Blindarte's Memmo Grilli on Post-Pandemic Auction Strategies

Blindarte director Memmo Grilli discusses the auction house's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the online charity auction 'Art to Stop Covid-19' that raised €122,770 for Lombardy's healthcare and the Pascale Institute in Naples. The auction featured donations from artists like Cai Guo-Qiang, Antony Gormley, Jorit, and Mimmo Jodice, with top lots including a Cai Guo-Qiang work sold for €30,000. Grilli highlights the shift to online sales, noting that Blindarte had already developed a robust online bidding system before the crisis. He emphasizes the importance of offering physical viewings alongside digital sales and expresses optimism about the art market's resilience, citing its status as a safe-haven asset. The interview covers operational changes, collector sentiment, and the long-term integration of online tools in the auction business.