Ralph DeLuca (born May 13, 1976) is an American art advisor and collector specializing in contemporary art and film memorabilia. His clients include individuals, corporations, foundations, and institutions. Amongst his clients are actors Leonardo DiCaprio,[1] Sylvester Stallone,[2] and co-founder of Tinder, Sean Rad.[3]
Ralph DeLuca | |
|---|---|
 Ralph DeLuca at the Park Avenue Armory | |
| Born | May 13, 1976 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Art advisor and collector |
| Website | http://ralphdeluca.com |
Life and career
editHe was born in East Hanover, New Jersey.
A lifelong collector, DeLuca purchased his first print, from Salvador Dalí’s The Divine Comedy suite, using his birthday money at age 13.[4]
While working in investment banking, DeLuca expanded his collections of both vintage movie posters and contemporary art. Realizing his rapidly-growing collections were quickly amassing value as financial assets, he switched career paths in 2000 to focus on dealing collectibles.[5] As an art advisor, DeLuca's rise in the art market has been as an autodidact.[5]
In 2012, DeLuca paid $1.2 million for nine rare and early film posters, including the world's highest-valued poster of the 1927 film Metropolis.[6] DeLuca has loaned posters from his collection for exhibitions at MGM Resorts,[7] Salon 94,[8] Poster House,[9] and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.[10]
References
edit- ^ Bahr, Sarah; Syckle, Katie Van; Westervelt, Nina; Pinyodoonyachet, Jutharat (2024-04-06). "Leonardo DiCaprio, Tracee Ellis Ross and Gayle King Hit New York Art Parties". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "Did Leo DiCaprio's Former Art Advisor Exploit the Star's Name?". Observer. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "Six Art World Power Couples You Should Know". www.culturedmag.com. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ Cascone, Sarah (2022-10-28). "'With the Wrong Prints, Your House Could Look Like a Dentist's Office': Collector Ralph DeLuca on How to Make Good (Not Bad) Decisions at a Print Fair". Artnet News. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ a b Boucher, Brian (2024-05-02). "Meet Advisor Ralph DeLuca, the Self-Made Celebrity Whisperer Who's Won Over the Art World". www.culturedmag.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- ^ Lewis, Andy (2012-12-13). "'Metropolis' Poster Leads $1.2 Million Auction of Movie Memorabilia". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "Caldonia at the Bellagio Gallery helps illuminate the history of Black performance - Las Vegas Weekly". lasvegasweekly.com. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "Salon 94 | Caldonia: Concert and Film Posters from the Collection of Ralph DeLuca". Salon 94. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "The Utopian Avant-Garde: Soviet Film Posters of the 1920s". Poster House. 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "New Acquisition: The Mike Kaplan Poster Collection". Unframed. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-21.