Fernwood Art Investments, an art investment and research fund aiming to tap the booming art market by pooling the resources of investors to purchase blue chip and emerging art, has announced the addition of an impressive slate of experts to executive and advisory roles. The new hires include art dealer David Nash; former executive vice president of the Metropolitan Museum, Ashton Hawkins; and Marlborough Gallery president, Pierre Levai.

Since July, when Mr. Taub announced the company, Fernwood has been silent on whether the fund has successfully attracted any investors yet. The art-fund concept has been bandied about for decades, but so far, never executed with any long-term success. Given the unproven track record of art funds, it’s surprising Fernwood was able to field such a dream team.

David Nash has been given the position of chairman of Fernwood Art Managers, responsible for helping decide where to buy and sell art on behalf of Fernwood’s investors. Mr. Nash worked for Sotheby’s for 35 years before opening a Madison Avenue gallery – Mitchell-Innes & Nash – along with his wife, Lucy Mitchell-Innes. He brings instant credibility to Fernwood.

“Mr. Nash knows more about the market for modern and Impressionist art than anyone else,” said Andre Emmerich, an art dealer for 50 years, who served with Mr. Nash on the U.S Internal Revenue Service advisory panel. “I think he’s invaluable.”

Mr. Levai will serve as senior adviser, working with six other advisers, dealers, and consultants, according to Fernwood. Those hires will be announced in December. Mr. Levai helms an international empire with outposts on 57th Street and in Chelsea, as well as London, Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Madrid.

Mr. Nash got up close and personal experience with art funds while working at Sotheby’s. He was part of a team of experts advising the British Rail Pension Fund. The Fund invested about $75 in fine art in 1974, with some advice from Sotheby’s, which was sold in the 1980s for a return of just over 10%. Since then he has been skeptical.

“Throughout my career,” said Mr. Nash said in a statement, “I have observed many attempts at art funds and art investing which have been ill-conceived and destined for failure.”

But he seems to believe Fernwood has a shot at success, due to its emphasis on “connoisseurship.” Certainly they showed it in tapping him.