Earlier this year, the international blue-chip gallery Lévy Gorvy Dayan announced the closure of the physical location of its Hong Kong outpost (known as Lévy Gorvy Dayan & Wei) in Central at the end of 2024. At that time, many were left wondering if their Asia partner, Rebecca Wei, would retain her position, yet no details have been disclosed.

On 12 December, the art market visionary finally unveiled her latest venture: the launch of her art advisory firm, Wei & Associates. Situated at the prestigious New World Tower in the heart of Central, Hong Kong, it aims to redefine the art advisory experience, with a particular focus on high-value 20th and 21st-century art.

One of Asia's most prominent art executives, Rebecca Wei has played a key role in shaping the art market in the region, particularly in Greater China.

Before entering the art industry, Wei spent over a decade at McKinsey and Company, where she notably became the first female partner in Greater China. In 2012, she joined Christie's Asia as General Manager and was named President in 2016. She held the position until late 2018, when she was promoted to  Chairwoman. 

During her time at the helm, Christie's Asia witnessed substantial growth in both sales and client base: in 2018, Asian buyers contributed to 25% of Christie's global sales, with 70% of the region's business coming from Greater China.

In a surprising move less than a year after taking on the role of Chairwoman, Wei decided to step down "to take up a new professional challenge in 2020." This challenge, as it turned out, was a move to the gallery world: she became the Asia partner of high-end gallery Lévy Gorvy Dayan, with its name updated to include Wei's surname. 

When the news broke in 2020, Wei revealed to The Value that she didn't like repeating herself, saying "The auction business is something I have got familiar with as I helped Christie’s set numerous auction records over my eight-year career there. I think the gallery business is an exciting field where my next breakthroughs will be." 

Now four years after joining Lévy Gorvy, she has again switched lanes, this time establishing her own art advisory firm. The decision mirrors a broader trend observed among other Asia's top art executives, such as Patti Wong, the former International Chairman of Sotheby's, who launched the art advisory firm Patti Wong & Associates (PW&A) in January 2023. 

In a previous interview, Wei once described the changes in client behavior post-pandemic, notably towards a preference for remote purchasing, prompting galleries to reassess their operations. She also noted that she serves around 50 clients in the region who typically seek artworks priced above US$30 million on average. 

The launch of Wei & Associates can thus be interpreted as a strategic response to market dynamics and a proactive adjustment to meet evolving customer preferences.

So what services will Wei & Associates provide exactly?

According to a statement, "Wei & Associates is committed to supporting individual collectors and institutions through every stage of their journey, ensuring informed and strategic decisions to build globally significant collections. Clients can anticipate a tailored suite of bespoke art advisory services specifically designed for their unique needs in the high-value 20th and 21st-century art market, including art collection management, market intelligence, and strategic advisory.

Dedicated to cultivating long-term relationships with collectors, connoisseurs, artists, museums, and business partners across Asia, the firm envisions a future where art advisory transcends traditional practices, and pioneers innovative approaches that elevate the art collecting experience."

Rebecca remarks, "This is an exciting and opportunity-filled time for the art market in Asia and through our network we are seeing a rising number of private individual and institutional clients seeking support and advice to build meaningful and important collections. With a steadfast commitment to our clients, Wei & Associates will strive to provide world-class advisory services that reflect the dynamic nature of the art world."

Building on Wei’s four-year partnership with market heavyweights Dominique Lévy, Brett Gorvy, and Amalia Dayan, Wei & Associates will also continue to maintain close collaboration with Lévy Gorvy Dayan. 

Wei & Associates will be joined by an international team of seasoned advisors, including Chie Ishizaka, former Managing Director of Christie’s Japan, based in Tokyo; Liberté Nuti, former Senior Director at both Christie’s and Hauser & Wirth, based in London; and Yuyun Chiang, former Director and Taiwan Representative of Lévy Gorvy Dayan & Wei, based in Taipei.