed in the corporate world as an insurance broker specializing in private art collections. It wasn’t the glamorous art career I had envisioned, but it gave me a valuable understanding of corporate life while providing the means to stay in New York.

When I later moved to Atlanta, I finally stepped into the gallery world while simultaneously earning my appraisal accreditation through the American Society of Appraisers. As much as I enjoyed working with collectors in the gallery, I found myself increasingly drawn to the artists. They appreciated having someone who understood both business and the art market, and I loved being able to offer advice to help them build sustainable careers.

Eventually, I joined an artist’s studio as a full-time business manager. Up until then, most of my experience had been on the collector side of the market, so working behind the scenes in an artist’s studio was eye-opening. I loved witnessing the creative process firsthand, but I also loved being the person who made everything else run smoothly. I handled operations, finances, logistics, exhibitions, client communication, project timelines, and the countless details that allowed the artist to focus on creating.

That experience led me to found Beermann Art Advisory’s artist management division. Today, I work with artists who have outgrown doing everything themselves but aren’t yet ready to hire a full-time employee. I become an extension of their studio, managing operations, financials, marketing, logistics, administration, and strategic planning so they can focus on making great work.

Alongside artist management, I continue to work as an accredited fine art appraiser. Those two sides of my career complement each other in unexpected ways. My appraisal background gives me a deep understanding of valuation and market trends, which is especially valuable when helping artists develop thoughtful pricing strategies which I’ve found to be one of the biggest challenges many growing studios face. Being able to combine business strategy, market knowledge, and a genuine love for artists is what makes this work so rewarding.

When I started my career, I thought success meant working in a prestigious gallery or auction house. Looking back, I realized what I really wanted was to help artists build sustainable careers. Every step along the way led me exactly where I was supposed to be.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely been winding, but I wouldn’t change it. Every role I held taught me something that I rely on today, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.

One of the biggest surprises of becoming self-employed was how lonely it can be. I genuinely missed the collaboration and camaraderie of working in an office. To fill that gap, I’ve become involved with professional organizations and nonprofit boards, which has given me a wonderful community while allowing me to stay connected to the arts.

Professionally, artist management is still a relatively niche role, especially in the fine art world. That meant there wasn’t a clear roadmap or many mentors to learn from when I started. Much of what I do has been built through experience, problem-solving, and plenty of trial and error. Nearly ten years later, I still encounter situations I’ve never seen before and honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about the job.

Every artist and every studio is different, so no two days are ever the same. I’ve helped clients navigate everything from insurance claims and copyright infringement to difficult gallery relationships and complex business decisions. While I have an incredible network of colleagues I can turn to for advice, sometimes the solution doesn’t exist yet. In those moments, my clients and I figure it out together.

That’s what I enjoy most about this work. I’m a strategic partner and teammate who helps artists build sustainable businesses, make informed decisions, and navigate the challenges that come with a growing career. If I can handle the business side and provide thoughtful guidance along the way, my artists have the freedom to focus on creating their best work.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At its core, my business exists to fill a gap in the art world. Artists graduate from art school with incredible creative talent, but very few receive formal training in how to build and operate a successful business. They’re expected to navigate pricing, contracts, inventory, accounting, marketing, logistics, exhibitions, and client relationships all while trying to remain deeply focused and committed to creating their best work. That’s where I come in.

There are plenty of resources for collectors and galleries, but surprisingly few people dedicated solely to advocating for artists as they build their businesses. That’s the gap I set out to fill. I partner with artists as both an operations manager and a strategic advisor. On any given day, I might be reviewing contracts, coordinating with galleries, speaking with accountants, managing inventory, communicating with collectors, reconciling payments, or planning long-term career goals. My role isn’t simply to keep the studio organized but to help artists build sustainable businesses that can support their careers in the long term.

One thing people don’t realize is how much precision this work requires. A simple mistake, like an incorrect artwork measurement or a shipment sent to the wrong collector, can have significant financial consequences and damage important relationships. The details matter because every decision ultimately reflects on the artist’s reputation and business.

My appraisal background also gives me a unique perspective. I spend a great deal of time thinking about value, market trends, and pricing, which allows me to help artists establish pricing structures that are both consistent and strategic. That combination of business expertise, market knowledge, and operational management isn’t especially common, and I believe it’s one of the things that sets my work apart.

Looking back, every stop along my career prepared me for this role. Finance taught me how businesses grow. Insurance taught me risk management. Appraising taught me valuation. Galleries taught me the market. I draw on all of those experiences every day.

What I’m most proud of, though, is the trust my clients place in me. I don’t see myself as someone who simply checks tasks off a list. I become part of the studio and part of their team. My artists know they have someone in their corner who is looking out for their business with the same level of care they put into creating the work itself. When they can walk into the studio each day and focus on painting instead of paperwork, contracts, or logistics, I know I’ve done my job well.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is knowing my artists have someone firmly in their corner. The art world can be complicated, and I take a lot of pride in making sure my clients are making informed decisions, being treated fairly, and building businesses that will support them for the long term.

I also love seeing the impact this work has beyond their careers. Many of my clients are parents, and I know firsthand how difficult it can be to balance work and family. If I can take all of the behind-the-scenes details off their plate, it gives them more time and mental space to do what matters most, whether that’s creating in the studio or being fully present with their families.

At the end of the day, my success isn’t measured by how many emails I send or spreadsheets I update. It’s measured by whether my artists feel supported, confident, and free to focus on the work that only they can create. That’s what makes this career so fulfilling.

I help artists build sustainable careers by serving as the trusted business partner and advocate behind their success. My clients place an extraordinary amount of trust in me: to protect their time, finances, relationships, reputation, and ultimately, their careers. It’s a responsibility I take seriously every single day, and it’s the part of my work I’m most proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beermannartadvisory.com
• Instagram: @beermannartadvisory
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelli-beermann-3542a18

Image Credits
Mary Clary
Gracie Eddins