A three-day, invitation-only experience designed to demystify the global art world, equipping participants with the insight, access, and confidence to engage with art thoughtfully, from conversation to collection.
Art, Demystified | Invite-only
The Art Retreat: Seoul Edition
Sep 4-6, 2026
Seoul, South Korea
Where Taste Becomes Power
What makes a masterpiece command millions?
Who sets the rules in the art world - and how do you join the conversation?
This is the only programme of its kind that provides a holistic view of the global art ecosystem: a bespoke three-day experience designed to give anyone - regardless of prior knowledge - a complete, working understanding of the art world. In under three days, participants leave equipped to discuss art with confidence, ask the right questions, and make informed decisions about collecting and acquisition.
Led by world-class curators, scholars, and practitioners, the programme takes participants from the foundations of art history through to the forces reshaping contemporary art movements today, including the mechanics of value and taste-making, and the growing role of art in philanthropy, diplomacy, and legacy.
Participants will also gain access to private collections and spaces closed to the public, and connect with a peer group of fellow leaders over exclusive gallery visits and formal dinners with distinguished voices in the field.
Sep 4 | Friday
Day 1: Foundations of the Art World & Ecosystem
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Opening Remarks
A welcome to Seoul and to this rare gathering of leaders. We explore why the art world is an increasingly vital arena for executives, and what participants will leave with after three transformative days. This is where the conversation begins.
Time: 4:00 - 4:15 PM
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Self-Introductions
Participants articulate their motivations and aspirations for the programme, establishing authentic connections rooted in shared values around art and commerce.
Time: 4:15 - 4:45 PM
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Masterclass I: Art History: Old Masters to Modernism
An intellectually grounded introduction to art history, building the foundational knowledge needed to understand how art has evolved over time. Prof. Jay Hicks traces the major periods from the Old Masters through Modernism, examining how artistic practice responded to changing social, cultural, and intellectual contexts. Through key works and movements, participants develop a framework for recognising visual styles, understanding shifts in technique and artistic thinking, and seeing how one period influenced the next. The session concludes with an introduction to the contemporary art ecosystem — how museums, galleries, auction houses, and art markets function — providing the foundations for navigating the art world with greater context and confidence.
Time: 4:45 - 7:15 PM
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Over Dinner: Art Fairs & Buying Art
The collector’s conversation, over dinner. Pat Lee unpacks the mechanics of art fairs and the practical art of buying and collecting — from identifying emerging artists early to navigating auction rooms, building gallery relationships, and avoiding the pitfalls that trip up even seasoned buyers. Frank, practical, and refreshingly candid.
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 PM
Explore Engaging Sessions and Key Insights
Sep 5 | Saturday
Day 2: Contemporary Art Movements & K-Culture
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Breakfast
Time: From 8:00 AM
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Masterclass II: Contemporary Art History & Connoisseurship
Building on the historical foundations of Masterclass I, this session turns to contemporary art and the question of how to look, interpret, and form judgment. Prof. Jay Hicks explores the major movements, artists, and ideas from the post-war period to today, tracing how contemporary practice emerged from — and often challenged — what came before. Participants examine how to approach works across different media and practices, considering context, intention, technique, influence, and artistic significance. The session develops the foundations of connoisseurship: moving beyond simply recognising artists and movements towards forming an informed, independent point of view. By the end, participants will have a stronger framework for contextualising contemporary work, articulating what they see, and engaging with today’s art world with greater confidence and discernment.
Time: 8:15 - 10:15 AM
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Buying from Auctions and Advisors
How auction houses really work — and when to use one. A candid insider’s view on navigating the secondary market: understanding reserve prices and buyer’s premiums, when private advisers change the equation, and how to buy with conviction rather than impulse. Essential for anyone building a collection of real value.
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
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K-Culture & Working with Galleries
Where K-pop meets high art. Bo Young Song advises members of BLACKPINK and BTS on building a world-class art collection and guides us through the convergence reshaping global taste. Bo reveals how Korea has moved from importing Western taste to exporting its own—through contemporary art, K-pop's influence on collectors, and the emergence of galleries that are reframing what 'important' means globally.
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Lunch
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 PM
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Frieze Seoul Visit
Access inside one of the world’s great art fairs — with expert eyes alongside you. Moving through Frieze Seoul in small groups with curators and advisers, participants apply the morning’s frameworks in real time: reading booths, interrogating price points, spotting what’s worth a second look. This is where theory meets the floor.
Time: 1:45 - 3:30 PM
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Leeum Museum Visit
A private tour of one of the most important art collections in Asia, with a leading curator. Leeum brings together Korean national treasures and blue-chip contemporary works in a setting of extraordinary architectural ambition. The group gains access and commentary well beyond the standard visitor experience.
Time: 4:15 - 6:00 PM
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LV Visionary Journeys & Private Dinner at LV Restaurant
A guided tour through Louis Vuitton’s immersive exhibition, celebrating the Maison’s legacy of luxury travel, heritage craftsmanship, and iconic design innovation. The evening continues with a private dinner, offering an intimate setting for conversation and reflection.
Time: 7:00 - 9:30 PM
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Optional Drinks at Daily Beer
Experience Korea’s chimaek tradition at this lively gastropub, with local beer and Korean fried chicken.
Time: From 10:00 PM
Sep 6 | Sunday
Day 3: Behind the Scenes of the Art Market
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Breakfast
Breakfast is optional. Participants who prefer a slower morning may eat independently before departure, as the formal debrief will take place in the car with Alan and Lin en route to Teo Yang Studio.
Time: From 8:00 AM
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Depart from Hotel Lobby
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
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Teo Yang Studio Visit
A rare private visit to one of Asia’s foremost spatial designers, Teo Yang creates environments where art, craft, and architecture converge at the highest level. This is an intimate window into a world-class collector’s living practice — how he finds, acquires, places, and lives with the works he loves.
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
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Kimsooja Studio Visit
Behind the canvas. A visit to a working artist’s studio, where participants witness first-hand how work is made, priced, and positioned. A perspective rarely available to buyers or collectors, and invaluable for understanding the full chain of value from creator to market.
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Closing Lunch & Refections
Over a final lunch, Alan Lau and Lin Wang bring the weekend’s experiences together, connecting the conversations, encounters, and studio visits to broader themes in collecting, cultural influence, and artistic value. An opportunity to reflect on what has shifted, share perspectives across the group, and consider how these insights might shape the way participants engage with art beyond Seoul.
Time: 12:20 - 2:10 PM
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PMG Studio Visit
The programme’s closing encounter. Sam Ku offers an insider look into K-Pop, and how music and MV are produced. We will visit the new dance studio of PMG, a new pan-Asia music label with its creative hub in Seoul.
Time: 2:20 - 3:30 PM
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Transfer to Hotel/ Airport
Participants depart for the hotel or airport according to their individual travel arrangements, marking the conclusion of the programme.
Time: From 3:30 PM
Programme Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
Refine Your Perspective
Build the insight, language, and perspective to navigate the art world with confidence.