Helge Achenbach (*1952) is one of the world’s most prominent art consultants. He could even be described as the inventor of this métier. This book recounts Achenbach’s experiences with famous artists over the forty years of his exciting professional life—between Siegen and Shanghai; Berlin, Tokyo, and Teheran; and between Düsseldorf and New York.The trained social worker talks about his encounters with Gerhard Richter, Jörg Immendorff, Andy Warhol, Andreas Gursky, Jeff Koons, and Keith Haring. He recalls exceptional large-scale projects and describes his not-always-pleasant dealings with companies, colleagues, collectors, and banks.Der Kunstanstifter is more than an account of the life of an ambitious professional. In this book, Helge Achenbach opens the door to reveal the inner workings of the art market.(English edition ISBN 978-3-7757-3677-0)