Joseph Rumi is one of Canada’s premier Post-War and Contemporary Art specialists in Canadian, American and British Art. A seasoned dealer and art advisor, he has applied his skill and knowledge to expand Rumi Galleries and Rumi Advisory internationally, developing an exceptional network across multiple continents. In doing so, Joseph has helped build many important collections and become an advisor to numerous private clients, corporations, private offices, artists, estates, museums, foundations, educational institutions and artist residency programs.
Joseph is the Founder and Director of Rumi Galleries (2007), the Rumi Collection (2018) and Rumi Advisory (2022), as well as a dedicated supporter of the Arts. He has over 30 plus years of experience in the secondary market where he has excelled in collection, conservation, auction, appraisal and advisory expertise. He regularly travels across Canada, the USA, the UK and Europe to meet with clients and colleagues and attends art fairs, private gallery exhibitions, museum events and auctions in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, New York, London, Los Angeles, Miami and Paris.
Joseph was the head of Client Services for Sotheby's Canada (2006 - 2007) and served as Assistant to Allan Gotlieb, CC, OM, Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States and Chairman of Sotheby’s Canada, and David Silcox, CM, President of Sotheby’s Canada.
At just 27, he became a member of the Board of Directors of Oakville Galleries (2009-2016) where he Chaired the Fundraising committee (2009-2012) and oversaw the revitalization of its private donor funding before becoming part of the Executive Committee.
He is the Founder and Past Chair of the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Art Council (2013-2025) where he created one of the first programs in Canada to integrate art with patient care programs in combination with annual curated exhibitions of contemporary Canadian art – a program that was highlighted twice in the hospital’s Annual Report and became a blueprint of other Ontario hospitals.
Joseph was the President of the Art Dealers Association of Canada (2019 – 2022) where he steered the organization through one of the greatest challenges in it’s 60-year history, the Covid-19 Pandemic. In addition, he oversaw ADAC Appraisals for Canadian museums and the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB) and was honoured to assist with the investiture of two members to the Order of Canada - Patricia M. Feheley, CM, and Olga Korper, CM.
A former member of the Art and Art History Professional Advisory Council for Sheridan College (2015-2020) and former Program Ambassador to Canada for Sotheby's Institute of Art, Joseph has taken a keen interest in the development and mentorship of emerging artists and arts professionals throughout his career. Through guidance to university applicants, students, and emerging artists, as well as talks and tours for public and private organizations, Joseph has come to be considered a motivational leader in the Fine Arts community.
Growing up in a large, hardworking family with a deep connection to the Arts, Joseph learned the importance of community. He has provided support to multiple museums and arts organizations, including Oakville Galleries, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Dealers Association of Canada Foundation, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Art Canada Institute, the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Art Council, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Audain Museum. He is also a Distinguished Patron of the National Gallery of Canada.
Joseph holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Victoria (2005) and a Master's in Art Business from Sotheby's Institute of Art London and the University of Manchester (2007).
