PARIS.- 5 years after the opening of its Italian office in Milan, Artcurial announced the arrival of Emilie Volka as director of Artcurial in Italy. She succeeds Gioia Sardagna Ferrari.

A professional of the art market, Emilie Volka has previously founded the Milanese office of the Cambi auction house, thus implanting the Genoese house in the Lombard capital. She now wishes to put her expertise at the service of Artcurial and will accompany its growth in exploring new territories, particularly in southern Italy. Furthermore, her proximity with Monaco, which has become the main venue for Artcurial’s auctions for luxury objects (jewellery, collectors timepieces, vintage Hermès), will allow us to strengthen the bonds between the Italian clientele and these very much appreciated specialities.

Emilie Volka has dual Franco-Italian culture and has always lived between France and Italy. If she grew up within an industrial family in Milan, it is nonetheless in Paris that her passion for art and the art market was kindled. As a child, she discovered the world of auctions at Drouot, initiated by her maternal grandparents. She then undertook studies in History of art and joined Finarta in 2008 as a junior specialising in 17th century Italian furniture. For four years, she formed close links with collectors and Italian antique dealers, then in 2011, she takes over the head of the “House sale” department = whilst becoming a member of the Collegio Lombardo Periti, the Lombard house of experts. One year later, she joined Cambi and in 2017 Artcurial.

« In 5 years, Artcurial has started a substantive work that I intend to accelerate and amplify. Of course, the title of fashion and luxury capital, as with Paris, is in fact an evident starting point for jewellery, collectors timepieces and vintage Hermès, but above all, the peninsula has for many centuries been a land of artists and collectors. On a more personal note, it is also an opportunity to reconnect with France, a country which is also partly mine. » Emilie Volka, Director, Artcurial Italy

From 14 to 17 November 2017, to mark the fifth anniversary of the Italian office of Artcurial in Milan and the arrival of Emilie Volka, the auction house will present a major work of Italian futurism, Agave sul mare by Giacomo Balla, which will be offered at auction in Paris on 27th November 2017 at the prestigious sale of impressionists and modern art.