Magnus Renfrew Appointed Bonhams Deputy Chairman, Asia, and Director of Fine Arts, Asia

On July 22, Bonhams announced the appointment of Magnus Renfrew as deputy chairman, Asia, and director of fine arts, Asia. Assuming his role in September, Renfrew will spearhead the renowned auction house’s strategy relating to fine arts and supervise its Classical, Modern and Contemporary Art departments in Asia. Renfrew will also sit on the board of Bonhams Asia.

Renfrew was previously the director of Art Basel Asia, and a member of the executive committee of Art Basel, and was responsible for the participation of Asian galleries and collectors in all iterations of the fair. In 2008, he was the founding fair director of ART HK—the Hong Kong International Art Fair—which was subsequently acquired by Art Basel’s parent company, MCH, in 2011. Two years later, in 2013, Renfrew helmed the successful inaugural edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong.

Excited about his return to Bonhams, where he first worked as a specialist in London in 2006, Renfrew told ArtAsiaPacific by phone that he is eager to bring about changes to Bonhams in Asia: “It has been an incredible experience working on the fair, from the very beginning to its status now as one of the leading fairs in the world. I feel I’ve achieved all that I set out to achieve, it’s on a solid footing now. Going to Bonhams will be a new challenge. The art market in Asia is at an interesting moment and there’s a real opportunity for me to make significant contribution and impact there.” When asked about what he plans to implement when he joins the auction house this autumn, he continued: "I’ll be working hard to build the team. It’s about doing the right thing. Bonhams are straight shooters, which will be a real change for Asia.”