Salvador Dali at Auction

BOSTON, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Skinner, Inc. , one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, today announced the appointment of Robin Starr as director pro tem to lead Skinner's American & European Paintings & Prints department. Her newly defined role comes at an opportune time; Skinner's upcoming May 15th sale, to be held in Boston, will feature one of the auction house's most impressive offerings to date with works from Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Salvador Dali.
With Starr on board to head one of Skinner's most important specialty departments, a move toward acquiring more notable works is underway. As such, Skinner is also announcing a shift from quarterly fine paintings sales, to three per year. Skinner's strategy is to offer the highest caliber works in its American & European Paintings & Prints auctions, and mid-range works of art in its European Furniture & Decorate Arts, 20th century, and Americana auctions. Skinner also plans to revive its Studio Paintings auctions in its new Marlborough gallery, and has scheduled its first Studio sale for July 2009 in Marlborough.
Starr first joined Skinner's European & American Paintings department in September of 1987. Her longstanding relationship with consignors and buyers provides for a seamless transition into the role as director pro tem. Starr's responsibilities now include overseeing a staff of specialists who appraise and catalog prints, paintings, sculpture, and works on paper for clients including arts and cultural institutions, estates, major collectors, and private individuals. She will also continue to act as auctioneer, a role for which she has been widely regarded, as she brings vibrancy and animation to the podium.
According to Karen Keane, CEO of Skinner, Inc., "We're very pleased to announce Robin as director pro tem of the paintings department. Robin brings a renewed perspective in this leadership role, but has legacy experience of twenty plus years to leverage."
Outside her role at Skinner, Starr is a major contributor to the success of Boston's thriving arts and culture community. She conducts numerous benefit appraisal days, lectures, and benefit auctions throughout the year. Starr has lectured in art history at various colleges throughout New England, and is currently a Lecturer in Art History at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Starr received her M.A. in the History of Art, specializing in early medieval art, from Williams College. As an undergraduate, Starr combined an unusual double major in Art History and Physics through research in neutron activation autoradiography and its application in art historical research at Bates College. Starr is a resident of Acton, Massachusetts.