I devoured Sonia Borrel’s book Art In Real-Time in one day.
Cover to cover. No breaks. (Okay, maybe one coffee break, but still.)
This isn’t your typical art book. No, it’s vibrant, intimate, and shockingly useful. It’s like Sonia took all the dusty, complicated stuff about art and tossed it out the window, replacing it with real conversations. Conversations that actually mean something.
Sonia’s love for art? Oh, it leaps off the pages. You can almost feel it in your hands. Her words paint a story—a love story with art that started when she was a kid. The kind of passion that grabs you and won’t let go. It’s simple, it’s warm, and it’s powerful.
It’s personal too. A beautiful story, really. But also… a manual.
Yes, despite its personal tone, this book works as a manual for art collectors. But here’s the kicker—Sonia didn’t just write it for collectors. Artists, gallerists, art dealers, or even just someone who loves a good painting on their wall (who doesn’t?)—we all stand to benefit from this book. It’s packed with her wealth of experience.
And when I say packed, I mean packed. She spills the tea on the entire art world—everyone from the artists to the gallerists to the buyers.
It’s like a backstage pass to the art world’s inner workings.
What’s great is that it’s not just Sonia’s voice. Nope. She’s got her friends—artists, collectors, gallery owners, and even her son—chiming in. (Yes, it’s a family affair.) They each take a chapter, sharing their stories and lessons, unraveling the mysteries of the art world. And trust me, they’ve got stories.
It’s like reading a guidebook with heart. Each chapter is a little art-world lesson wrapped up in a meaningful story. You get a front-row seat to the inner workings of the art market (without getting any auction sweat on you).
Sonia, bless her, is like the conductor of this artistic symphony. She directs it all, and every note she plays gives you a peek behind the curtain. She talks about how to deal with galleries, whether you’re an artist or a collector (spoiler: it involves charm and strategy).
Oh, and don’t miss the hilarious story about the Swiss first-time collector who had to navigate the joys of Swiss customs. It’s a gem. One of those “you can’t make this stuff up” moments.
So, yeah. If you want to understand the art world, avoid the traps (yes, there are traps), and feel like you’re chatting with a friend over coffee, Art In Real-Time is the book. Sonia’s book is that rare mix of practical and personal, and you won’t walk away without a few lessons—and maybe a few laughs too.