The Art Worlds of Spain and the United Kingdom

About this event

A conversation with Philip Hook and Alia Al-Senussi The Art Worlds of Spain and the United Kingdom brings together two leading voices from the international art scene: Philip Hook, Senior Director at Sotheby's and celebrated author on the art market, and Alia Al-Senussi, renowned curator, cultural strategist and advisor to major global arts institutions. Together, they will explore the artistic, institutional and commercial connections between Spain and the United Kingdom, examining how ideas, collectors, museums and cultural networks shape the contemporary art landscape. Drawing on their extensive experience across museums, auction houses, biennials and cultural organisations, Hook and Al-Senussi will discuss the evolving role of art in society, the global circulation of cultural influence, and the opportunities and challenges facing artists and institutions today. This lively conversation offers a unique opportunity to gain insider perspectives on two interconnected art worlds and their place within an increasingly international cultural ecosystem. Philip Hook is one of the art world's most respected specialists, writers and commentators. A Board Member and Senior Director of Impressionist & Modern Art at Sotheby's in London, he has spent more than four decades at the heart of the international art market, advising collectors and handling some of the world's most significant works of art. Before joining Sotheby's, he worked at Christie's in the 19th Century Paintings Department, helping to establish his reputation as an expert in European art and the history of collecting. Alongside his distinguished career as an auctioneer and art specialist, Hook is a celebrated author whose books explore the relationships between art, taste, money and power. His acclaimed non-fiction works include Breakfast at Sotheby's: An A-Z of the Art World (2013), named a Book of the Year by The Sunday Times , The Spectator , the Financial Times , The Guardian and the Mail on Sunday . He has since published several bestselling titles, including The Ultimate Trophy: How the Impressionist Painting Conquered the World and Rogues' Gallery: A History of Art and Its Dealers , both praised for their wit, insight and deep knowledge of the art market. Hook is also the author of five novels and has been a familiar face on British television, appearing regularly on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow . Renowned for making the art world accessible to wider audiences, he combines scholarly expertise with a gift for storytelling, offering unique perspectives on artists, collectors, dealers and the cultural forces that shape the value of art. Today, he continues to play a leading role in the international art market while writing and speaking on art history, collecting and the evolution of taste. Alia Al-Senussi , PhD, is a leading figure in the contemporary art world, with a particular emphasis in her academic, personal, and professional work on visual arts and culture in the Middle East. She holds a doctorate in Politics from SOAS, University of London, where her research analysed the nexus of soft power and cultural diplomacy within networks of patronage. Dr Al-Senussi is a founding member of the Tate’s Acquisitions Committee for the Middle East and North Africa, the Board of 1:54 The African Art Fair, and the Middle East Circle of the Guggenheim. Among her many leadership roles, she is the Founding Co-Chair of the LACMA Global Ambassadors and the Founding Chairperson of the K11 International Council (2023–2026). She is also a member of the Tate Modern Advisory Council, the Board of the ICA London, the Serpentine Future Contemporaries, and the Strategic Advisory Council of the Delfina Foundation. Most recently, she joined the Bukhara Biennial Advisory Board. Dr Al-Senussi serves as Senior Advisor, International Outreach, and VIP Representative for the United Kingdom, as well as the Middle East and North Africa, for Art Basel.