Olyvia Kwok to Launch New Strategic Advisory Art Business

London-based art entrepreneur Olyvia Kwok is set to launch Bruton + Co, a new type of art business that goes beyond traditional dealership and advisory models. Instead, it acts as a strategic partner for those looking to buy and invest in art within the ever-evolving market. Located on Bruton Street in Mayfair—just across from the apartment where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was born—the business will operate from an office featuring a large, double showroom on the first floor. The premises will officially open on 12th June.

Bruton + Co represents a novel business model for both Kwok and the art market at large. It is neither a gallery nor a conventional dealership; instead, it offers a partnership-based approach for collectors and investors, while also providing management services to emerging artists deemed to have strong commercial potential.

The firm delivers comprehensive services across all aspects of art investment, including estate planning, portfolio management, auction structuring, and even advice on using art to hedge against currency risk. It also facilitates access to distressed opportunities, thanks to strong ties with legal professionals and receivers—allowing clients to benefit from rare buying prospects not available elsewhere.

The showroom will host invitation-only exhibitions curated by world-renowned experts, collectors, and private estates—enabling clients to make lucrative investments while enjoying the works firsthand. Additionally, it will serve as a venue for collaborative events and networking, aiming to bridge the worlds of art and finance. Guest lists will extend beyond the traditional art audience, with a focus on encouraging private banks, hedge funds, and other financial institutions to invest in art and form meaningful partnerships with the creative sector.

Founder and CEO Kwok explains:

“Now is the time to bridge the gap between generational collectors with deep experience in the art market and the new buyers emerging from the significant wealth transfers currently underway—across both generations and industries. We’ve seen a major increase in interest from this new demographic, who view art as an alternative asset. Bruton + Co is designed to guide and serve both seasoned collectors and first-time investors, offering a distinctly tailored and adaptive approach.”

“I’ve been in the art business for over 20 years, and there’s hardly an area I haven’t touched. I opened my first gallery in London’s St James’s when I was 23, led the Asian Contemporary trend, and built the first emerging markets art fund, which delivered extraordinary returns in this ‘emotional asset class.’ I transitioned to Pop Art (Warhol, etc.) just before it ‘popped’,” she smiles. “I’ve made substantial returns for my investors over the years. When the market began shifting, I focused on sourcing museum-quality postwar and Impressionist works for Asia. Some of these are now in liquidation due to industry changes—through which I discovered another angle: selling artworks directly from receivers.”

“In 2014, I launched an art lending fund—using blue-chip works as collateral—well before art lending gained mainstream traction. I was also among the first to use art guarantees as an investment tool for high-net-worth clients. Over the years, I’ve maintained a ‘go big or go home’ mentality. Now, I feel it’s time to double down.”

“We’re in an exciting new phase of the market, and Bruton + Co is ahead of the curve with a business model built for these changes. Crypto and tech billionaires—once newcomers—are now major players. With our global reach, I see vast opportunity. Buying art is also a strong hedge against financial risk, particularly in light of today’s geopolitical and currency-related uncertainties in the US and Asia.”

“While more than 11,000 millionaires chose to leave the UK in 2024 due to tax policy shifts, I’ve decided to stay and double down on London. I believe the UK will follow Europe’s lead and focus on fostering economic growth. Many of those who’ve left will return.”

“In the next 12 months, we’ll be announcing our Asia locations, followed by a US presence. Our business will operate as a franchise—a first for the industry—and we’ll be releasing more details soon.”

“I’m ready to begin this next chapter, to build a bridge between what’s come before and what lies ahead. For me, this isn’t just a business—it’s a part of who I am. That’s my ethos, and it’s what I live by.”

Founder and CEO Kwok explains:

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