Fine Art

John P. Walcher, a Vice President of Toomey & Co. Auctioneers, is a Senior Specialist in the Fine Art Department and joined the company in 2013. John was raised in Springfield, Illinois and holds a degree in Biology from Western Illinois University. Prior to and since joining the company, he has assisted with numerous consignments from important private collections, estates, and institutions.

While at Toomey & Co., John has helped oversee many important collections including: the Robert and Elaine Dillof Collection, the Warshawsky Collection, the Estate of Candice B. Groot, the Estate of Robert E. Beck, the collection of Governor Jim Thompson, and the Estate of Robert E. “Butch” McGuire, among others. He also managed the sale of deaccessioned objects from the Art Institute of Chicago.

John has been in the auction industry since 2000 and long held a passion for the fine and performing arts. He is currently a member in the following organizations: Sustaining Fellows at the Art Institute of Chicago, Antiquarian Society at the Art Institute of Chicago, New York Silver Society, Irish Georgian Society, Joffrey Auxiliary Board (chairman emeritus), Advisory Board of Common Threads, Central Illinois Numismatic Association (life member), and the Illinois State Museum Society (life member).

In addition to being a Vice President and Senior Specialist, John is a licensed auctioneer and acts as the primary auctioneer for Toomey & Co. He also regularly assists many charitable organizations by offering his services as a professional auctioneer.

Aron Packer joined the company in 2019 as a Senior Specialist in the Fine Art Department. He is a longtime Chicagoan and grew up in Rogers Park surrounded by art and design, with his mother a painter and his father an industrial designer. Aron caught the collecting bug early, following his parents to antique shows and purchasing inventory for their antique quilt gallery. He has a B.A. in Industrial Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Aron brings over 25 years of experience as a gallerist for Aron Packer Gallery and Packer/Schopf Gallery, with over 200 exhibitions over the years. His focus has been Contemporary Art, with additional expertise in Folk and Outsider Art. The galleries participated in numerous art fairs, including Context/Art Miami, Bridge Miami, Next Chicago, Art Chicago, SOFA Chicago/New York/Santa Fe, The Outsider Art Fair NYC, and Outsiders Outside/Michigan and Chicago. Aron has juried regional shows held at The Racine Art Museum, Rockford Art Museum, South Bend Museum of Art, SAIC Fashion Department / Sophomore Monetary Awards, Beverly Art Center, and the Evanston Art Center, along with many others.