Emily Craig, Olympic gold medallist and MBE, pursued her MA in East Asian Art at Sotheby’s Institute while training with the senior GB Rowing Team. We spoke to Emily about how her time at Sotheby’s Institute deepened her passion for the art world and helped balance life at the highest levels of both sport and scholarship.
What motivated you to pursue an MA at Sotheby’s Institute, and how did your experience shape your perspective on the art world?
I decided to apply for an MA at Sotheby’s Institute as I knew that I wanted to study Asian art and to pursue a career in the commercial art world.
The Sotheby’s Institute MA program covered China, Korea, and Japan from Neolithic through to contemporary art so I knew I would be given a great overview to make an informed decision as to where my interests lay to specialise for my dissertation. I also felt that the inclusion of modules on art business and the commercial art world would better prepare me for a career in this field.
Your master's degree studies focused on East Asian art. What initially drew you to this field, and what continues to fascinate you about it?
I always had the intention of studying non-Western art at some point and had completed a module on contemporary Chinese art in the final year of my undergraduate degree at The Courtauld institute. Through my time at Sotheby’s Institute, I found I was most drawn to the art of Japan. I love how everything in Japanese art has both use and beauty, often celebrating the imperfect and capturing personality and character in a way that naturally draws you in.
Looking back, what aspects of your time at the Institute stand out as the most valuable or memorable?
One of the best parts about studying at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-London is having access to some of the most incredible art collections and galleries in the world. Having lectures off-site on a weekly basis and being able to study the objects first-hand was very special and a real privilege.
How did the skills you gained at Sotheby’s Institute contribute to your professional journey outside the art world?
Balancing the demands of the MA at Sotheby’s Institute while training to break into the senior GB Rowing Team has made me very focused and good at time management. I also think being encouraged to be curious, ask questions and pursue individual learning at Sotheby’s Institute helped me develop the confidence to do the same with rowing and therefore keep growing and improving as an athlete.
Sotheby’s Institute has a worldwide network of over 8,000 alumni, how did this community influence your career growth?
The Sotheby’s Institute network has been very helpful over the years. My tutor Julia Hutt introduced me to a Japanese art dealer, whose gallery I have carried out invaluable work experience over the years. The community has also been incredibly supportive through my recent period of transition away from sport and into my new career in the art world, for which I am very grateful.
Are there moments in your rowing career that you feel mirror the emotional experience of engaging with art—whether creating, curating, or appreciating it?
For me, I have always found that being surrounded by art has sparked the same passion and joy as rowing. I get the same feelings of happiness and fulfilment from spending an afternoon wandering around a gallery or museum as I do from going for a paddle on a calm, sunny day. I also feel that one of the reasons why I am drawn to working in an auction house is that the routine and rhythm is quite similar to that of sport, with the day of an auction feeling a lot like race day.
Do you see any parallels between the discipline required for rowing and your academic or professional pursuits?
To be successful academically and professionally you need the same ability to be focused, pragmatic, organised, and dedicated as you to do be successful in sport.
Congratulations on your Olympic gold medal and recent MBE! What does this recognition mean to you?
Thank you! Winning the Olympics has been a truly incredible experience. I started rowing when I was 12 and from the moment I got into a boat I knew I wanted to compete at the Olympics. To realise that childhood dream after 20 years of work has very much felt like a fairytale.
To be awarded an MBE has been an amazing bonus. With sport, most results are completely objective — you either cross the line in first place or you don’t, so having my achievements recognised in what feels like a much more subjective way is very special and means an awful lot to me.
If you could give one piece of advice on balancing multiple passions, what would it be?
I think if you truly enjoy multiple passions then balancing them and achieving success can come fairly naturally — especially when they are as different as art and sport. Rowing became a way to switch off from the stress of studying, and likewise, studying gave me direction and distraction from the tougher times in rowing. So my advice would be to make sure you keep enjoying what you’re pursuing.
What’s next for you, both in sport and beyond?
I am now officially retired from rowing and have started a new job as Head of Media and Marketing at a numismatics auction house. Rowing will always be a part of my life — I’ll just be doing it three times a week rather than three times a day! I’m enjoying being based in London, making the most of visiting galleries and exhibitions, continuing to grow my network, meeting new and exciting people, and—hopefully—in the future, finding my way back to East Asian art.
Images courtesy of Emily Craig