Based in Los Angeles, but known worldwide through her international clientele and art buyers, Bella Haykoff is an accomplished art dealer, collector, and business consultant. Known as one of the most astute dealers of modern paintings on the West Coast, she has sold various international artists from around the world such as Robert Rauschenberg, Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Shishkin, Martiros Saryan, Minas Avetisyan, and Konstantin Korovin, to name a few. Bella impressively holds both a Presidents’ and Key Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration and PKE MBA, from Pepperdine University. A successful, multifaceted entrepreneur, her portfolio includes the Haykoff Gallery, a private, appointment only art gallery based in Beverly Hills, showcasing exclusive collections throughout the world. Currently, they are offering virtual showings, in-person white glove home appointments that are Covid-19 compliant, and external vault showings.
Her art is perfect for the Hamptons buyer, with her gallery collections’ grand-scale paintings perfect for the estates we find out east.
In 2015, Haykoff reconnected with the world-renowned artist Martiros Manoukian. Immediately recognizing his genius, she purchased the artist’s entire inventory of original Martiros paintings and other Martiros artworks worth an estimated $100 million. In 2018, she purchased a copyright for all artworks and intellectual property created by Martiros, making her the sole representative of his originals.
We caught up with Bella Haykoff to gain her insight firsthand.
What is your Artworld Inspiration?
“Art to me is the highest form of aesthetic pleasure. Art is a form of communication that cannot be said in words. Art is the highest form of one’s expression and imagination. Particularly, the inspiration in ‘The Constellation Collection’ is the harmony in colors (how do all these intense colors live together in such harmony?). The hues of colors used are out of standard, the mixed media combinations (how does oil live with watercolor in such a perfect painting?), technique, and color mastery that CANNOT be copied. In today’s digital and advanced world, mostly everything can be copied, however, ‘The Constellation Collection’ will be impossible to copy.”
What is your Daily Life Inspiration?
“The lifestyle I’ve created for myself from the ground up inspires me daily. Learning, gaining knowledge, and striving for freedom of mind is what inspires me. Continuously growing and shaping the lifestyle I envision for myself, my surroundings, and the world is what’s inspirational on a daily basis. What I would consider my accomplishments, which are part of my personal inspiration, are all my experiences throughout life including my highest education, my family and individuals of prominence”
What was your concept behind Haykoff Gallery?
“I wanted to have a gallery where I could have the paintings displayed in a perfect setting, where one would be able to have enough space and peace, with no distractions, and most importantly, with no time limitation to be able to gaze into the artists’ masterpieces. I wanted to create an environment specifically fit to the impressive art collection, hence my private estate gallery was born.”
What makes Haykoff Gallery Unique?
“What excites me about my gallery is that it is more than just a four white wall gallery feeling like you’re at a retail shop. My gallery is an experience of imagination and is not a commercial setting. Even when we bring the paintings to showcase outside of the gallery we still create an environment where it is possible to gaze, to see the light, the detail, the magic, and the wonder of it all. To fully understand, experience, and enjoy the art we do not limit time.”
Bella’s Most Notable Art Deals?
“One of my biggest art deals is owning a $100 million USD collection including the Intellectual Property and patented Artist rights. I have sold a single Martiros work for $5 million USD and a few more works for similar amounts purely driven by the collector’s love at first sight. It is a big deal because Martiros wasn’t yet known to the masses as being a bluechip artist when I sold his first painting for millions.”
What makes you unique?
“What makes me unique is my unstoppable belief and faith. The art I choose to represent is uncopyable and unique in style/genre. I have enough vision, motivation, and resources to push the artist and the art becoming world recognized.”
What is your background?
“I grew up in a home full of art. My family has always collected art for as long as I can remember in Armenia. I grew up in a home where art was always hanging from walls such as Gevorg Bashinjaghian, Minas Avetisyan, Martiros Saryan, Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Korovin, Ivan Aivazovsky, Robert Rauschenberg and sculptures such as Salvador Dali. Moreover, I have extended family members who are painters, artists, poets, and writers including my mother, who’s a writer. Art has always been embedded in me. Fast forward from childhood, I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. I embarked on my new journey to the US in 2000 where I started growing a small family business into a large operating manufacturing. I began working on various business projects until I reconnected with artist Martiros Manoukian, who I have known since childhood. Martiros needed financial help and was preparing to retire to go back to live in Armenia. When I first walked into his studio, I saw artwork I had never seen before, which blew me away. Pieces he never had showcased. It was a secret collection he had been working on for decades. To me, this was the 21st century’s most mesmerizing artwork in existence. I then made it my mission to showcase these paintings to the world. This collection deserved to be seen and I did not want them to be locked away forever.”
What other social endeavors do you engage in?
“I’m a passionate social entrepreneur and am always working on my passion project: Education. My vision for the future is one of cooperation between corporations, society, and the public sector. Ultimately, in order to achieve a paradigm shift on a global level, we have to begin with education. The old adage ‘For lack of knowledge (vision) the people perish’ is true. I want to create an improved model for education based on mentoring, coaching, and providing essential life skills that build a solid foundation for real self-esteem. Education that raises awareness, promotes higher consciousness, offers respect for the planet, peaceful means of negotiating, and cooperation vs. competitiveness, positive values, and integrity.”
For more information, please follow @haykoffgallery on Instagram and check out the gallery online at haykoff.gallery
Photo Credit: Jasmine Shademan
