About Us
DeGroot Fine Art, founded in 2016, is a full-service art consulting firm.
Who We Are
Based in Chicago — home to some of the country’s leading galleries, museums, and art vendors — we serve corporate and private clients nationwide and abroad. Our central location keeps travel efficient, and our access to the city’s top-tier professional network means every project is executed to the highest standard.
Our staff works closely with you to manage collections, source original works, and deliver solutions tailored to your objectives — meeting deadlines without compromising on quality. With years of experience curating, managing, and consulting on diverse art collections, we offer a range of art-focused service.
Our Team
The DeGroot Fine Art team brings together deep expertise in art history, arts administration, collection management, appraisal, and project management. We work closely with artists, galleries, vendors, and clients to deliver thoughtful, well-executed results — whether building a collection from scratch, managing complex logistics, or navigating the fine art market on a client's behalf. Every engagement is led by a senior team member from the first conversation through final installation.
JAIME DEGROOT
Founder + CEO
Jaime founded DeGroot Fine Art in 2016 after more than a decade working in arts advising and administration. She holds a Master's degree in Art History from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has built the firm on the belief that art consulting should be as rigorous, accountable, and client-focused as any other professional service.
KEIKO LEVON
Director of Operations
Keiko holds a degree in Art History from Wheaton College and is certified in Artifact Collection Care through the University of Chicago. She has worked as an art advisor for over ten years, with experience spanning private client acquisitions and large-scale corporate collection management. Her background across both markets gives her a clear understanding of what each requires.
MAURA CONNORS
Studio Operations Manager
Maura holds an MA in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA from the University of Chicago. She brings a decade of experience in consulting, marketing, and event planning across architecture, artist management, and the broader arts sector — and a thorough understanding of both the business and creative sides of what we do.
MONICA STOKES
Senior Consultant
Monica holds a BA in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her background includes curating exhibitions, managing collections, and developing brand strategies for arts-focused organizations and major corporations. She brings strategic clarity and precision to every client engagement.
NICO GARDNER
Senior Consultant
Nico has spent nearly 20 years in the art world at some of the field’s most respected institutions — from Deitch Projects and the Menil Collection to Chicago mainstays Corbett vs Dempsey and Richard Gray Gallery, where he served as Director. He holds a Bachelor’s in Art History from Rice University and a Master’s from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His advising private and corporate clients on acquisitions, sales, and public sculpture has honed his keen eye and expertise.
NATHAN DAVIS
Project Assistant
Nathan brings a strong analytical foundation to his work at DeGroot Fine Art, having earned his BA in Art History from the University of Chicago. Previous roles across galleries and museums, such as Volume Gallery and the Smart Museum of Art, inform his contributions to curatorial support, collections management, and content strategy at DeGroot Fine Art. He brings careful research and a collaborative spirit to every project he supports.
CLAIRE WARNER + SAM VINZ
Credentialed Appraisers
Claire and Sam are both credentialed in fine art appraisal in 20th Century and Contemporary Art and Design. Claire previously worked as a specialist in 20th Century and Contemporary Design at Wright Auction in Chicago. Sam's background includes positions at Phillips de Pury, Carpenter's Workshop Gallery, and Chase Art Companies, where he developed a thorough understanding of the fine art market and how to navigate it on a client's behalf.
KATHERINE HARVATH
Credentialed Appraiser
Katherine holds an MFA from the University of Chicago and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is credentialed in fine art appraisal and brings over a decade of experience in the art world as both a practicing artist and curator. Her dual perspective — as maker and advisor — informs how she approaches valuation and collection assessment.
“Most of our projects come from word-of-mouth recommendations from long-standing satisfied clients. We take pride in providing an experience that is professional, detail-oriented, seamless — and also joyful.”
— Jaime DeGroot, Founder + CEO
Let’s Work Together
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Most of our corporate clients come to us with no background in art. We walk you through the selection process, then take care of the rest: sourcing, negotiation, installation, and ongoing care.
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Yes. Collection assessment and management is one of our core services. We can audit what you have, document it properly, advise on what to keep, reframe, relocate, or deaccession, and integrate existing works into a refreshed program. You may have more to work with than you think.
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Yes. We are based in Chicago and work locally, nationally, and abroad. By hiring our team from an art-focused city, you gain access to our professional resources and top vendors who serve Chicagoland’s leading galleries and museums. Travel costs are factored into the proposal and offset by swift execution and our trusted vendor network, which extends well beyond the Midwest.
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Every engagement starts with a detailed proposal that breaks costs into three categories: consulting fees, art acquisition budget, and implementation. All fees are listed as not-to-exceed amounts — so the full scope of work is completed within the approved estimate, with no surprise costs. We are transparent about how we charge, and we provide sample budgets so you have a realistic sense of what different levels of investment look like before you commit to anything.
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It depends on scope. A focused acquisition and installation for a single office floor can move in six to ten weeks. A full building program with commissions can take six to twelve months. One thing all timelines have in common: the earlier you bring us in, the better.
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We work exclusively on behalf of our clients— never galleries, artists, or auction houses. That means our guidance is driven by the client's taste, space, budget, and goals. We work across the full market: primary and secondary, emerging and established, local, and international.