Park West Gallery

In 1969, Albert Scaglione opened Park West Gallery in Southfield, Michigan, after being a Wayne State University teacher of mechanical engineering. Park West Gallery has a large facility in Oakland County, Michigan and offices in South Florida from which the company processes a high volume of art.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/video/originals/sun-sentinel-shorts/84331782-132.html|title=Cruise ship art auctions: Britto, Max and Yanke sell on the seas|last=Sun-Sentinel|first=South Florida|work=Sun-Sentinel.com|access-date=2017-09-11|language=en-US}}

Since 1993, Park West Gallery has been conducting fine art auctions aboard cruise ships, and is the largest business in this field.{{Cite news|last=Finkel|first=Jori|date=2008-07-16|title=Art auctions on cruise ships lead to anger and lawsuits|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/arts/16iht-16crui.14537457.html|access-date=2022-02-22|issn=0362-4331}} It has sold art on: Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. Park West claims that it is "the world's largest art dealer" based on its volume of sales, though independent analysts dispute that claim.

Park West Gallery does not reveal financial reports, as it is privately owned, but it has reported selling nearly 300,000 artworks a year with a revenue in excess of $300 million. Half of its revenue comes from 85 auctioneers on cruise-ships, and the rest of the revenue is from promotions in hotels and sales in its gallery. It funds the philanthropic Park West Foundation.Scott, Mike. [http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/oakland/index.ssf/2008/05/gallerys_cruise_ship_strategy.html "Gallery's cruise ship strategy makes splash with art sales"], Oakland Business Review, May 22, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2008.

Park West Gallery is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. The 63,000-square-foot flagship location holds 23 individual exhibition spaces.{{cite web |last1=Editor |first1=WXYZ News |title=Park West Brings Artists to Michigan |url=https://www.wxyz.com/about-us/as-seen-on/park-west-brings-artists-to-michigan |website=wxyz.com |date=July 9, 2022 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=24 February 2023}} Alongside contemporary and historic artwork, Park West's collection also sports memorabilia,

and rare production cels.{{cite web |last1=Awards |first1=American Art |title=American Art Awards' Best Galleries, 2009 – 2013 |url=https://www.americanartawards.com/best-galleries-2013/ |website=American Art Awards |access-date=24 February 2023}}

In 2021, Park West expanded its locations to include gallery spaces in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2021, and in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii on the Beach Walk. The Las Vegas location is housed inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace hotel and casino.{{cite web |last1=Zajac |first1=Alec |title=Southfield's Park West Gallery Opens Art Museum, Gallery in Las Vegas |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/southfields-park-west-gallery-opens-art-museum-gallery-in-las-vegas/ |website=D Business Magazine – Detroit’s Premier Business Journal|date=January 5, 2021 |publisher=D Business Magazine |access-date=24 February 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Mark |first1=Steven |title=A new art gallery in Waikiki offers works by major artists |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/07/04/features/a-new-art-gallery-in-waikiki-offers- works-by-major-artists/?HSA=73898f679c8452a32a588a6cdb9f61be7c5652ca|website=Star Advertiser |publisher=Oahu Publications, Inc.|access-date=24 February 2023}}

In December 2022, Park West opened an additional location in New York City's SoHo arts district.{{cite web |last1=Kinsella |first1=Eileen |title=Park West, the Gallery Best Known for Selling Art on Cruise Ships, Wants to Turn the Tide After Years of Legal Battles. Will a New York Outpost Help? |url=https://news.artnet.com/market/park-west-cruise-seller-new-york-gallery-2246377 |website=Artnet |date=January 31, 2023 |publisher=Artnet Worldwide Corporation |access-date=7 February 2023}} For the grand opening, guests included Walter Robinson, Carlo McCormick, and Madeline Follin of the indie rock band Cults.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Richard |title=Richard Johnson: Benedict Cumberbatch's family ties to slavery could mean reparation payments |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-richard-johnson-20230107-f6suzsc4rze4tbp4fg66pfgpxm-story.html |website=NY Daily News |date=January 7, 2023 |publisher=Daily News, L.P. |access-date=24 February 2023}}

Their fulfillment center is based in Miami Lakes, Florida. This facility handles the gallery's

framing, International shipping, art transport, and houses executive offices.

Park West launched its philanthropic organization, The Park West Foundation, in 2006, which provides assistance for youth aging out of the Foster Care system in southeast Michigan. The foundation helps with housing, employment, tuition aid and scholarships, transportation, clothing, and more.{{cite web |last1=Admin |first1=Real Times Media |title=Park West Foundation helps youth transition out of foster care |url=https://michiganchronicle.com/2013/03/15/park-west-foundation-helps-youth-transition-out-of-foster-care/ |website=Michigan Chronicle |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=Real Times Media |access-date=29 March 2023}} The Gallery has been involved in charitable giving as well. In 2022, Park West Gallery hosted an auction telecast that raised over $500,000 for the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.{{cite web |last1=Lange |first1=Amy |last2=Komer |first2=David |title=$500K raised for Ukraine Red Cross from Park West Gallery's auction telecast |url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/500k-raised-for-ukraine-red-cross-from-park-west-gallerys-auction-telecast |website=FOX 2 Detroit |date=March 14, 2022 |publisher=FOX Television Stations |access-date=29 March 2023}}

In 2008, complaints were reported by The New York Times and other media about the conduct of auctions, and a class action lawsuit has been filed concerning the valuation of items sold. The company has dismissed these complaints as unfounded. One buyer said he later discovered that a Picasso print which he had been advised by Park West was a "good investment" at $35,000 (he won it for $24,265) had been sold at Sotheby's two years previously for $6,150. USA Today and other media carried similar reports.{{cite news|url=http://paidpost.nytimes.com/park-west-gallery/the-power-of-paint.html|title=The Power of Paint: How science is changing the way schools think about art|date=May 13, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=Jun 1, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyId=1284|title=Cruise Art Auctions: Great Bargain or Lousy Deal?|date=February 11, 2008|work=Inside Edition|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=July 17, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/177533|title=Gullible travels: art sales at sea|last=Wagner|first=Dennis |date=April 9, 2008|publisher=The Arizona Republic|accessdate=July 16, 2008}}* {{cite news|last=Yancey|first=Kitty Bean|date=February 9, 2001|title=Cruise lines draw profits from selling works of art|newspaper=USA Today|url=http://www.cruisediva.com/usa_today.htm|accessdate=July 17, 2008}} In July 2008, The New York Times published an article citing complaints by six individuals, concerning sales tactics, certification and valuation of work, and money-back promises. Some refunds have been made to customers with a confidentiality clause. Scaglione said the gallery had spent "hundred of thousands of dollars" on establishing valuations through independent consultants. Most of all claims against the gallery had been settled or dismissed.* {{cite news|url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-11-09/news/the-art-of-piracy/full%3Cbr%20/%3E|title=The Art of Piracy: On the high seas, it may be best to resist the urge to buy a masterpiece.|last=Cramer|first=Kelly|date=November 9, 2006|accessdate=July 17, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011074148/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-11-09/news/the-art-of-piracy/full%3Cbr%20/%3E|archivedate=October 11, 2008|url-status=dead|publisher=New Times Broward-Palm Beach|df=mdy-all}}

In April 2008, a Florida and a California resident filed class action lawsuits, accusing Park West of misrepresenting the value of artwork. In September 2008, the gallery instituted a policy where any item bought from them could be returned for a refund (less the buyer's premium) or exchanged for another artwork within specified timeframes.

Royal Caribbean announced in May 2010 it would not renew its concession contract with Park West, after more than 15 years of partnership. However, the agreement was renewed and Park West currently operates on Royal Caribbean ships.{{Cite news|url=https://www.parkwestgallery.com/talking-to-auctioneers-aboard-royal-caribbeans-new-ship-harmony-of-the-seas/36548|title=Talking to auctioneers aboard Royal Caribbean's new ship, Harmony of the Seas - Park West Gallery|date=2016-05-26|work=Park West Gallery|access-date=2018-06-22|language=en-US}}

In December 2014, the Michigan Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she bought $165,000 in faked Salvador Dalí artwork that had been overturned by a lower court decision in 2012 over a technicality.{{cite web|title = Salvador Dali Lawsuit|last1=Meyer|first1=Zlati|url=http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2014/12/03/salvador-dali-lawuit/19861427/|website=Detroit Free Press|accessdate=December 3, 2014}}

The term seriolithograph is used by Park West Gallery to distinguish a form of hybrid fine art printing technique. Seriolithographs are a combination of lithography (offset, stochastic, photo-mechanical or continuous tone) with serigraphy, a stencil based silk screen. Although the term is used by Park West Gallery most commonly, Park West is not the only gallery that publishes or represents these types of hybrid prints. Fine art prints of this type are published by numerous artists and publishers worldwide, and are widely accepted and collected.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.parkwestgallery.com/ Park West website]
• [http://www.parkwestfoundation.org/ Park West Gallery Foundation]

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Category:American art dealers

Category:Contemporary art galleries in the United States

Category:1969 establishments in Michigan

Category:Art museums and galleries in Michigan

Category:Privately held companies based in Michigan

Category:Art museums and galleries established in 1969