Paul Sykes is a seasoned art dealer with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He specializes in 20th century masters such as Salvador Dali, Picasso, Miro, Matisse, Paul Klee, Edvard Munch, Peter Max, Leonor Fini, as well as emerging live artists including Natasha Turovsky, Yarek Godfrey, Vicki Chelf, and Tegi Barsegian. In addition, Paul supports local artists, nurturing their talents and showcasing their works.
Prior to his career in the art world, Paul was an accomplished professional classical violinist and served on the board of trustees for the Cleveland Institute of Music. He later opened ART AVENUE, a chain of franchised art stores in 20 cities across the United States, including Cleveland, Beverly Hills, Washington DC, and Sarasota, FL.
In 2015, Paul consolidated his private art collections to create the largest art gallery on the Florida Gulf Coast, featuring over 800 works, including investment art masterpieces and local artists’ works. The ART AVENUE gallery hosts numerous events, from fundraisers and banquets to artists’ opening receptions, ballroom dancing, meditations, poetry, and classical music concerts. Paul is also passionate about giving back to his community and recently raised $75,000 for the non-profit organization “Second Heart Homes,” which helps homeless people find housing while restoring their dignity through the arts.
With a love for his job, Paul’s approach to selling art is unique and personalized. Whether selling a Salvador Dali etching or hosting a major artist’s opening, he creates an environment that allows him to sell high-end art while also fostering a positive and enjoyable experience for his clients. In his free time, Paul enjoys swimming every morning at 5:00 AM and indulging his passion for classical music and fine art collecting.