What drew you to the Navigating the New York Art Scene course, and why now?

We are both passionate art lovers and spend much of our time visiting exhibitions and meeting with gallerists and artists primarily in Europe, since we are based in Paris.

The Navigating the New York Art Scene course was a fantastic opportunity to explore the local ecosystem, including its museums, galleries, and even artists in their studios.

Additionally, several of our classmates were from New York, which made the experience even more meaningful and greatly enriched our visit.

How did your individual backgrounds shape what you were hoping to gain from the experience?

I have studied the history of modern and contemporary art. As Head of Art and Wealth Management Services at a major private bank in Europe, I am quite involved in the art ecosystem, while Marie has long been an avid exhibition-goer.

Since meeting decades ago, we have dedicated much of our time to engaging with art and building connections across the art world. That said, attending the course felt refreshing, instructive, and fun.

Our primary objective was to discover a new art scene and, importantly, to do so together rather than separately.

What made you decide to take the course together?

This was our first time taking a course together and it was the best decision ever!

The shared learning experience sparked fresh ways of engaging with each other and deepened our enjoyment of the art world journey. Truly priceless!

How did being in New York at the center of the global art market shape your experience of the course?

Thanks to our daily classes at the Sotheby’s Institute, we felt truly immersed in an amazing city, rather than simply being tourists. Beyond the art itself, we thoroughly enjoyed a complete experience of the city, including great restaurants, meeting friends, and attending amazing gigs.

A fellow course participant Maria recommended Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, which is now at the top of our list of unmissable venues!

What did a typical day on the course feel like, and how did it balance learning with exploration?

The Sotheby’s Institute offers a cozy, centrally located setting ideal for academic learning.

The blend of in-class learning and gallery or museum explorations proved perfect. While these field trips are invaluable, they can be exhausting, making the balance between classroom time and visits all the more ideal.

What made this experience different from independently navigating the art scene?

We could have visited museums, biennials, galleries, and even artist studios on our own, given our connections in the art world. However, course leader Kathy Battista—a true insider in the New York art scene—granted us privileged access and deep insight into the city’s artistic history and the people who have made New York a major center of the art world.

Moreover, being part of a group of wonderful participants from such diverse backgrounds added tremendous value and richness to our experience.

Lead photo by Christian Ladewig on Unsplash