QUALIFICATIONS of GREGORY GHENT & SCOTT MCCUE

Gregory Ghent

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In addition to his work as an art appraiser, exhibition curator, auction house specialist, and gallerist, he has been an avid “serial collector”, buying his first serious tribal artworks in 1969 and continuing to build and then sell large collections of art from Papua/New Guinea, ancient Mexico, West Africa, and the work of contemporary American artists. Because of his unique background in buying, selling, and appraising a variety of art forms he is frequently called upon to identify artworks and advise appraisers, collectors, and museum curators.

1975-Present:  APPRAISER of Personal Property, nationwide. Produces professional reports and documents for estates, insurance and tax-deductible donations. Passed the examination of the Uniform Code of Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) as required by the Federal Appraisal Foundation, Washington, D.C. written by the Appraisal Standards Board and administered by the Appraisers Association of America. Continuously produces professional documents for insurance, tax deductible donations, estates, claims arbitration, and division of property settlements. Values at times in the millions of dollars.  Associate and advisor to several general personal property appraisers nationwide. Numerous appraisals of major gifts of art to public institutions. Nationally Recognized expert in Modern and Contemporary art, the ancient and traditional art of Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.

1990-Present:  CURATOR of public exhibitions of African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art
2016-Present:  Co-manager (with Scott McCue) the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
2006: Touched by Wonder: The Ethnographic Collections of St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA with Scott McCue. This exhibition won the East Bay Times’ “Best of the Bay” award for museum exhibitions
2005: Aberrations & Oddities: Tribal Curiosities (co-curator), the Firehouse at Fort Mason, San Francisco, February, 2005
2002-2003: Shamanic Power Objects (Consultant), University Art Gallery, California State University at Hayward
2002: Emblems of Passage: Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, San Francisco, CA, with Scott McCue
1994: African Alchemy: Art for Healing in African Societies, St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA
1993: John Haley (California Modernist), traveling exhibition, Richmond Art Center, CA; Bakersfield Art Museum, CA
1992: Before Columbus: the Art of Ancient West Mexico, St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA, and University Art Gallery, California State University at Chico, CA
1990: The African Mask as Sculpture, University Art Gallery, California State University at Chico, CA

1996-1999:  DIRECTOR and SPECIALIST IN CHARGE of Modern, Contemporary and Latin American Art, at Butterfields (now Bonhams) auction house, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. During this time, Butterfields was the third largest auction house nationally and the fourth largest worldwide.  Appraised a wide variety of Modern and Contemporary art and created twice yearly sales with illustrated catalogues of 250 to 500 artworks for each auction. 

1994-1995:  ART APPRAISER, CATALOGUER, MANAGER of Ethnographic Art Department at Butterfields Auction House (acquired by Bonhams in 2002), in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. During this time, Butterfields was the third largest auction house nationally and the fourth largest worldwide. Appraised a wide variety of Africa, Oceanic and art of the Americas.  Created twice yearly sales with illustrated catalogues of 250 to 500 artworks for each auction. 

1981-1987:  CURATOR and GALLERY OWNER, Gregory Ghent Fine Arts, Inc., San Francisco, CA. Planned and coordinated all aspects of a fine art gallery exhibiting ancient and modern art from Africa, Oceania, and The Americas as well as, Modern and Contemporary European and American art with an emphasis on Contemporary California artists. Directly helped build art collections now valued in the millions of dollars. Mr. Ghent was the west coast distributor of the Peter G. Wray collection of Pre-Columbian art and the Bruce Lawes collection of art from Papua/New Guinea. Developed an international network and established permanent relations with artists, collectors, art dealers, appraisers, museums and other art professionals.

1975-1981:  ASSISTANT GALLERY MANAGER, Los Robles Galleries, Palo Alto, CA. Bought, sold, and appraised Modern and Contemporary, European and American art, ancient and modern art from Africa, Oceania, and The Americas. Unique furniture, crafts, and folk art as well.


Books/Publications:

  • Touched by Wonder: the Ethnographic Collections of St. Mary’s College Museum of Art: 2011. St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA. Poster and didactic texts, by Gregory Ghent and Scott McCue

  • Emblems of Passage: Art of Africa, Oceania, and The Americas: 2002. The Museum of Folk and Craft Art, San Francisco, published by Friends of Ethnic Art, San Francisco, CA, with Scott McCue 

  • African Alchemy: Art for Healing in African Societies: 1994. St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA, with Scott McCue

  • John Haley (Modern artist): 1993. The Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA

Feature Articles and Exhibition reviews published in: African Arts, Arts d’Afrique Noire, Peninsula, Visual Dialog, and other numerous catalog and exhibition publications.

 
AFFILIATIONS:

2021-Present:  Professional Appraisers Roundtable, NY
2018-Present:  Board of Directors, The Santa Fe Soul Festival, Santa Fe, NM
2008-Present:  Member of ATADA, Antique Tribal Arts Dealers Association, Santa Fe, NM
2008-Present:  Member of Los Angeles Ethnic Arts Council, Los Angeles, CA
1987-Present:  Board Member and past President of Friends of Ethnic Art, San Francisco, CA
2004-2015:  Gamelan Sekar Jaya, Board Member, Chairman of the Board 2011
2010-2011:  CBS television, San Francisco Bay Area, weekly episodes of "Eye on the Bay" discussing various aspects of the art market
2004-2008:  Board Member of Village Relief Foundation, CA
2003:  Bali Television (Indonesia), interview at Contemporary Art opening, broadcast during morning and evening primetime April 25 & 26.  Also an article about Gregory Ghent published in the Bali Post (in Indonesian), April 19, 2003, page 2
1998-2003:  Board of Trustees, The S.F. Craft and Folk Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
2001:  Juror, Artist's Invitational, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Sonoma, CA
1998-1999: HGTV cable (Home and Garden television) guest appraiser of Modern and Contemporary art, in cooperation with Butterfields (now Bonhams) auction house
1998:  Juror, The Sedona Contemporary Arts Festival, Sedona, AZ
1996-1998:  Guest Appraiser of Modern and Contemporary Art, "Antiques Roadshow", Public Television Stations, U.S.
1990-1992:  President of the Advisory Board, St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA

Mr. Ghent has made extensive travel and research expeditions into the cultural arts of West Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, Panama, Turkey, Brazil and the American Southwest. In Europe he has studied the ethnographic art collections in Tervuren (Brussels), Amsterdam, Berg-en-Dal, Leiden, and Paris.  He has worked extensively with auction houses including Butterfields (now Bonhams), Michaans, and Hindman, as well as for many charity auctions.

Scott McCue

Mr. McCue, in addition to his work as an art appraiser, is an expert art photographer for print, catalogs and books. He has extensive experience working with artists, museums, galleries and private collections. Mr. McCue has helped private clients build significant Tribal Art collections, created art exhibits for institutions and gallery shows for contemporary artists. Mr. McCue holds  a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California Berkeley, specializing in Archaeology and Ancient Cultures. Studied with Robert Heizer and William Bascom, doing field work in early Native American  cultures including Lovelock Cave, NV. He has extensive travel and research experience with museums and field work in Europe, Indonesia, Japan and the Middle East.

2002-Present:  APPRAISER of Personal Property, nationwide. Produces professional reports and documents for estates, insurance and tax-deductible donations. Passed the examination of the Uniform Code of Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) as required by the Federal Appraisal Foundation, Washington, D.C. written by the Appraisal Standards Board and administered by the Appraisers Association of America. Mr. McCue has taken course work and passed the examination as recently as January 19, 2020 and is USPAP compliant through January 19, 2022.

1990-Present:  CURATOR of public exhibitions of African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art.
2011: Reflections in Time: Stanley Truman Photographs from the Permanent Collection, St. Mary's College Museum, Moraga, CA
2006: Touched by Wonder: The Ethnographic Collections of the St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA with Gregory Ghent. This exhibition won the East Bay Times’ “Best of the Bay” award for museum exhibitions
2002: Emblems of Passage: Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, San Francisco, CA, with Gregory Ghent
2009-Present:  CURATOR of gallery exhibitions, showing and selling contemporary art including bronzes, ceramics, glass and paintings, McCue Gallery 83, Orinda, CA

2016-Present:  Co-manager of the African, Oceanic, and art of the Ancient Americas, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA with Gregory Ghent.

1984-Present:  DEALER and OWNER of McCue Tribal Art, Orinda, CA. Exhibiting and selling art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, providing fine works of art to private collectors, dealers and galleries. In 2002, created current website, www.mccuetribalart.com for online sales worldwide. Operated as an art gallery with exhibitions at Caskey-Lees Tribal Art shows in San Francisco and Santa Monica, CA, Kim Martindale Tribal Art shows in Marin, CA. Planned, organized and implemented art shows in Emeryville and San Francisco, CA.

1974-Present:  ART COLLECTOR, Orinda, CA. Continually builds collection based on knowledge from University of California, Berkeley and private study covering areas of Africa, Oceania, the Americas, Indonesia, the Near East and ancient Middle East.

1974-Present:  OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER, Scott McCue Photography, Orinda, CA. Works with a artists of all mediums, museums, galleries and commercial clients. Specializes in photographing all types of artwork.  Past and current clients include Museum of Modern Art, SF, CA, Museum of African Art, NY, Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA, Hearst Art Gallery, St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA, Mills College Art Museum, Oakland, CA, James Willis Primitive Art, S.F. CA, Tanbaran Gallery, NY, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, SF, CA.  Artworks Foundry, Berkeley, CA, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA, Northpoint Gallery, SF, CA, Bekris Gallery, SF. CA, John Berggruen Gallery, SF, CA, Solomon-Dubnick Gallery, SF, CA.  Artists include: Stephen De Staebler, John Toki, John Battenburg, Bruce Beasley, Judy Mckie, Lorraine Vail, Nathan Oliveira, David Ruth, and Margaret Keelan.


Books/Publications:

  • African Art and Silicon Chips: A Life in Science and Art: 2015. Jay T. Last, Sierra Vista Books, Los Angeles, CA

  • Matter and Spirit: Stephen De Staebler: 2012. UC Press, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA

  • The Comprehensive Keith: The Hundred Year History of the St. Mary's College Collection of Works by William Keith: 2011. St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA

  • Touched by Wonder: the Ethnographic Collections of St. Mary’s College Museum of Art: 2011. St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA. Poster and didactic texts, by Scott McCue and Gregory Ghent

  • Art of the Lesser Sundas: 2005. Granucci, Didier Millet publisher

  • Aberrations & Oddities in Tribal Art: 2004. Ghent & Auliso

  • Remnants of Ritual, Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African Art: 2003. Ethnos Publications

  • Emblems of Passage: Art of Africa, Oceania, and The Americas: 2002. The Museum of Folk and Craft Art, San Francisco, published by Friends of Ethnic Art, San Francisco, CA, with Gregory Ghent 

  • Early Artists of the Bohemian Club: 2002. St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA

  • Masquerade and Revelation, A William Wolff Retrospective: 2002. St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA

  • Mentawai Art: 1999. Carpenter and Wiggers, Archipelago Press

  • Jack Schnier, Art Deco and Beyond: 1998. Mills College, Oakland, CA

  • C.S.Price, Landscape, Image and Spirit: 1998. St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA

  • Land of the Morning, Treasures of the Philippines: 1995. San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum, San Francisco, CA

  • African Alchemy: Art for Healing in African Societies: 1994. St. Mary's College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA., with Gregory Ghent

  • Nathan Oliveira, Figurative Works, 1958-1992: 1992. St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA  

  • Before Columbus: The Art of Ancient West Mexico: 1992. St. Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, CA

  • Stephen De Staebler, The Figure: 1988.  Chronicle Books

Magazine Articles and Publications include: African Arts, Arts d’Afrique Noire, Tribal Arts, Art Forum, Ceramics Monthly, American Craft, Arts of Asia, Bonhams,  and other numerous catalog and exhibition publications.

 
AFFILIATIONS:

2010-Present:  Member of ATADA, Antique Tribal Arts Dealers Association, Santa Fe, NM
2010-Present:  Member of Los Angeles Ethnic Arts Council, Los Angeles, CA
1992-Present:  Current Advisory Board Consultant, past President and Recording Secretary, Friends of Ethnic Art, San Francisco, CA.
1989-2002: Member, Ancient and Tribal Art Committee, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (The M. H. De Young Memorial Museum), San Francisco, CA

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF APPRAISERS (ASA) Coursework:

  • Completed 28.8 hour PP204 Personal Property Valuation: The Legal and Commercial Environments November 2, 2020, passed exam

  • Completed 28.8 hour PP203 Communication of a Personal Property Appraisal: Report Writing, September 21, 2020

  • Completed 28.8 hour PP202 Development of a Personal Property Appraisal: Research & Analysis, August 3, 2020, passed exam

  • Completed 28.8 hour PP201 Introduction to Personal Property Valuation: June 1, 2020, passed exam

  • Completed 15 hour USPAP coursework: January 19, 2020, passed exam

Mr. McCue assisted in auctions of Tribal material at S.F. Craft and Folk Art Museum and Friends of Ethnic Art functions.  Attends numerous auctions and art fairs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, London and Paris.