How would you describe your Sotheby’s Institute experience?

My experience at Sotheby’s Institute in London was both rigorous and deeply transformative.

Entering the course with over twenty years of international experience, I was new to the UK art market and seeking clarity, context, and meaningful connection.

The course provided an intellectually stimulating environment where critical thinking, open dialogue, and diverse perspectives were actively encouraged, sharpening my analytical skills and challenging my assumptions.

Studying in London—a city shaped by global histories, cultural exchange, and complex institutional legacies—added an invaluable layer of depth to my learning.

The course pushed me to critically interrogate how the art world functions across institutional, cultural, and commercial frameworks, while also offering space to reflect on my own position within it.

Supportive yet demanding, it helped me refine my professional direction and gain the confidence, language, and insight needed to navigate and reposition myself within the contemporary UK art landscape with clarity and purpose.

What were the key elements of the 12-week Certificate course that influenced your decision to study with Sotheby’s Institute?

Several elements drew me to the 12-week Art Business Certificate. Its intensive structure offered a focused yet comprehensive introduction to the art world, making it ideal for career development. The balance between academic rigor and practical insight was particularly appealing, as was Sotheby’s Institute’s global reputation and connection to leading cultural institutions.

I was also drawn to the diversity of perspectives and experience within the classroom, which created an environment of rich discussion and exchange.

The course promised not just technical knowledge, but a deeper understanding of how art, politics, and society intersect, which aligned closely with my own interests and long-term ambitions.

In selecting the course, several key factors were decisive: the intensity and focus were key, I wanted a rigorous, time-efficient course that combined theory with real-world insight. The Institute’s reputation, access to institutions, and international outlook were crucial, especially as someone entering a new market.

How did the balance between in-classroom teaching and on-site visits enhance your learning experience in the course?

The balance between in-classroom teaching and on-site visits was one of the most valuable aspects of the course. The classroom sessions gave me the critical frameworks and historical context, and then the visits really brought those ideas to life.

Being able to experience exhibitions, collections, and institutions firsthand made the theory feel much more immediate and practical. It was especially valuable to see how decisions are made within cultural spaces, from curatorial narratives to how audiences are engaged.

As someone new to the UK art scene, these visits helped demystify how the system works and made the art world feel far more accessible. Overall, that combination really bridged the gap between theory and practice and had a direct impact on my professional development.

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

One of the most valuable aspects of the curriculum was its strong emphasis on critical analysis and contextual thinking. Rather than focusing solely on objects or market trends, the course encouraged deeper inquiry into how the art world operates, particularly around power, representation, access, and institutional responsibility.

These discussions were especially impactful and helped me develop a more strategic, ethical, and informed approach to engaging with contemporary art.

Equally important was the collaborative nature of the course. Learning alongside peers from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds created space for open dialogue, challenge, and shared insight, significantly expanding my perspective. The course was also instrumental in building meaningful professional networks within the UK, particularly in the London art scene.

As someone new to the English market, this became a crucial starting point for professional positioning. The course facilitated genuine connections with peers, visiting professionals, and faculty that extended well beyond the classroom.

A clear example of this impact came post-graduation, when Anders Peterson, founder of ArtTactic (Sotheby’s Institute lecturer) and one of the leading specialists in art market intelligence, accepted my invitation to join the Art Voyage Biennial advisory board—a collaboration I deeply value and admire for his generous support.

Furthermore, our first annual summit, Echoes of Migration, held on October 10, 2025, at the RSA, featured 20 visionary experts, including an outstanding panel moderated by Jeffrey Bolton, Director of Art Business and Enterprise Programs at Sotheby’s Institute, in conversation with Anders Peterson and Rena Neville (Corinth Consulting Limited and formerly Sotheby’s).

We also had the pleasure of welcoming Péjú Oshin, Associate Director at Gagosian Gallery, as another panel speaker, whom I first met two years ago through the Institute’s course.

These are just a few examples of how the relationships formed through the course translated into meaningful professional collaboration.

Overall, the 12-week Art Business Certificate not only deepened my critical understanding of the art world, but also provided the confidence, language, and networks necessary to begin building a sustainable career within the London art ecosystem.

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

Absolutely! The course significantly influenced my next steps. It provided me with the critical language and frameworks to understand the art world not only as a creative field, but as a system shaped by power, access, and representation.

Through this lens, I became more intentional about my professional direction, moving beyond traditional career pathways to focus on building platforms that respond to lived realities, particularly migration and cultural displacement.

As a result, I chose to move beyond conventional pathways to focus on building platforms that respond to migration, identity, and cultural displacement. The course also reframed curatorial practice for me as a form of cultural engagement and activism, where research, community building, and dialogue are as essential as showcasing a creative idea.

This shift, combined with the professional networks I developed during the course, directly informed the creation of Art Voyage as a long-term, values-driven initiative.

What inspired you to launch Art Voyage and what core values guide its mission?

Art Voyage was born from lived experience. Having lived across Iran, Malaysia, Croatia, Turkey, and the UK, I saw how migrant and diasporic artists are often present but under-supported. I wanted to create a platform that centers dignity, equity, and collaboration—one that values lived experience as much as artistic excellence.

Art Voyage is guided by the core values of inclusivity, cultural equity, dignity, and collaboration. Its mission is to decentralize dominant narratives, amplify underrepresented voices, and foster cross-cultural dialogue rooted in mutual respect. At its core, Art Voyage is driven by the belief that art can create empathy, challenge exclusionary systems, and contribute to meaningful and lasting social change.

Art Voyage positions itself as a nomadic cultural program. What does that mean in practice, and why is it important?

Being a nomadic cultural program means that movement, adaptability, and responsiveness are embedded into our curatorial approach. Rather than operating from a fixed geographical or institutional center, the program evolves in response to each place it enters. Local histories, communities, and social contexts actively shape the curatorial framework, ensuring that programming is grounded, relevant, and co-created rather than imposed.

This approach is important because it enables the creation of a dynamic cultural ecosystem, one that values exchange over hierarchy and recognizes every community as a source of knowledge and creativity. Nomadism allows us to uncover unheard stories, amplify voices that are often overlooked, and honor the belief that every lived experience carries cultural value.

It also mirrors the realities of many migrant and diasporic artists, whose practices are informed by movement, hybridity, and transition. Ultimately, this model supports shared authorship, meaningful collaboration, and a more inclusive and equitable cultural dialogue.

Echoes of Migration was Art Voyage’s first annual summit. What were some of the key narratives and standout discussions during the summit?

Echoes of Migration was shaped around the idea that migration is not a peripheral topic, but a central force in shaping contemporary culture. One of the key narratives explored was the relationship between migration, identity, and cultural memory, and how artists carry, reinterpret, and preserve heritage while navigating new environments.

Another crucial thread focused on institutional responsibility, questioning how arts organizations can move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine structural change.

Across five panels, artists, curators, and cultural leaders engaged in candid discussions about access, funding, visibility, and representation. Standout moments emerged through conversations that bridged personal testimony with systemic critique, highlighting both the resilience of migrant communities and the urgent need for reform.

The summit ultimately functioned as a collective space for reflection, connection, and reimagining the future of the arts.

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

I would encourage applicants to approach the course with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to challenge their own assumptions.

Sotheby’s Institute isn’t just about acquiring knowledge, it’s about developing critical thinking and finding your voice within the art world.

Engaging actively in discussions and drawing on your own experiences, especially if you come from a multicultural or non-traditional background, can be incredibly valuable. I would also advise applicants to think clearly about their goals and how the course fits into their broader career trajectory.

The more you invest in the experience, the more meaningful and transformative it becomes. Arrive curious and ready to challenge yourself.

Sotheby’s Institute is not just about learning, it’s about finding your voice. If you’re new to a market, especially the UK, use the course strategically: engage fully, share your perspective, and build relationships. For me, it became a critical entry point into the London art scene.

Many connections from the course later re-appeared at my summit, proof of the long-term value of the network you build.

Image courtesy of Tima Jam