How would you describe your Sotheby’s Institute experience?

Coming from a background in marketing, the online Certificate in Art Business introduced me to an industry where value is not driven by utility, but by history, authorship, scarcity, and belief. That shift in thinking was transformative.

The coursework pushed me to engage with parts of the art market I hadn’t previously encountered, particularly the structures that support value beyond the object itself.

During the course, I developed an independent art advisory report, which allowed me to apply what I was learning in a practical way—researching artists, tracking market behavior, and weighing risk and ethics while considering long-term value.

Those skills have carried directly into my work as Industry Intelligence Lead at Quaker City Mercantile, and into my research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where I focus on material culture and historical systems of knowledge.

Sotheby’s Institute didn’t just deepen my understanding of the art world, it helped me see the art market as a living ecosystem and clarified where my own work fits within it going forward.

What were the key elements of the online Certificate in Art Business that influenced your decision to study with Sotheby’s Institute?

Following my education at St. John’s College in Annapolis, I was looking for something practical to complement a very theoretical foundation. My degree focused on the history of mathematics and sciences, philosophy, and political theory, with additional work in comparative literature. That training strengthened my critical thinking, but it left me wanting a clearer view of how ideas move through real markets.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art stood out because the online certificate allowed me to study alongside my professional work while learning directly from people actively operating in the art world. The course presented itself as a structured entry point into a field I had always been adjacent to, but without the tools or language to engage with it fully.

What ultimately drew me in was that the certificate didn’t treat the art market as isolated or mysterious. It broke down how value circulates, how different players interact, and how those structures compare to other industries. That combination of access, practicality, and systems-level thinking made it the right fit for me.

How did the mix of live online sessions, independent study, and interactive digital activities enhance your learning experience throughout the course?

Although the Certificate in Art Business was delivered online, I felt consistently supported by the team at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. The live sessions created a sense of structure and accountability, while the recorded lectures were invaluable—I could return to them whenever I wanted to revisit a concept in more depth.

The independent study component was important to me. Developing the art advisory report was demanding in a way that felt purposeful, requiring sustained research, judgment, and synthesis rather than surface-level engagement. It pushed me to apply the material rather than simply absorb it.

Together, the mix of live instruction, self-directed work, and interactive components created a course that felt both comprehensive and genuinely challenging. I stayed engaged throughout and was consistently motivated by the sense that each section was building toward something tangible.

How did connecting with classmates and faculty in a virtual environment shape your overall learning experience?

I’ve found value in connecting with other students beyond the course itself. Through LinkedIn and other professional platforms, I’ve been able to engage with people who completed the same certificate and compare experiences, projects, and career paths.

Those conversations have been rewarding in a different way. They’ve allowed me to situate my own work within a broader network of people thinking seriously about the art market, and to continue the exchange of ideas after the coursework ended. In that sense, the learning extended beyond the virtual classroom and into an ongoing professional dialogue.

What were some of the most valuable aspects of the curriculum?

The most valuable aspects of the curriculum were the independent study component and the way the course was structured to build knowledge over time. The independent project was essential because it required sustained research, decision-making, and accountability. It pushed me to engage seriously with the material rather than passively absorb it.

Equally important was how the curriculum layered general frameworks with increasingly specific and technical knowledge. By the end of the course, I was working with complex market concepts, but the progression of the course made them approachable. Each section built on the last, which allowed me to engage with that complexity confidently and thoughtfully.

Did the course influence your next steps, whether pursuing further study, building your career, or deepening your personal engagement with art?

This course had a clear influence on my next steps. It gave me the space to evaluate where my career was heading and how I wanted to shape it more deliberately. While completing the certificate, I sought out opportunities to continue academic research and was accepted into a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where I now study codicology and material culture. I will also be undertaking an MA at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-London that will begin in fall.

At the same time, I began integrating industry analysis into my role at the branding agency Quaker City Mercantile, where I lead new business acquisition and research. The frameworks from the course translated directly into how I assess markets, value, and positioning across creative industries.

On a more personal level, the way I engage with art has shifted. I still approach it historically and intuitively, but I now push myself to understand how value is constructed—how context, circulation, and market forces shape not only the work itself, but the ecosystem around it.

What advice or tips would you give to Sotheby’s Institute applicants?

I would encourage applicants to approach the course with an open mind about how broadly applicable the material really is. Studying the art market sharpens your understanding of markets in general—how value is created, sustained, and negotiated. Even coming from a marketing and branding background, I found that the art world offered one of the clearest views into how entire industry ecosystems function.

I’d also recommend reaching out to alumni in adjacent fields. Everyone I’ve connected with has been generous with their time and perspective. The skills and frameworks translate well within, and beyond, the art world.