Estate planning for art is too important to leave to chance. In this engaging talk, certified fine art appraiser and CEO of Hess Art Advisory, Claudia Worthington Hess, AAA, MBA, demystifies what happens to artwork when the artist or collector is no longer here. Drawing on over 40 years of experience with collectors, museums, and estates, she offers clear, practical guidance for artists and non-artists alike.

Claudia explains the pitfalls of trading art, how to talk with your family about your art estate, and which professionals you need on your team—appraiser, estate attorney, and tax expert. She breaks down the difference between replacement, fair market, and comparable market values so you can “get real” about what your art is actually worth.

Attendees will explore options for selling, placing works in trusts or LLCs, and donating art, including what really happens before, during, and after a museum gift—ownership transfer, deaccessioning, and tax forms. You will leave with a roadmap to start planning now, protect your legacy, and ensure your artwork continues to have impact for the people and institutions you care about most.

Biography:

Claudia Worthington Hess, MBA, AAA, is CEO of Hess Art Advisory and a certified fine art appraiser based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She brings over 40 years of experience as an art historian, curator, educator, entrepreneur, gallery owner, and art consultant. A Certified Member of the Appraisers Association of America, she prepares USPAP-compliant appraisal reports and advises private collectors, corporations, and institutions on building collections, collection management, and dispersal. Claudia holds an international MBA, studied at the Sorbonne, and completed NYU’s Appraisal Studies program, and is a published author and speaker on contemporary art. Claudia holds an international MBA, studied at the Sorbonne, and completed NYU’s Appraisal Studies program, and is a published author and speaker on contemporary art.

Join us for an inspiring evening with Marguerite Gong Hancock, inaugural President and CEO of the Palo Alto Museum, as she shares the story behind one of the region’s most anticipated cultural institutions. Housed in the beautifully rehabilitated 20,000‑square‑foot Roth Building at 300 Homer Avenue, the Museum is transforming a 1932 landmark—once home to the Palo Alto Medical Clinic and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places—into a vibrant place to discover, connect, and create.

Marguerite will take the audience behind the scenes of the journey to create a museum that captures Palo Alto’s unique role in shaping the world. The Palo Alto Museum will showcase stories of innovators, changemakers, culture‑creators, and everyday residents whose lives have sparked impact far beyond our city limits. From unique artifacts to interactive exhibits, events, and experiences for all ages, the Museum will be a vibrant civic hub to learn from the past, strengthen community today, and inspire a brighter future.

Don’t miss this sneak peek into the Museum's opening exhibits, gathering spaces, and dynamic events. Whether you are passionate about local history, hands-on learning, building community, or turning ideas into impact, this is a unique opportunity to see how a bold cultural vision is becoming reality—and how you can be part of the story.

Biography:

Marguerite Gong Hancock is the inaugural President and CEO of the Palo Alto Museum. A Palo Alto native, she is museum executive, community builder, political economist, and educator who brings over 25 years of experience leading innovative institutions at the intersection of technology, culture, business, education, and society. She previously served as Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President of Programming at the Computer History Museum, where she pioneered initiatives and founded the Exponential Center.  During nearly two decades at Stanford University, she advanced research and education on innovation and entrepreneurship around the world and published three books. Marguerite is married to Russell Hancock, who leads the nonprofit think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Together, they raised their three children in Palo Alto and gratefully still call the city home.