It was always my goal, as many family members before me, to go to the finest university in Montreal. I was thrilled to be accepted at McGill.
It was an eye-opening experience to attend an international university with students from all over the world. Having grown up in Montreal, I gained an entirely new perspective of my city as a university student, exploring the downtown area and Old Montreal with new friends. I came to see Montreal through other people's eyes and to appreciate how great, diverse and European it is.
While at McGill, I decided to study what I love: art history and languages. My courses encouraged me to think critically and independently. During my third year, I went on a four-month trip to Europe with students from different universities. We visited countless museums, and the experience was both a joy and a pleasure. Little did I know that this would be my future.
The goal is to have an open mind, to have the confidence to look at the art and react to it on a personal level. The challenge for everyone, including the experts, is to understand what the artists are expressing.”
In the 1970s, following graduation and moving to New York, I was fortunate to get a position at the global auction house Sotheby’s (at the time known as Sotheby Parke-Bernet). Starting in the Impressionist Art department, and familiar with Impressionist paintings from my art history courses, I then had to learn about the art market. After a couple of years, there was an opening in the Contemporary Art department, which appealed to me. I took it and eventually became Director of the department. My experience at McGill provided an incredible foundation for the career I had at Sotheby’s. This ultimately led me to establish my own business as an art advisor. Throughout the years, my passion for identifying and collecting the work of young artists continues to this day.
As a child, I always created art. When I was in the third grade, one of my landscape paintings was awarded first prize in the National Gallery of Art Competition. The visual arts always moved me and still do.
My advice to encourage students who may want to follow a similar career path is to look at art, visit art galleries and museum shows whenever possible. Attend art fairs and engage with gallerists and artists when available. The goal is to have an open mind, to have the confidence to look at the art and react to it on a personal level. The challenge for everyone, including the experts, is to understand what the artists are expressing. A statement from one of my professors at McGill continues to resonate with me each time I look at an artist’s work: “Art is the expression of the times”.
There is a great deal of material online today, including galleries, art fairs and virtual auctions. It is important to see as much as you can, to trust your eye and develop your taste. Art is very subjective and each person’s reaction to an artwork – whether positive or negative – is valid. When I am with a client, I always ask whether or not they love a particular work of art. If the answer is no, I recommend looking at another work. It is very important for people to love the art they choose to buy and live with.
It is always satisfying to share my knowledge about the art world with others. Since starting my own business many years ago, I have been able to help many assistants and interns to broaden their experience and exposure to the art world. I went on to hire several interns after they graduated, and I have helped place others in rewarding positions at Christie’s and Sotheby’s. They have also offered me guidance – especially with how to use technology to communicate in today’s world.
It’s my pleasure to inspire young people and to encourage them to just go for it. We are living through an extraordinary time, but this too shall pass. Life will go on in a different form and there will always be art to inspire us. I am very grateful to McGill for giving me such an incredible foundation for my career in the art world.