High Wire Act - Extracting a multi-million dollar masterpiece

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When the stakes are high and so too is the painting, Christie's Auctions' turned to Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration to carefully and successfully extract a modern masterpiece from a towering penthouse. The catch is that the piece is too big for the elevator and the only stairs down are on the outside of the building, requiring a bit of a high wire act.
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[@BabaC35]

The perfect crime, robbing million dollar painting and uploading video of it and calling it a Restoration. Pure Geniuses.

[@Hvantmiki]

problen is that stolen art is always sold for less money than a reproduction or a poster of the same artwork.

[@rbebut1]

🤣

[@allendean9807]

Makes us all part of the crime; and, if I’m not mistaken, a cut of the proceeds!!

[@c0nstantin86]

Real robbery is the mobster stealing 1 bld dollars and paying a pothead 5000 to paint a street sign to wash his money! 😂

[@graziacavasino8884]

@@c0nstantin86 no, real robbery is to consider a thrash like that worth so much money

[@dieter-4977]

This is the perfect example on how to branch out from your content while teaching your audience more about the surround aspects of your day-to-day routine.

[@IFGchannel931]

Julian invested more thought and planning into this single extraction than I ever did into any aspect of my entire life.

[@koolblue6927]

Hahaha

[@TVGUY333]

ROFL

[@JiveDadson]

... and certainly more than the "artist" did.

[@bucurionutrusu3260]

@@JiveDadson Yeeeeep

[@randorandom]

6:43 Gotta love the bystander just munching away on a snack a foot away from a multi-million dollar masterpiece.

[@codeforge3301]

"Masterpiece"

[@jeno264]

... Was that in the contingency plan? 😬

[@calebprouty288]

Bro and the dog wandering around, and all the random bystanders rushing to get out of their way when they get up. No respect

[@Estherfay]

At one point all I could think of was Ross from Friends yelling Pivot! Have to admit I got a bit anxious during this video, but still loved it.

[@dorond.5913]

Its always fun when we leave the studio and discover things

[@sensitivecake]

Field Trip!

[@dieter-4977]

I would love to see a video where you break down the organization of your studio, how you designed the spaces, furniture and storage.

[@dkcaroline]

There is a video like that, from some years ago. He goes through the different parts of the studio and explains

[@mikebartlett6356]

Good to see Kit again. I like the projects when you are working together

[@Unc_Talks]

My boy out here on the mean streets doing art stuff.. Love to see it. That series was super cool too man.

[@karentexas]

Wow! When you think of art conservation this to me, never comes to mind. Thank you for sharing ALL the things that doing your job entails. Never thought it would be so scary. 🙂

[@justinofboulder]

My cousin is a cargo airline pilot and on one of his trips he said there was a Monet painting on board, along with "several handlers". I never really thought about it before, all the precautions and care that go in to transporting art.

[@karentexas]

@@justinofboulder I agree.

[@audsstuff5940]

I love the fact that it was always "we" and never "I" when narrating this video.

[@MADmosche]

Because he doesn’t want to be responsible for doing all this work for such an incredibly simple and stupid “painting”

[@juliamyatt8776]

My heart was in my mouth as you came down that fire escape!! Partially because I have a real phobia of open stairs!! Well done to everyone involved in that rescue!!

[@fraserradford6551]

Seeing the Paul Jenkins, Frank Stella and Walter Darby Bannard paintings at 2:49 made me grin with excitement. Post-Painterly Abstraction/Colour Field Painting is my favourite "movement" in 20th Century art history and heavily influences my own work.

[@amosluyk]

Really love the new content outside of your studio. This is my favorite KZbin channel, and has been for a long while. Thanks so much :)

[@KazzyD]

Oh that fire escape, absolutely no, you'd have to tether me to the fire escape, let alone the painting. Great job, great attention to detail, would love to see the actual auction footage of it being sold.

[@stella.r2708]

I was being enthusiastically encouraged to watch videos from your channel by KZbin. As an artist I was curious - ok bored - and watched a few. It gave me an appreciation for how what I choose now will determine how my work will/may be treated in the future. Thanks for the lessons

[@HalianTheProtogen]

One of us. One of us. One of us. :D

[@LehTieKah]

I hope one day someone cherishes my art as much as julian does the ones he works with. Its so satisfying watching him do such perfect and careful work when handling pieces

[@M.Campbell]

This channel NEVER disappoints. I may not care for the piece of art, that is the subject, but the video of the process is always interesting.

[@philomenahearn1717]

Yeah and I was more concerned for Julian and his helpers than the gawd awful painting.

[@vestofholding]

@@philomenahearn1717 Right? Like, I guess it's "well executed" in the sense that the colors seem to be very even, but wow I do not understand how this two-color painting is so expensive, lol.

[@bdickins2190]

LOVED this episode! Never gave it a single thought how rich people got their priceless paintings up and down from their penthouses. 🤑

[@ronkluwe4875]

Julian - Perfect example of the 6 P's for any project. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Well done sir and also a big congratulations to your team.

[@jennastephens1224]

Wow, that's really impressive. And here I was thinking that getting my brother's couch up his 3 story walk up was hard

[@samanthadean1083]

Holy crap, my heart was in my throat the entire time they were going down the fire escape!!! Awesome job!!! ❤️❤️❤️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@AvalonDreamz]

I will tell you honestly I really enjoyed seeing how you got this out more than the art itself and would enjoy seeing the restoration. I find it wild sometimes at the type of "art" people are willing to spend millions on when it looks like this. I feel like it is a prank. As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and seems value as well.

[@TheBobbytables]

Kit AND Joel...... spoiling us here!

[@morriganwitch]

I like it , in the right setting , nice to see Kit and your bro xxx

[@user-jf2iu4vo7b]

Love the crowd that gathered to watch ! You must be as interesting live as you are videoed ! Congratulations!

[@webbtrekker534]

I can fly in an airplane just fine but put me on the edge of a building like this, chills run through my body!! It surprised me when I discovered this. I had no idea I had this fear. Great job people!!

[@cherylrosbak4092]

I figured out a long time ago that heights are terrifying to me only if I'm looking up, not down -- I lose all sense of where my body is. So yeah, flying is great, but looking up stairs like that? Nope.

[@johnopalko5223]

Same here. I can ride in an airplane. I can pilot an airplane. I can even jump out of an airplane. No problem. But get two steps up a ladder? Nope.

[@v.llamas]

Holy cow. I had no idea into the mechanics of this all. Thank you so much for sharing and informing us!! Wow!

[@lindyashford7744]

Honestly, that looked terrifying. The shot that made me most worried was the bungee cords all gather round someone’s feet like a trip hazard waiting to happen. Well done for the nerves of steel the three of you displayed. It was not the painting I feared for, it was the three of you.

[@hippieduck]

Oouup, that intro shot of you guys with the painting at that height made my tummy churn.

[@nikkimyers4467]

Me too! And when they said it was going over the edge.... *shudders*

[@hippieduck]

@@nikkimyers4467 the dream, moments before I wake up in a cold sweat.

[@lorrainemunoa791]

Poor man, the PAIN in his voice noting the number of staples and staple holes in the canvas... Ow. Great video!

[@kimrafferty7170]

I kept saying WOW all the way through the video, your attention to every little detail amazes me and it has been so interesting watching the behind the scenes and learning about so many different aspects in art conservation. I love certain themes in paintings and I will never be clever enough to understand many styles of art but when I watch you I feel I am watching a true master of his craft. Thank you for allowing me to follow you as you work your magic

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

Fascinating to see how your attention to detail is applied to moving artworks safely and securely, Julian!

[@MarchMountain]

I love your regular restoration videos and always will, but I am really enjoying the diverse content you have shown this year! Your Behind the Canvas series has been very informative, and this was a very interesting look into an aspect of art I never considered before.

[@noterix1164]

I'm a little late to the party here but this was FASCINATING !! I've never thought too hard about the logistics of moving such a large piece before, what an interesting process to watch. glad everything went smoothly !!

[@patsabol8699]

As entertaining as the in-studio videos are, it's nice to get out now and then to see other, contigent, aspects of your job. Thanks for all of your videos and all of the work that goes into making them.

[@jeffreyprice1380]

Perhaps the best video for picture framers and anyone working professionally with art! Kim posting it in the framers group.

[@Tinatortoise]

Some folks have too much money!

[@CatsArtFashion]

Love to see Kit!

[@LynnKsCouture]

Love the extra videos beyond the restoration process. Love your verbal references. Amazing going down the open fire escape staircase .

[@PkGam]

Really good job pulling this off! The fire escape was especially impressive (and scary) as there are a lot of ways that can hiccup. But it indeed looked perfectly planned out as you just rinsed and repeated your techniques!

[@26Bluegb]

I wonder if there were any strange looks at the hardware store while getting the supplies. Plastic sheeting, rope, concrete form tubing, duct tape...throw in a shovel and you get the mafia discount.

[@rjkora]

You can see the stress on Kit's face!

[@michaellindsey1543]

First time I saw Julian working on a piece I wouldn't hang in my garage. Fascinating video but I sure don't get the painting. . .

[@emmabroughton2039]

Another fascinating expedition outside of the studio. Thank you, Julian.

[@DiamondCutter423]

Great post. I particularly liked how you wrapped and rolled-up the canvas and then put that tube inside another larger tube to protect it during transport. Using this container-into-another-container packaging is a very effective way to mitigate damage (especially for fragile objects) caused by shock during transport. You can even increase the number of containers within containers and the more containers you use, the more protected the object being shipped will be.

[@victorg2217]

So happy to see Kit again! What a fascinating video. Thank you so much for showing this process to us.

[@NorCalPhil]

This has been such a great series! And it’s good to see Kit again!!

[@TheCousinEddie]

Great video, as always, but I have to say, if I had a business I'd want all my employees to be like Kit. She is a very hard worker and her enthusiasm is a joy to behold. It's easy to see she loves her job.

[@darilynkrupp6309]

Fascinating! So much planning, prep work, practice, and so many people doing a variety of tasks and coordination elements. Luckily it all worked and the piece and its' support were removed from the previous owner's place to the new home and owner without damage or mishap. It would have never even crossed my mind that all of this was happening without this video. Kudos to all involved.

[@acadacad1]

I watched closely as you tore that tape!!! Thanks for the tip on how it's done!! I often have to use a clear sticky tape that gets lost on the roll after I cut it. That is a great way to do it. Thanks!

[@jeno264]

This is an extraordinary peek into a world I would never have otherwise seen! Thank you! 💖💖

[@catswatchingbirds818]

That was fascinating and nail-biting! Thank you for sharing this piece of the process of art auction and transportation. I really enjoyed this simple and complicated extraction. It was also interesting to see how you used your assistant and brother in the process. I thoroughly enjoy all of your videos. Oh, and, “Hi Kit!” 😄👋 you’ve become a bit of a Baumgartner vlog Easter egg.

[@nuancedmusings-ronneefullerton]

Thanks for sharing this story-adventure with us! It was very interesting and felt documentary-like 😊. The thought and planning you put into every job that you do is so admirable and shows your passion for your work. I appreciated you sharing your thought process and explanations for why you did as you did with us.

[@Mrstealth93]

I can certainly understand all the planning needed here. Thats a pretty unconventional canvas shape. Glad to know it was possible to safely pack and bring it down.

[@myrmatta1]

It's amazing what people will do for a big red triangle. 🔺️

[@dawn5227]

So should we all pretend we dont know baumgartner when a million dollar paiting goes missing? 😂😂

[@jeno264]

... What painting

[@robinpinkham9398]

I got weak in the knees just watching this! What an amazing feat of engineering ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@thepagan5432]

Nicely done, removing anything from height does cause several heart-in-the-mouth moments. Good post, stay safe and well 👍

[@XMarkxyz]

Fascinating episode, it's always interesting to see this sort of logistic problem getting resolved

[@rjmunt]

One persons trash is another’s treasure. The move is impressive.

[@sweetbailey1177]

Fascinating!! Thank you for showing another aspect of your craft.

[@gailbean7497]

Geepers creepers!!!! That was no small feat! Excellent job everybody! 🎉

[@davidmontgomery1016]

Cool! It was good to see Kit again. I've been wondering where she was.

[@amekat]

love the creativity of the plan and packaging.

[@deettekearns9092]

Wow. Surprised the auction house didn't send their own people to do this, but let's be frank - you executed perfectly!!! Congrats!!!

[@red.aries1444]

The people who drive the van are from Christie's. I think it was cheaper to hire Julian for the job to take the painting from the wall and down the staircase. It needed a lot of planning and rehearsals to do the job. Any team from Christie's New York would have to go several times to Chicago to have a look at the location and taking measurements, each time with staying overnight, as you don't want to do such job tired and under stress. Julian and his team live in Chicago, so it was much easier for him to do the planning and rehearsals.

[@deettekearns9092]

@@red.aries1444 - Makes sense. Thanks.

[@mrsspeech]

Wow! What a beautiful painting and a move. Loved them both.

[@FredPilcher]

Boy - is Kit ever going to have some marketable skills when she's finished her training!

[@bakageyama222]

3:34 bro kit looks so cool

[@terrancemiller8350]

My goodness I just love your videos, it's your voice, it's so comforting, it makes me just want to snuggle. The scope of information that you provide is important to artsy people and the repeating information, you just make it so we have never heard it before or just don't mind. I'm smiling, keep up the great work. Lots of love. Afriend.

[@AvatarPrimus]

Fascinating! Thaks Julian, I enjoyed every second of this video.

[@lisajahn6839]

Beautiful episode! 💜 😊

[@seashore2768]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS. So You are mixing it up yay! Love your channel

[@colettenewell4634]

That was fascinating. Great content.

[@scaliedog2777]

I feel like I would also be good at this part of the job :D Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@bricky-brikson9487]

i love seeing all the folks watching you guys work with baited breath. i wonder if theyre as hypnotized by you as we are !

[@86fifty]

WHOOO, the terrifying sound design of the teaser at the 50 second mark! the editor really deserves props!

[@maestromecanico597]

Bravo! Excellent work.

[@mm-qd1ho]

Please do a video on how I can get my brother to take orders from me.

[@tyshaver108]

The care you take for your clients is admirable. What a beautiful piece of artwork.😛

[@stephaniewaters4931]

This was SO interesting! Thank you for sharing! 🤩

[@jeanhawken4482]

Amazing work

[@caroltanzi29]

OMG! Incredible. Just watching this, was nerve-racking. Quite an accomplishment. Carol from California

[@chocolate6258]

Loving this series. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@deniseoftedahl8937]

That was great!!! Kudos!!!

[@richardlacey6897]

Great Team Work !

[@SheilaAllenAvelin]

That was completely nuts, and awesome to watch.

[@nj_jj]

This was extremely fascinating to watch!

[@snoepnr1]

Its fun to see you outside for a change

[@stephenashford9006]

I’m amazed the painting is worth as much as it is

[@ulrikaholmquist140]

Wow, I was holding my breath when you were on that fire escape, well done, fantastic team work 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Nico-ff2xo]

Interesting video, thank you for sharing it with us!

[@brb0529]

Thank you for the video

[@krystenreid8106]

So cool I have always wondered how such large paintings were moved

[@leelulady2010]

What an exciting adventure!

[@swaree]

11:44 this shot confused the hell out of me

[@PkGam]

Same! it wasn't until the camera got flipped around that I figured it out, lol!

[@alsilva9100]

Can't wait to see the entire restoration

[@charliesgotaguitar]

absolutely fascinating!

[@polgara28]

R.I.P. Mr Stella. So glad this move was a success! I wonder if he was aware of this video.

[@timmyangeltlc4888]

Well done to the entire team.. Brave