A Conversation With Hans van Enckevort

How did your journey into art begin, and what led to the creation of ARTITLEDcontemporary?

My journey into art began in 2001. I was working for Ahrend Office Furniture in Arnhem in the Netherlands when one day an art dealer and gallery owner from Venice visited our showroom. He purchased some furniture for his gallery and then offered me a job to run it at the end of our meeting. After seven years working at the gallery, which specialised in glass sculptures, and after having learned all facets of the art world by participating in many art fairs for this gallery all over the world, I decided to open my own space. I also did this because being away from home and my wife and children became increasingly difficult. In 2008, I started ARTITLEDcontemporary in a small village close to my hometown with a strong focus on photography as this is where my passion was, and still is. My goal was and is to represent the artists of our gallery exclusively for Europe and the United Kingdom and to participate in many art fairs in Europe and the United Kingdom to actively find not only Dutch but international collectors too.

ARTITLEDcontemporary showcases some truly outstanding and impactful pieces. What do you look for in the artists and photographers you represent in the gallery? What is your process when seeking new artists?

The most important thing for me is the ‘gut feeling’ when looking for artists to represent through our gallery. I am always looking for butterflies in my stomach as when I have a true passion for an artwork, I don’t need to sell the work but merely share the passion. I am often told that the collectors can feel the passion when I talk about an artwork and that it does not feel that I am trying to sell the work. We find our artists mainly online, and by visiting art fairs and artists’ studios. We are also often contacted by artists searching for representation through our gallery. We try to find a certain variety and balance in our selection of artists and artworks.

For most artists, nobody can predict their future or the rise in value of their works as this will depend on many aspects. If the price matches the budget and the passion for the work, that is by far the most important thing for collectors. If a work is at a higher price level, then the collector may also consider the artwork as an investment and the gallery needs to explain the price level and expectations for the future. After sixteen years, I still enjoy the idea of a collector passing by our stand during an art fair and instantly falling for an artwork on our wall. It’s the first moment of confusion which builds towards the realisation of having fallen in love with the artwork. This is exactly how my wife and I select the artworks for our private collection and without this mutual feeling, we do not make a purchase.

ARTITLEDcontemporary participates in art fairs all over the world. How does your presence at these fairs impact your business? How do fairs facilitate the sale of pieces compared to other channels such as online or shopfronts?

We strongly believe in the fact that one needs to see the artwork in person to experience it in the right way. The feeling of standing in front of the artwork on the wall can’t be matched, and looking at it online just doesn’t measure up. There are so many details that can only be seen in reality, and also, one needs to experience the full artwork including the presentation and framing of the work. We try to present the artworks as clearly as possible on our website including an installation view, but we prefer to show the works to the collectors in reality.

What is it like working with Designed by Woulfe? Explain the creative and collaborative process to ensure the pieces fit the vision and aesthetic of the space?

Working with Designed by Woulfe, and specifically with Brian Woulfe, is a great pleasure. Brian has a vibrant personality and a strong passion for beautiful things, so he can share his passion for certain artworks with his clients. He is a true, no-nonsense professional and I can strongly state that he has great taste and the right eye to find the perfect artwork for his clients. His passion comes from the heart, and he will only recommend artworks to his clients which he openly and strongly supports. Even though Brian is very well prepared and knows exactly what his clients need and want, he also needs to fall for the artwork when experiencing it on our stand before actually recommending the work. I believe that we share a similar taste, resulting in some wonderful artworks from our gallery on his private walls.