Art & Artifact - www.art-artifact.com

Norman Solomon, the founder of Art & Artifact, the Photographic Art Center, and Emage International, Inc., began his love affair with the world of undiscovered photographic treasures in the early 1980’s. In 1984 Mr. Solomon successfully created and developed the now highly sought-after Helmut Newton Collection “PRIVATE PROPERTY”. Mr. Solomon’s serendipitous encounter that took place in Paris with the formerly unknown photographer, led to the creation of the highly successful published portfolio of Helmut Newton’s works. It was presented to the market in a limited edition format of seventy-five collector sets, offered at that time for thirteen thousand five hundred dollars. Mr. Solomon’s foresight that led to the successful launch of the collection elevated the works of Helmut Newton to the celebrated status it holds today, leading the now much-revered collection to appraise at almost thirty-times its original value in today’s market.

The success of Mr. Solomon’s first endeavor in the world of photography and art can be traced to his experience from his preceding entrepreneurial ventures. In the early 1970’s, he embarked in a highly profitable business development of a retail chain of woman’s clothing boutiques, Generation Gap. The Generation Gap success in the United States further allowed the expansion of the line into European markets in the 1980’s. The breach into the French market served as an essential conduit not only in the introduction and development of the Helmut Newton Collection, but also into further diversification of Mr. Solomon’s business ventures.

In the late 1980’s, while living in Paris he added yet another venture to his existing cache of business endeavors. With the help and support of his Parisian collaborators and friends, such as film director Richard Donner, Mr. Solomon created and financed World Access Television (WAT), and Performer’s Showcase International, precursors to YOU TUBE and AMERICAN IDOL, via Paris based brokerage company, Hausmann Gestion.

Upon his return to the United States in 1993, Norman Solomon continued his quest into innovative business enterprises, launching the very first Airport Valet Service at LAX, as well as taking a role as the CEO of American Sports Concepts in San Francisco in 1996.

In 2001, the direction of his interest seemed to come full circle when Mr. Solomon was introduced to never-before seen, raw negatives taken by a relatively unknown photographer named Frank Worth. Engaging the opportunity, Mr. Solomon organized and financed the presentation of the collection in the United Kingdom and its 2002 London unveiling to the public. The collection was received with great interest from both, critics and collectors and was hailed as "The most extraordinary collection of its kind in the past fifty years.” by Christie’s of London.

The successful reception of the Frank Worth Collection in Europe subsequently led Mr. Solomon to the collections of artists such as John Stoddart, Michael Childers and Daniel Furon, as well as to the involvement in conceptual presentations for MGM and Playboy, licensed by Mr. Solomon’s business partners in the UK, International Images, PLC. Consequently, the operations transferred to a US based entity, Emage International, Inc., where the collections are currently being developed and further expanded into a private collector-consumer based market with the 2010 opening of the gallery/retail space, Art & Artifact in Los Angeles, California.