About Art Strategies Inc.

At Art Strategies Inc. Irene provides expertise and comprehensive services in the acquisition and commissioning of works of art for private, corporate, and institutional collections. Focusing on Canadian and International contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st century, we develop customized art programs and collections specific to the needs of each client.

In the sphere of Public Art, working in collaboration with developer teams of architects and designers, we offer myriad choices of artists with whom we have a fluid and collaborative relationship. With in-house resources, each client’s budget, taste and requirements can be met and delivered smoothly and professionally.

As a certified appraiser of the International Society of Appraisers, Irene provides appraisal services for purposes of charitable donation of cultural property (CCPERB), tax receipt  (CRA), and insurance, among other types of valuation.


About Irene

Irene Szylinger, founded Art Strategies Inc. (formerly, ‘Art Research and Appraisals’) in 1985. The company offers comprehensive services in the acquisition and management of art collections for private, corporate, and institutional clients.

Irene holds an Honours Fine Arts degree from Concordia University and a Masters in  Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. 

As a Trustee of the National Gallery of Canada, Irene was a member of the Board Acquisitions Committee and Committee Chair of the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. A professional appraiser since 1997, now Certified (CAPP) in the Fine Arts Division of International Society of Appraisers (ISA).

While art and art history has been the focus of her career, Irene has undertaken research courses and attended numerous symposia on authentication and provenance research. She remains current on the complex historical, legal and moral challenges of the potential presence of looted cultural property in art collections.


Professional Development & Education:

  • Appraising High-Net- Worth Individuals Symposium 
  • Art Crime & Cultural Heritage, Fakes Forgeries Looted & Stolen Art, NYU School of Continuing & Professional Studies, Art Recovery International 
  • Provenance Research, European Shoah Legacy Institute, Training, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Criminality in the Art & Cultural Property World, Symposium, Toronto
  • ICAPP Appraiser, International Society of Appraisers
  • Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP 2020-2021) 
  • Master  in Art History and Museum Studies(MA), University of Toronto
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Honors Art History, Concordia University
  • Bachelor of Arts, Honors Literature, Concordia University

Institutional Experience:

  • National Gallery of Canada, Board Trustee (two terms)
  • National Gallery of Canada, Board Acquisitions Committee (two terms)
  • Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Board Committee Chair (two terms)
  • Canadian, American & European Art Specialist, Ritchies/Sotheby’s
  • Royal Ontario Museum: Research Curator & Exhibitions Programmer
  • Art Gallery of Ontario: Exhibitions Producer & Special Projects Officer

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