Professional Studies and Public Programs in New York



Professional Studies and Public Programs offered by Sotheby’s Institute of Art – New York provide unique opportunities for participants to gain professional skills, knowledge and insight into the international art world. They are designed for those interested in strengthening their existing experience, as well as for those pursuing a passion for art.

Our courses are led by faculty actively engaged in art and the art market. Participants are serious about their studies and faculty encourage class participation resulting in stimulating discussions where current issues and trends are explored. The broad range of evening and day courses in contemporary art, art business and jewelry are open to everyone.

Navigating the Art Market



What do you need to know about today’s market?

Participants are introduced to the international art market for modern and contemporary art and gain a solid understanding of key market concepts. The course examines the role of today’s primary and secondary markets and asks questions about how monetary or “objective” values can be placed on objects that some consider priceless and others consider worthless.

The course is led by Franklin Boyd, principal and founder of Boyd Level LLC, a contemporary art consulting firm located in New York City. In addition to working with private clients, Ms. Boyd also frequently lectures on issues around the contemporary art market and maintains a separate legal practice.

Course Dates
Times: 6:30 – 8:30pm
Dates: Tuesdays: September 21, 28, October 5, 19, 26
(no class October 12)
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$600 for 5 sessions


Experience Contemporary Art in New York



The primary focus of this ‘out and about’ course will be to provide an insider's look at today's vibrant contemporary art market in New York through gallery, museum, private foundation, auction house, and collection visits. Students gain an understanding of both contemporary art history and the newest developments. The series of lectures and tours throughout the city will help to identify the key personalities and most influential spaces that contribute to the rich, varied dialogue of contemporary art.

The course is led by Steve Pulimood who is an art critic based in New York City and a frequent contributor to Art in America, Modern Painters, ArtReview and the New York Times Style Magazine. He is currently on the faculty at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and studied art history at Columbia University in New York City and at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Course Dates
Times: Fridays 10:30am - 1:00pm
Dates: September 24, October 1, 8, 15
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$550 for 4 sessions


Introduction to Art Marketing



The course will provide students with an introduction to the principles and practice of art marketing. It will cover the full range of marketing approaches that visual art businesses and organizations use to communicate their activities to the public, attract collectors and visitors and build the reputation and credibility of their artists and their own institutional brands. Practical examples from inside some of the world’s most successful art businesses will serve as case studies with guest speakers from leading galleries, museums and other arts organizations presenting during the class.

The course is led by Clint White, Founder and President of the Arts and Culture Network Inc, which runs the boutique advertising and marketing agency WiT Media, which serves a wide range of high-profile museums, art businesses, and cultural organizations. His previous experience includes 20 years in management and marketing roles at the Santa Fe Opera, Martha Graham Dance Company, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others.

Course Dates
Times: 6:30 – 8:00pm
Dates: Six-session evening course on the following Wednesdays: September 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$550 for 6 sessions


Buying at Auction: Photography



This course will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the auction process. Participants will experience first-hand the path artwork follows from being discovered to being sold at auction. The history of the auction house, how it operates today, and how the fast-paced buying and selling worlds come together under the gavel will be explained in detail. Participants will be shown highlights from the Sotheby's photography sale and will learn how works are priced and how to gauge what to look for when buying photography.

The course is led by Elizabeth Marcus, associate director of Galerie St. Etienne in New York where she has worked for over 20 years. She is a Ph.D candidate in Art History at the City University of New York and has written and lectured widely on photography, and the history of 20th century design.

Course Dates
Times: 10.30am - 1.00pm
Dates: Tuesday, October 5
Location: Sotheby’s Auction House, 1334 York Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$175


The Art of Collecting



The practice of collecting is demystified in this course which serves as an introduction for new or aspiring collectors. Beyond being passionate about art, there are a variety of important elements to consider when starting a collection. From initial research and working with galleries and auction houses to buying at art fairs and insurance details, participants analyze the aesthetic and business decisions associated with developing a successful collection. The final session includes a visit to a private contemporary collection to meet the collector.

This course is led by Dr. I. Michael Danoff, who holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph. D, the latter in humanities with a concentration in art history. He has served as Director to four art museums and has organized many exhibitions, including the first U.S. solo shows of artists such as Georg Baselitz, Peter Halley, Jeff Koons, and Gerhard Richter.

Course Dates
Times: 6:30 – 8:00pm
Dates: Wednesdays: October 13, 20, 27, November 3,10,17
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$550 for 6 sessions





Inspiring Jewels: The Trained Eye



This intensive course offers an insider's perspective on the world of fine jewelry. During a series of private visits, participants will gain insight into the inspirational designs of Seaman Schepps, examine cutting and polishing techniques with a world-renowned emerald dealer, and view the world class collection of gemstones at the American Museum of Natural History. An exciting preview of special pieces from the fall sales will be given by Sotheby's specialist, Robin Wright.

This course is led by Fred Feldmesser, President of Parker-Feldmesser, Inc. who began his career in a gem trading family before joining the venerable houses of Cartier and Harry Winston in New York. Mr. Feldmesser is an internationally renowned gemologist and private jeweler. He has lectured at the Gemological Institute of America, the Smithsonian Institute as well as the Harvard and Yale Mineralogical Museums. He is a consultant to U.S. Customs and the author of Rocks Pebbles and Stones, Confessions of a Private Jeweler.

Course Dates
Times: Daily 10:00am - 3:00pm
Dates: Monday, October 25, Tuesday October 26, Wednesday, October 27, Thursday October 28
Location: 4 sessions at Sotheby’s Auction House, 1334 York Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$1,600


Art & Finance:
Where Two Worlds Meet



With the ever-increasing interest in investment in fine art, this timely and informative course explores the use and performance of fine art as a financial asset. The course facilitates discussions regarding what a painting is worth and why, if a work of art can be used as collateral and how buyers should approach “investing” in art. Participants gain an understanding of how fine art maintains its value over time, learn about the varying collecting categories within fine art and observe how an art investment compares with other types of financial investments.

This course is led by Noah Kupferman, a Vice President and Private Client Manager at US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. Mr. Kupferman has an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs. He began his career at Sotheby’s as a Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy specialist.

Course Dates
Times: 6:30 – 8:00pm
Dates: Tuesdays: November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$600 for 6 sessions


Introduction to Contemporary Art



In the past fifty years contemporary art has grown to be one of the most exciting and crowded fields in New York’s cultural life. From photography and objects to moving images and installations, the course will look at what is currently happening in the contemporary art world, and will introduce students to a wide number of works and practices from the past two decades. Students will consider whether there are any new movements or grand narratives that exist in contemporary art today, and if terms like "avant-garde" are still relevant.

This course is led by Jonathan T. D. Neil, Executive Editor at The Drawing Center in New York, Editor-at-Large for ArtReview magazine and co-founder of the private curatorial firm, Boyd Level LLC. He holds a Ph.D. in the history of modern and contemporary art from Columbia University and has taught courses on modern and contemporary art and architectural history, critical writing, and the history of photography at Columbia and The New School. Dr. Neil is a member of the New York chapter of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA).

Course Dates
Times: 6:30 – 8:00pm
Dates: Six-session evening course on the following Tuesdays:
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7
Location: 570 Lexington Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$550 for 6 sessions


Contemporary Art at Auction



Join us during the fall contemporary art auctions for an exclusive course with leading art advisor and Sotheby's Institute of Art faculty member Lowell Pettit. Participants will enjoy behind-the-scenes access to the sales and the specialists, preview artwork, analyze the market, and attend the day sale with the instructor. Recent trends in the art world, in both the primary and secondary markets, locally and globally will also be discussed. This is a special opportunity for anyone interested in contemporary art to develop a more educated eye, nuance a sense of connoisseurship, and deepen their understanding of this dynamic field.

Lowell Pettit is a contemporary art advisor, independent curator, and educator. He has lectured on the history and business of art for various institutions including: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Sculpture Center, Tiffany & Co. and Credit Suisse. Mr. Pettit has been featured in publications including the New York Times, ArtNews, and The International Art Newspaper, and is a member of the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) and board member of The Association of Professional Art Advisors (APAA).

Course Dates
Times: Daily 9:30am - 2:30pm
Dates: Monday November 8, Tuesday November 9, Wednesday November 10
Location: 3 sessions at Sotheby’s Auction House, 1334 York Avenue, New York

Course Fee
$1,200


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For further information or questions about Public Programs, please email: publicprogramsNY@sothebysinstitute.com
Tel: : +1 212.517.3929