After art school, Deba Gray worked at several auction houses and recognized that while she wanted to own her own auction house some day, she needed to pay her dues in the back room before she could realize her dream.
Today, Gray, along with her partner Serena Harrigan, own Gray's Auctioneers & Appraisers—an LGBT-certified auction house based in Cleveland, Ohio—where they have been offering buyers auction and appraisal services for fine art, antiques, jewelry, rugs and decorations since 2006.
In an interview with BIZ, Gray and Harrigan discuss what drew them to auctioneering, their favorite piece of art in the auction house, and what they hope to get out of their National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® certification.
BIZ: Did you always want to start a business or did you have a different career in mind when you first started out?
Gray: I got into the auction business after art school and immediately knew I had to earn my stripes before starting my own auction house. After rising through the ranks at Wolfs, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and finally ending up as an assistant vice president and auctioneer at Sotheby's, I realized I was finally ready to start my own business.
BIZ: What drew you to auction houses? Did you spend time on the bidding end of an auction? If so, what did you learn about the process that has helped you in your auctioning business?
Gray: An auction house is an adoption agency for beautiful art and artifacts, and I get to spend my days surrounded by what I love. What draws me to the process is the absolute fairness of it. Humans have been buying and selling through the auction process for hundreds of years. The auctioneer is basically a referee between a willing seller and a willing buyer.
BIZ: Where do you get the items you auction off?
Gray: We get them from the four Ds: death, debt, divorce and downsizing. All lots sold at Gray's are consigned. We do not buy items or estates—this is an important distinction. Think of it this way: our job is to be completely impartial and to get the consignor the highest possible price for their treasures. A dealer who buys from people wants to pay the lowest possible price a seller will take. Do you see why you are always going to do better if you sell through a reputable auction house?
BIZ: What is the most interesting/memorable item that you have come across to auction, and why was it so memorable?
Gray: After two decades spent in the auction business, it's hard to pick one piece. But right now we have Le Tub, an Edgar Degas bronze from the original edition of 22 that were conceived from 1888 to 1889, and cast from 1919 to 1937 at the Hébrard Foundry. The base is missing, so it is not complete, which diminishes its value, but the figure of the woman bathing is intact. This piece is so important because it opened the door to the movement of modern art that exploded onto the art scene in the 20th century. Modern art depicts the mundane, the ordinary daily life experienced by ordinary people, and not wealthy elites previously served by artists throughout the 19th century and before. So you can see why I love having such an important sculpture here at the auction house.
BIZ: What have been the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of owning and running a business?
Harrigan: The most challenging was opening a business at the start of the worst downturn in the economy since the Great Depression. But, equally, the most rewarding aspect has been helping people here in Ohio realize the value of their possessions. One client was able to pay their mortgage for a year because we sold a rare Cartier watch for them, so that feels pretty good.
BIZ: Why did you choose to get an NGLCC certification for your business?
Harrigan: Because we are proud to be a visible, gay-owned business in Ohio, which is possibly one of the worst states in which to be gay in terms of rights. We also want to be able to compete for government and corporate business. We need to be able to get in front of trusts and estates departments in large banks and law firms that might not necessarily meet with us because we are a new company. With the NGLCC certification we can at least come to the table and give them our best bid.
BIZ: How do you think your NGLCC certification will benefit you and/or your business in the future?
Harrigan: I hope to be able to participate in all the benefits NGLCC certification has to offer in terms of publicity, workshops and networking as soon as I can get myself out from under the day-to-day paperwork of running a business! Time to hire another person I think!
