Please give a brief background on yourself and your career.
I am currently a Specialist and Associate Vice President in Contemporary Art at Christie’s. I am also Head of eCommerce for the Contemporary Art department, which means that I am in charge of growing our eCommerce business globally within the Contemporary art arena.
How has your career changed since you originally envisioned it at Wellesley? What other careers did you consider as a student?
I was an Economics and Art History double major, and interning at Sotheby’s in Boston my senior year solidified my interest in moving to New York after graduation to work in the art world. I did not add the Art History major until my junior year and prior to that I had several internships in the healthcare field, from corporate, non-profit and government perspectives. These experiences gave me the exposure to realize that a career trajectory in this field wouldn’t be the best fit for me. I didn’t seriously consider a career in the art market until my senior year and was not sure it would work out, but knew that a first job out of college was the best time to take big risks.
How has Wellesley contributed to your career?
I initially knew about the Sotheby’s internship through other Wellesley students and I met with many alumnae in the field while considering my career options. I am on the board of the New York Wellesley Friends of Art and I enjoy being able to make connections with alumnae through a shared passion for the arts.
What is a typical work day or work week like for you?
A typical work day consists of wearing many different hats simultaneously; one thing I enjoy about my position is that it’s very much a “liberal arts” profession. It requires a diverse skill set that includes client negotiations, art historical knowledge, speaking publicly about the artworks and the art market, and a keen business sense in understanding the best decisions for the firm.
What piece of advice would you offer students looking to get into your area of interest and expertise?
Intern! I know it is ubiquitous at this point but it really does help you get your foot in the door and make connections that will serve you as you continue your career. If you are specifically interested in working in the visual arts, I would advise you to see as many museum and gallery shows as possible and to read books on art in your free time. If you do not find it enjoyable to look at art and read more about it, this is not the career path for you!
What do you wish you had known as a student?
The world extends far beyond academia and there are many careers out there or positions at firms you may be interested in that you never knew existed. Wellesley is a very academically rigorous place and as a young person about to enter the job market, all you have ever known is the education environment. In general, I would very much recommend some job experience before considering a master’s degree.
If you could come back and take one class at Wellesley what would it be?
One of my few Wellesley regrets was not taking the sailing class spring of my senior year. It is a skill I have yet to learn and Lake Waban is one of the reasons Wellesley is a special place. On a more academic front, I would have taken additional art history classes with Pat Berman.