FADA names Contessa Gallery founder Steve Hartman president

New FADA president Steve Hartman, founder of Contessa Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio. FADA photo

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – The Fine Art Dealers Association has named Steve Hartman, from Cleveland-based Contessa Gallery, as the new president of the board of directors. He will be focused on curating a new vision and expanding benefits of membership for the 27-year-old organization.

“It is a very significant opportunity,” said Hartman. “I have been a participating member of the fine arts community for decades, and now I have the platform to continue to promote the highest degree of professionalism, scholarship and integrity within this industry.”

Hartman takes over leadership from Betina Tasende of La Jolla, Calif.-based Tasende Gallery.

Hartman graduated from the University of Michigan and the Wexner Leadership Development Program.

Hartman began collecting art at the age of 20, and founded Contessa Gallery in 1999 after a successful career as an investment adviser and vice-president of UBS / PaineWebber. He has received numerous art industry accolades. Hartman has also served as a board member of several charitable organizations and privately held companies, as well as a recipient of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ prestigious “40 under 40 award.” He is an avid sports fan, consumer of the cultural arts, wine and art collector, and is passionate about fashion’s latest trends.

For additional information, and to learn more about The Fine Art Dealers Association, please visit www.FADA.org.

FADA was founded in 1990 and was the creator and overseer of the Los Angeles Art Show for 17 years and applied the same principles to this annual encyclopedic art fair which grew to become the largest and best attended in the western U.S.