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
-
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: 3:00 - 3:30 PM
-
Self-Introductions
Participants articulate their motivations and aspirations for the programme, establishing authentic connections rooted in shared values around art and commerce.
Time: 3:30 - 4:00 PM
-
Foundations: Art History, Framework &Ecosystem
An intellectually grounded masterclass that builds genuine foundational knowledge in art history. Prof. Jay Hicks traces how artistic practices evolved in response to their time, moving chronologically from the origins of art through the 20th century, then into the post-war and contemporary period. Throughout, participants gain a clear interpretive framework—examining technique, style, social movements, and innovation across each era—that enables them to recognize visual styles and understand the forces that shaped artistic practice. The session concludes with an essential overview of the contemporary art ecosystem: how auction houses, galleries, and art markets function, and what you need to know to navigate them. By the end, participants will have a structured understanding of art history, a clear framework to compare and understand art from different key periods, and practical knowledge of how the contemporary art world operates.
Time: 4:00 - 6:30 PM
-
Over Dinner: Art Fairs & Buying Art
The collector’s conversation, over dinner. A session led by a senior voice from a leading art fair organiser, unpacking the mechanics of art fairs and the practice 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 and refreshingly candid.
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Explore Engaging Sessions and Key Insights
Sep 5 | Sataurday
Day 2: Contemporary Art Movements & K-Culture
-
Breakfast
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 AM
-
Fireside Chat: Contemporary Art Masterclass
Building on the historical foundation, this session provides an in-depth exploration of contemporary art. Prof. Jay Hicks examines the major movements, artists, and ideas that have shaped art from last century to today. The discussion covers how these periods built on and broke from what came before, the key innovations driving each movement, and how to understand contemporary art within this historical continuum. Participants will develop a crucial understanding of recent and current artistic practice, deepening their ability to engage meaningfully with today's art world. By the end, participants will master the major movements and ideas shaping art from last century to today, understand how to contextualize and interpret contemporary work, and engage with today's art world with confidence and clarity.
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 AM
-
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: 9:45 - 10:55 AM
-
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: 10:55 AM - 12:00 PM
-
Lunch
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
-
Frieze Seoul Art Fair 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: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
-
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: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
-
Private Dinner
The programme’s signature evening. An intimate dinner for the full cohort at one of Seoul’s finest restaurants — a table where art, ideas, and conversation converge. Distinguished voices join the group for what invariably becomes a night participants remember long after the programme ends.
Time: 7:00 PM Onwards
Sep 6 | Sunday
Day 3: Behind the Scenes of the Art Market
-
Breakfast Debrief – Art Observations
The morning after Frieze. A structured debrief over breakfast — surfacing what participants saw, what surprised them, and what they’d do differently with their new frameworks. A critical bridge between raw experience and lasting understanding.
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
-
Teo Yang Studio & Residence 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 - 10:15 AM
-
Artist 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: 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
-
Lunch
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
-
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: 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Programme Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
Refine Your Perspective
Build the insight, language, and perspective to navigate the art world with confidence.