HONG KONG.- Bonhams announced the appointment of Laure Raibaut as Senior Specialist of the new Contemporary Art department in Hong Kong.

Commenting on her appointment, Dessa Goddard, Director of Asian Art, North America, said: “We are delighted to have Laure as the anchor for our growing team of specialists in Asian contemporary art. Her seasoned experience in the private sector and her vivacious personality make her ideally suited to lead Bonhams expansion into this vibrant art market.”

A French national, Laure Raibaut brings with her solid experience working in the contemporary art industry in Beijing, London, New York and Hong Kong. She studied Japanese and Chinese art history and archaeology at SOAS, the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

After graduation, Laure worked for Platform China in Beijing. She launched the Chinese Contemporary Gallery in New York in 2007, one of the pioneers of contemporary Chinese art (first opened in 1996 in London), before moving to London in 2009 to work as a consultant on the first BRIC sale for Phillips de Pury. Returning to New York, Laure joined Eli Klein Fine Arts in Soho as Associate Director. In October 2011, Laure moved to Hong Kong to take up the position of Assistant Director of Schoeni Art Gallery (opened in 1992) notably to organise the events celebrating the gallery’s 20th anniversary.

Laure joined Bonhams Hong Kong in February 2013. “It’s a great opportunity and wonderful challenge to join the Bonhams team. My new role encompasses a broader scope and there are many artists to uncover in the whole Asian region that deserve recognition by the secondary market. Coming from a gallery background, it is exciting for me to work in the auction industry, which calls for a different involvement and offers so much flexibility”, said Laure about her new role.