Park West Gallery Has Most Successful VIP Cruise Ever in Africa
Every year, Park West Gallery hosts exclusive art collecting events all over the world. They’ve spanned all seven continents—yes, even Antarctica—and, in January, Park West hosted the highest selling VIP cruise in the company’s history, sailing the seas along the majestic shores of Africa.
Racing toward Norwegian Jade, the fabulous host ship for Park West’s record-smashing VIP cruise
This two-week adventure was an invitation-only event for many of Park West’s top collectors. They departed from Cape Town, South Africa, sailed through Port Elizabeth and Richards Bay, cruised past Namibia, and eventually returned to South Africa after days filled with relaxation and fine art.
How wild do Park West VIP cruises get? Pretty wild. (Photo credit: Brian Stumm)
“I knew that our collectors would love coming to Africa,” said Park West Gallery Executive Vice President John Block. “But I had no idea just how magical this trip would be. Everyone had the time of their lives, and our collectors got so much personal interaction with our artists during the voyage that it really doesn’t surprise me that this cruise shattered our previous sales records. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience on many different levels.”
Tim Yanke reveals a massive new painting specially created for the voyage to Africa
The Park West collectors were joined on the cruise by some of the biggest and most talented artists working today, including Las Vegas superstar Michael Godard, famed photorealist Scott Jacobs, French icon Bernard Louedin, acclaimed Abstract Impressionist Tim Yanke, wood-grain painting expert Matt Beyrer, and even Africa’s own Andrew Bone.
Superstar Michael Godard poses with African art icon Andrew Bone
What can an art collector expect on a Park West VIP cruise? The best of everything. The guests were treated to fine dining, thrilling live auctions, meet-and-greet experiences with the artists, and breathtaking excursions, including a private group safari in South Africa.
“One of the best things about traveling with Park West’s VIP program is that the group really does begin to feel like family,” said Block. “We’re not just collecting art together—we’re making memories together.”
Park West collectors with famed photorealist Scott Jacobs (Photo credit: Brian Stumm)
That family atmosphere also resulted in the collectors teaming together to make an incredible donation to a charity that’s very near and dear to the heart of one of the featured artists.
African-born artist and conservationist Andrew Bone does more than create stunning, photorealistic paintings to bring about awareness of African wildlife—he actively tries to save it.
One of Andrew Bone’s amazing paintings, inspired by his firsthand experience in the wild
Bone and his non-profit organization, the Forever Wild Foundation, work tirelessly to protect endangered species in Africa. During the VIP cruise, 25 different collectors donated $1,000 each to sponsor tracking tags for endangered animals and another collector made a remarkable $50,000 donation to the Forever Wild Foundation as well.
You can learn more about Bone’s conservation work here and follow the Forever Wild Foundation on Facebook here.
Michael Godard revealed his own Africa-inspired artwork during the cruise
“I am so proud that our collectors raised $75,000 for such a worthwhile cause,” said Block. “There was something special about being in Africa and seeing the animals in their natural habitat that really moved everyone on the cruise. That’s the Park West difference. We’re not just helping people decorate their homes. We’re helping them make friends, love art, see the world, and have these experiences they’ll treasure forever.”
If you’re interested in becoming a Park West VIP, collecting works of art, and joining us for future fabulous weekends with our artists, contact our gallery consultants today at (800) 521-9654 ext. 4 or sales@parkwestgallery.com
