How I got my job as… Specialist in Middle Eastern 20th and 21st century art
Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
This week, we’re putting the spotlight on Suzy Sikorski, Specialist at Middle Eastern 20th and 21st Century Art at Christie’s. Here, the New York native shares her early interests in the art world, what drives her main passion, and what it takes to raise up incredible talents with the aim of seeing Middle Eastern art flourish – regionally and internationally.
What was your favourite subject at school?
As a young child – totally science! I was a chemistry nerd and grew up with my aunt and uncle’s medical books. I’d even read and draw over them during breaks at school – much like artist Basquiat (Jean-Michel Basquiat) read Grey’s Anatomy books as a child.
What was your first job?
My first official job was actually Christie’s – as a Junior Art Specialist. I had plenty of internships across real estate, luxury and art sectors, but my first ‘real’ job was at Christie’s.
Other internships included art advisor at Kim Heirston (Kim Heirston Art Advisory, New York) throughout most of college followed by Ayyam Gallery in Dubai.
What eventually brought you to Dubai?
In 2014, I was an exchange student at the American University of Sharjah. It was a crazy first trip moving so far away from my home and family in New York at the time. Further to that, I received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2016-2017 that paved the way for my official move to Dubai. Following the completion of my scholarship, I was fortunate to start at Christie’s as a Junior Specialist in 2017.
What inspired you to enter the art space?
I have an uncle who lives in New York who worked at Dolce & Gabbana for over 20 years, and is now with Alexander McQueen. Early on in my career he connected me with many creative individuals in the art, fashion and real estate sectors. I had the opportunity to work with powerhouse women straight out of high school and post college who introduced me to the luxury lifestyle sector.
I always had a great interest in the Middle East, so during my time in New York I would actively search every bookstore and gallery to track down art magazines to read up on the Middle Eastern art scene. Whilst at University I also wrote and contributed articles on art exhibitions and artist reviews, and also published Middle Eastern artist biographies in Oxford University Press’ Benezit Dictionary of Artists. I mapped out all the regional artists living in the United States of America and made studio visits.
In 2016, I also was part of the team launching GENERA#ION: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia exhibition in Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, as supported by the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (iThra) – which represented the first exhibition of contemporary art from KSA in the Bay Area.
I then assisted galleries at Art Dubai and at Abu Dhabi Art which helped me connect within the art eco-system in the UAE and beyond. This was an invaluable opportunity to network and meet artists, gallerists, collectors, art lovers and creatives from around the world.
Talk us through the concept of “Mid East Art”?
Mid East Art is a digital storytelling platform across the art and culture eco-system of the Middle East region, founded and run by me. MEA acts as both an archival reference that documents and analyses the regional Middle Eastern modern and contemporary art scenes through in-person public and private storytelling initiatives, alongside curated digital art production. Its interviews and curatorial content is displayed, showcased in essays, video and text interviews, and as published articles on mideastart.com and on Instagram.
The inception of MEA began after I completed my Fulbright Scholarship, awarded after my thesis on Hassan Sharif – my Fulbright focus covered artist video and text interviews of three generations of UAE art history. Mid-East Art is powered by community driven events, largely made in part from its Storytelling Sunday gatherings (interpreted and directed as performance) that ran from Autumn 2022 to Summer 2023. Past activations have included one day exhibitions, performance re-enactments, manifesto readings, exhibition walkthroughs in modern and contemporary galleries and museums, artist studio visits, each week directed and led by a different Storyteller as expert within the specific topic that allows a wider perspective on art: across music, dance, literature, cuisine, sports, among others.
What are the key elements of your role?
My role is multi-faceted and no two days are the same. I work to support raise awareness of art and artists across the Middle East to our international clients and to our Christies, international specialists. There is so much storytelling to expand upon and share the breadth and diversity of the regional art scene. Alongside building the regional Middle Eastern Art auctions, I also support a focus on integrating Middle Eastern modern and contemporary art into the Christie’s international 20th & 21st Century art sales, and private selling exhibitions to further build the market, especially for those Arab artists highly sought after by international clients.
Talk us through your daily routine.
As Specialist in Modern & Contemporary Art, my main focus is on securing top level Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art for sale; this consists of consigning works for auction and private sales; continuing to expand my art expertise and fostering top level client relationships in the Middle East.
My daily schedule includes meeting with clients to discuss valuations for auctions, private sales and strategic partnerships, that integrate both international and regional art. In addition to many messages and responses to clients internationally that I keep up with across time zones.
Auctions of Modern and Contemporary Art take place globally and we have clients in the Middle East actively bidding and buying, so it’s important to set up the bidding support channels for them, and review the catalogue for each sale aligned with our clients preferences or collections.
I travel across the GCC and beyond regularly visiting clients for object and/or art collection valuations and also attending art fairs and institutional shows for building client relationships and continuing to deepen my art expertise in the region.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
I would take time to visit artist studios, regularly visit galleries and art auctions to gain a sense of the market as well as developing your own knowledge. I recommend placing yourself in the client or collector’s shoes to view the market as they would. Ask yourself what is it that they are looking for? What shapes their preferences? By doing this it supports craft a better understanding of what your clients are looking for as well as ensuring to continue to learn at every possibility.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Never stop learning – no matter what stage of your career
And what is the worst?
Follow money over passion – no way!
What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
I am an art specialist with over 10 years of expertise and experience both in the Middle East region as well as in Middle Eastern art. However, I do not have Middle Eastern roots or ethnicity. I come from an American family in Long Island, New York State, USA. It took time for me to establish myself in this market with clients and also within the wider art eco system in the Middle East. I overcame this by being able to demonstrate my expertise – whether in our auctions and via private sales, or advising clients and being able to share my knowledge. I also found that Mid East Art has opened doors. From producing digital mashups that started to mix American music, film, literature and other pop cultural references helped me start to connect more deeply with art.
What are your future goals and plans for your career?
I wish to continue expanding the Middle Eastern art market, across our regional sales, and also across our top level global Evening and Day sales of Modern and Contemporary Art whilst also continuing to expand Mid East Art storytelling initiatives at all levels: across regions, age groups and educational sectors. I would also like to encourage more females to enter the art market from the Middle East and continue to be a champion of female Arab artists.
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