Meet Jonathan Winter

Jonathan Winter is a Sales Assistant at Samuel Owen Gallery. Jonathan received his MA in Art Business at Sotheby's Institute of Art-New York in 2008.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is learning about new artists. Being in the art world, it is very important to know the artists who are shaping it / have made an impact on it.

In what ways does the master’s degree program that you took at Sotheby’s Institute help you in your current role?
My masters degree at Sotheby’s helped my current role by initially introducing me to the gallery world in New York. I learned which artists are represented where, and which galleries are the most impactful and influential on the global market. It is extremely important to know the other galleries that exist besides the one you work at and see what they are doing.

Drawing on your own experience, what advice would you give to people hoping to start a career in the art world?
I would tell those hoping to start a career in the art world that sometimes it can be difficult to accept a position you feel is beneath you, but sometimes it is the best way to get a foot in the door at a good institution. Put in the work and work hard, and you will move up the latter. Also, go to as many exhibition openings and events as you can. Networking is the best way to meet people and land a job.

What was it about the program that made you decide to take a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art?
I decided to enroll in Sotheby’s Art Institute Masters Program because I knew I wanted to work in the art world, but I didn’t know in what capacity or what opportunities existed.

How should a new student make the most of their time at Sotheby’s Institute?
New students studying in New York, LA, or London should make a point to take advantage of living in the hubs of the art world. It is not enough to just go to class to learn, but equally important to do the obligatory gallery crawls, see the exhibitions at the museums, and go to the auction previews to view multi-million dollar works. Keeping up with what is going on matters, and a necessary part of interviewing for a job. Interviewers want to see that you know what’s trending, who’s showing where, and the general state of the market. Take advantage of your surroundings in these major art cities and immerse yourself in the plethora of viewings, openings, and events.