Meet Caroline Yarbrough ‘19, who was a dedicated member of the cross country and track and field teams throughout her four years in college. Now, she is an Associate Cataloguer in the Contemporary Department at Sotheby’s, one of the world’s most renowned auction houses. What might seem like a significant career shift to some, Caroline has found that her experience as an athlete has prepared her for the challenges of working in an auction house. For Caroline, being a part of the track and field team taught her the importance of teamwork, communication, and each team member’s unique strengths, which she finds just as essential in her role at Sotheby’s. Today, we will learn more about how Caroline’s experience as an athlete and art historian at Davidson has influenced her career in the art world.
Caroline’s Art Journey:
I always had a passion for art, history, and economics, and developed my particular interest in a career in the market-side of the art world while at Davidson. While in college, I had the opportunity to intern in the American Decorative Arts Department at Christie’s auction house which I attribute to the generosity of a referral from Alex Locke ‘10, a fellow Davidson alum who works in the Client Strategy Department. I was drawn to the fast-paced, team-oriented environment and the unique combination of art historical research, data-backed valuation, and collector relationship management unique to the auction house. The internship solidified my ardent ambition to pursue a career in an auction house.
After graduation, I attended the Art Business Masters program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York to continue my education in the field. The program focused on the interconnected players of galleries, auction houses, museums, and collectors in the art industry, as well as the valuation of art, both of which were fascinating to me. I learned how to research a work of art’s provenance, exhibition history, and literature to determine its value. This was a valuable skill that would help me in my future career. I also had the opportunity to learn about art advisory and art law. Learning in the center of the art world provided me with a hands-on immersion in the industry, which I gained by attending gallery openings and museum exhibitions, speaking with artists and dealers, and training my eye by exposing myself to as much art as possible.
During my time at the Institute, I focused on implementing the knowledge from the classroom into internships. I interned for two art advisors and an appraisal firm, which involved thinking holistically about the client’s collections to discern opportunities to acquire and sell, as well as work on appraisals and collection management. The primary art market and collection management insight I gained from these experiences was invaluable, but I was eager to land a position in a large auction house, as the fast-paced environment and teamwork played into strengths I gained as an athlete at Davidson. While finishing my Thesis during my final semester at the Sotheby’s Institute, I interned in the Americana Department at Sotheby’s, which prepared me for a position as a Sales Coordinator in the Photographs Department after graduation.
In this role, I gained valuable insight into all aspects of the auction business. I was responsible for delivering a seamless consignor client experience, from contracts to logistics, as well as supporting the Specialists with research, writing essays, and exhibition planning. I honed my client-facing skills and learned the importance of building strong relationships with clients.
In October 2022, I transitioned to a Cataloguer role on the Contemporary Online team at Sotheby’s. I am thrilled to be working in an area that aligns with my passion for contemporary art. In this role, I am responsible for researching, writing about, valuing, and planning exhibitions for contemporary artworks. I feel fortunate to work in a position where I am truly learning and growing each day as I continue to develop my expertise in Contemporary art.
Overall, my journey in the art world has been rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling. I have learned so much and gained valuable experience at every step. I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have led me to my current position and look forward to continuing to grow and learn in the years to come.
Kaiyan: You have mentioned that you have been interned or worked at all different kinds of art organizations, including galleries, art advisories, and auction houses. What skills do you think are important for all these jobs?
Caroline: The skills that are important for all the different kinds of art organizations I have worked at include a willingness to learn and a “no job is too small” mentality. Being eager to learn and proactive in taking on tasks are crucial in any entry-level position. It’s important to not merely take directions and complete assigned tasks, but also to actively look for ways to help colleagues and managers with their work. In our industry, where teams are often small, being proactive and proactively pitching for projects you can work on can make a significant difference.
I believe Davidson instills in students a strong work ethic and written and oral communication skills, which are valuable assets in any art organization. These qualities have helped me throughout my career, and I think they can take others far as well.
Kaiyan: You talked about the importance of teamwork as well as the independent tasks in your working environment. What is the proportion of teamwork and independent tasks in the current job that you have?
Caroline: As a Cataloguer, I work individually each day to research and to write condition reports. Our team consists of three cataloguers, so we catalogue about a third of the 300-450 items in any given auction. We have about 4-6 auctions per year. However, I collaborate with my colleagues daily. We run our condition reports by each other and help with provenance research to ensure that we are presenting accurate and detailed information about each item.
In addition, we have pricing meetings each week where we work together to come to a consensus on auction estimates after independently researching and preliminary pricing artworks that clients approach us about consigning. During these meetings, we talk about different comparable works that we referenced when devising our estimates and each bring our individual knowledge about relevant museum or gallery shows or insights from discussions with clients and colleagues. This helps us to come up with accurate and fair estimates that reflect the unique qualities of each artwork and position it in a way to achieve the best possible result for our clients.
Overall, I would say that the proportion of teamwork and independent tasks in my job is fairly balanced. While I spend a lot of time working on individual tasks, I also value the collaborative aspect of my job and appreciate the insights and perspectives that my colleagues bring to the table. Each artwork is unique, therefore it is important for each other to bring in their own perspective in pricing, an inherently relatively subjective practice.
Kaiyan: What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
Caroline: I really love every part of my position. I think it has the perfect balance. One of the aspects of my job that I find most exciting is the research process. Each day when property arrives it just feels like Christmas morning. I relish diving into the artist’s practice and learning more about how the work we are offering fits within the techniques and subject matter they explored throughout their career. I find it endlessly fascinating to uncover the stories and context behind each artwork. I also enjoy the challenge of translating my research into an essay for the digital catalogue. Writing for a potential buyer requires a different approach than writing for a professor or academic audience. I need to be able to distill the art historical and market significance of the work into an engaging and persuasive narrative that will appeal to collectors and inspire them to bid on the artwork.
In addition to researching and writing about the artworks, I also find it interesting and rewarding to interact directly with clients. Talking to collectors and explaining estimates requires a deep understanding of the artwork and the market. I also enjoy speaking to potential bidders during the pre-sale exhibition and play a part in helping the artwork find a new home in a private collection or a museum.
Ultimately, I see myself and my colleagues at Sotheby’s as stewards of the artwork. We are responsible for caring for it while it is in our possession, and our goal is to ensure that it finds a new home where it will be appreciated and valued.
Kaiyan: What is the biggest challenge you have faced throughout your career?
Caroline: In reflecting on my career journey, I would say that my biggest challenge was navigating the uncertainty of not knowing exactly how to get to my ultimate goal of becoming a Cataloguer on the Specialist track in the auction house. Unlike some careers where there is a clear and direct path, the art industry can be more circuitous, which requires patience and perseverance. At times, I experienced doubts about whether my internships and entry-level positions would ever lead me to the job I yearned for.
However, I found that trusting the process and having faith in the company I was working for helped me overcome these doubts. At Sotheby’s, I saw firsthand many examples of colleagues who started as registrars or even entry-level administrative assistants and are now leaders of the company boasting 40-year-long careers. This gave me hope and a sense of empowerment that if I continued to work hard and excel at my current job every day, it would eventually lead me to my desired role. I am grateful to work at a company that values employee growth and I hope to have a long career here like so many of our senior leaders have had.
Kaiyan: What is something that you wish you could have done differently when you were a student?
Caroline: Working in a competitive industry has taught me the importance of being proactive and networking. When I first started applying to internships my junior year, I thought that simply writing a great cover letter and submitting my resume would be enough to get noticed. However, I soon realized that there were thousands of art history majors applying for the same positions and I needed to make personal connections in order to stand out.
I wish that I had recognized the power of networking earlier into my college experience, as being a student gives you a free pass to cold call anyone in your field of interest. They might not always answer, but there is no harm in asking for a genuine career conversation. I initially worried about bothering people, but I soon learned that people love to talk about their jobs and share their experiences with students. If you’re genuinely interested in someone’s job or career path, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for a coffee or a quick chat. You never know who might be able to open a door for you in the future.
Building connections with people in your industry is key. It’s not just about asking for a job or an internship, but about establishing a relationship and showing a genuine interest in what they do. By doing so, you’ll be one of the first people they think of when a job opportunity arises.
Overall, I highly encourage students to be proactive about networking. Don’t be afraid to reach out and have conversations with people in your field of interest. You never know where it might lead, and it’s a great way to learn more about your chosen industry and potentially open up new opportunities for yourself. I hope that any students reading this article who are interested in any facet of the art industry will reach out to me, as I am eager to pass on the largesse of countless art industry professionals who shared their experience and advice with me!