Adviser Went on a 48-Hour Chase for Art Before U.S. Clampdown

(Bloomberg) -- As the coronavirus spread across the U.S. this week and politicians told people to stay home and practice social distancing, New York art adviser Todd Levin couldn’t resist the lure of a deal.

So Levin, 58, boarded a commercial Delta flight and headed to Denver and Salt Lake City for 48 hours.

“People are selling,” said Levin, whose clients have included finance and entertainment types. “I was very much on the fence whether I should do it. I decided it was a short trip and after that I’ll be back and that would be it.”

Much like the rest of the economy, the art world is grinding to a halt. Galleries and museums are closed, fairs have been canceled and auctions delayed. But those with cash are looking for distressed opportunities and there’s a growing pool of people wanting to sell after fears the economy is heading into recession triggered the biggest equities sell-off since 1987.

Wash Hands

Levin took precautions. He got to LaGuardia Airport as close to takeoff as possible on Monday night, skipped the priority lounge and didn’t eat anything. “I got on a plane, and aside from buckling my belt, I didn’t touch anything,” he said. He didn’t wear a mask, but frequently washed his hands.

To his surprise, life seemed pretty normal.

Crowds at the airport were just a little thinner than usual. But as the trip unfolded and measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus intensified, unease grew. In Denver, his first stop, the gym was open but a hotel restaurant was closed so he ordered room service. By the time he got to Salt Lake City, the hotel restaurant, gym and pool were shut. His dinner arrived at his door and was left outside as a precaution.

“In just 48 hours, you can feel the clamping down,” Levin said. “It’s very real.”

Earthquake Wake-Up

The trip had drama outside of the pandemic. On Wednesday, Levin was awakened by the largest earthquake in Utah since 1992. Lights at the hotel went out.

“This was like someone was grabbing you and jerking you violently back and forth,” he said, speaking from Salt Lake City, as the aftershocks continued.

Despite the biblical events of the week, he expects the trip, which was to assess the condition and aesthetic qualities of two 20th century works, to pay off. He also said it felt necessary at the time.

“With this kind of money being talked about, these pieces have to be looked at,” Levin said, declining to name the pieces. “I can’t do a condition report from afar.”

Levin is still getting offered artwork, but isn’t planning any more travel once he gets back from Utah, and will hunker down for a few weeks at his Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in New Jersey.

“I just want to go home,” he said.

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