Welcome to Sapienza Art Shipping!
A HUMBLE BEGINNING
It all began back in the 80’s, when young Brooklyn-born Frank Sapienza sat in front of his apartment building at 190 Bleecker, Artful Trucking pulled up. The driver’s assistant hadn’t shown up for work, so Frank was asked to work that day, and the day turned into years. That was Frank’s entrée into the “art schlepping” business. After that, his love of fine art – and dedication to keeping it safe – propelled his career forward.
Working at Seifert Verlaan and Judson Art Warehouse as Export Manager – handling shipments of Warhols, Schnabels and Fischls – Mr. Sapienza earned a reputation for loyalty and dependability. In 1988, he became President of Winchester Fine Art Services, which he’d developed...from sitting on a crate with a cell phone to a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse...and expanded his client base to galleries, collectors, and museums worldwide.
HANDLED WITH CARE
Before joining Artful Trucking, Frank had known J-M Basquiat as a kid who played frisbee with him in Central Park. Little did Frank know that, one day, he’d be transporting Basquiat’s paintings.
Frank has organized shipments for the likes of Brad Pitt and Joel Coen, and shipped Antiques and Sculpture & Furniture as well as Rembrandts, Van Goghs, and de Koonings. He once aided in the “shipment” of a human being – who WAS the work of art – by assisting a Russian performance artist through customs at JFK Airport.
For many years, Frank was the exclusive shipper for Nam June Paik – storing and shipping his creations, including delivering them to The Guggenheim for his 2000 retrospective show. While collecting from Paik’s studio, Frank’s team was surprised to find the artist’s assistants covering him with a sheet, so as not to disturb him while working at his computer!
Frank organized the packing of hundreds of Murano vases from the Olnick Spanu Collection into travel crates that started off at The Museum of Art & Design and continued on to several venues thereafter. He has also worked tirelessly for various exhibitions at The Armory. One year, he simultaneously managed 15 booths at The Asian Art Fair – getting all the artwork in and out for all his clients without a hitch.
“SILK PURSE FROM SOW’S EAR”
Not only has Frank become the go-to shipper, based on his discretion and detail-oriented personal attention
to every project, he’s also well-known for his ingenuity and resourcefulness. When tossed a rush job handling
a Damien Hirst installation, Frank phoned many morgues to obtain enough formaldehyde to submerge an enormous bull’s head in a fish tank. Frank was also the one who explained to the firemen during a blaze at Seifert Verlaan, that the dozens of “bodies” wrapped in blankets on the floor were sculptures by John Ahearn.
ONE-STOP SHIPPING
Over the decades, while maintaining the enthusiasm of a 22-yr-old, Mr. Sapienza has developed extensive solid expertise, and earned the trust of his clients. Now, at long last, Frank has established Sapienza Art Shipping, LLC.
Services Include: Transportation/Shipping • Packing/Crating • Collection • Import/Export • Storage • Installation
