LONDON.- Global art advisory firm Gurr Johns are acquiring Forum Auctions to significantly expand the firm’s auction division. Founder Stephan Ludwig joins the Board of Gurr Johns to lead all auction operations including oversight of Dreweatts. Mr. Ludwig will work with Ben Clark, as Co-Chief Executive Officers of the group. Ben Clark will continue to lead the global art advisory businesses. Together they will work with Chairman, Harry Smith, to jointly develop and grow the group’s capabilities in the art market’s fast changing landscape.

“We are delighted to welcome Stephan to Gurr Johns and after strong performances across the businesses in the last twelve months, this acquisition reflects continued opportunity for growth,” said Ben Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Gurr Johns. “Marked change in global art collectors’ appetites and activities has spurred digitalization in the art market revolutionizing the accessibility of artworks to consumers and sellers alike. Our expanded auction division will offer increasingly innovative and integrated services encouraging shoppers to become collectors across the entire art and collectibles ecosystem.”

“Forum Auctions is a world-leader in the digital sales of multiples; we offer best-in-class service to a rapidly growing, global client base. We are excited to become part of Gurr Johns and together with the team at Dreweatts, serve more clients better, faster and further”, said Stephan Ludwig, Founder, Forum Auctions and Chief Executive Officer. “I am also particularly excited to be working alongside Ben and the team at Gurr Johns to assist in harnessing the many opportunities flowing from the paradigm shift we have seen in collector behaviour across the art market.”

Forum Auctions are recognised as the UK’s leading sales platform for works on paper and multiples, including for Banksy prints. Dreweatts and Forum Auctions have complementary areas of specialist knowledge and will continue to be led by their existing management teams operating under their respective brands. Both auction operations have seen significant growth during 2021 as clients have been active in broadening range of collecting areas and a widening range of price points.

Forum and Dreweatts also have a shared commitment to innovation-led disruption in this area of the art market and this new union creates one of the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary auctions business.