Live from the World Trade Center, Lilly Robicsek
Thank you for your support and comments on our newsletter with McGowin Ey Anderson! This week we are talking to Lilly Robicsek (C '17), who has had an interesting path and experience while working in New York after graduation. Enjoy reading!
Did you have any internships during your time at Sewanee? If so, what were they?
“The summer before my senior year, I applied for my first summer business internship through Sewanee. I received an internship at Walrus, a New York City-based ad agency. I worked for Frances Webster, a Sewanee graduate who is the CEO and co-founder of the company.”
What made you decide to major in Art History?
“I was fortunate to travel with my family and be surrounded by art at a young age. My grandparents collect Byzantine art, Pre-Columbian pottery, and 16th-century Dutch paintings. They really taught me the importance of curiosity, the arts, and culture. So, my fascination with art and its history really began at a young age.
“While studying at Sewanee, I initially thought I would major in English. There was one semester when I was taking an American literature course taught by Professor Grammar and an American Art course taught by Dr. Brennecke. I thought, why don’t I combine my interests and double major in American Studies and Art History? I also took advantage of Sewanee’s study abroad program and spent the first half of my junior year at the University of Oxford, with a focus on classical art and architecture. During this time, it became very clear to me that I was passionate about art.”
What was your favorite art history course you took at Sewanee?
“My senior year, I took my first class with Dr. Thompson on Dada Art. This was my first introduction to early 20th-century art, and I loved it. I liked learning about artists that were experimenting and breaking away from traditional forms of art. I was fascinated by the irrationality of it. This course really piqued my interest in contemporary art.
“I also loved every class I took with Professor Brennecke. She was a great advisor to me and really encouraged me to pursue a career in New York.”
Where did you go after graduating? What’s your story postgrad?
“When I graduated, I knew I wanted to be in New York. I went back to work at Walrus, where I had interned the previous year. I am grateful that Frances let me work there while I figured out what I wanted to do while in New York. I applied for Christie’s Fall Internship program and received an internship in the Chairman’s Office. It was a part-time internship, so I spent 3 days a week at Christie’s. The other 2 days, I was interning at F. Schumacher & Co –a design company in New York. My internship at Christie’s was a great introduction to the auction world. I recorded meeting notes during international business forum meetings and supported the chairman with client research and development. The first sale I worked on was the Leonardo Da Vinci Salvador Mundi, which sold for $450 million. Getting to be in the saleroom is an immense privilege. And I was immediately hooked.
“I applied for an available position on the Events team and joined Christie’s full-time as an Events Coordinator. It was a small team of 5 and was really hands-on. There were some nights when I was there until 11 pm! I was meeting a lot of interesting clients and enjoyed working with every department at Christie’s. The first sale I worked on was The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, the most significant charity auction at the time. I was coordinating top client dinners and tours for clients like Martha Stewart, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Dolce & Gabanna.
“While I was at Christie’s, I was approached by Gagosian for a position in Press and Events. It is one of the leading galleries in the world. I took the interview and got the role. So, I moved to Gagosian. While I was there, I was working directly with blue-chip artists like Jonas Wood and Jeff Wall. However, I found myself missing Christie’s and reached out to one of my colleagues in the Contemporary Art Department.
“I applied for a job in the Post War & Contemporary Art Department at Christie’s and got the role. Something I missed while working on events was the closeness to the artwork. Now that I was working in a specialist department, I was learning more about the business side of the auction house and handling artworks directly. Pre-Covid, my focus was on online sales, which at the time was like the wild west. But when the pandemic hit, we began working remotely. I missed looking at art in person.
“After a lucky conversation, a friend of mine introduced me to Cory Silverstein. He was working in real estate and wanted to start an artist residency at The World Trade Center. I took the leap and joined Silver Art Projects as the first hire. Silver Art Projects is a non-profit artist residency, where 28 artists are selected to participate in a year-long residency with free studio space on an entire floor of the World Trade Center. My role involves community building, arts programming, fundraising, overseeing our open call process (1,200 artists applied this year), planning events and studio tours, overseeing building operations, designing our website and social media presence, and collaborating with like-minded individuals and leaders in the art world. It’s been incredibly rewarding and exciting to help artists at the beginning of their careers, in terms of mentorship and exposure to help them gain confidence. Most of the artists have signed with a gallery by the time they leave Silver Art Projects, and many are having their first solo shows in New York City. I also support four formerly incarcerated artists, working closely with the Art for Justice Foundation.”
If you had to give one piece of advice to your college self, what would it be?
“Network. It is a great way to meet new people and hear about new opportunities. And, another thing, you don’t have to have everything figured out when you graduate. I would have never dreamed of what I’m doing now. Always follow your interests. It’s exciting when you can turn your passions into your career.”
What’s your favorite museum/ gallery/ exhibit/ work of art you’ve seen recently?
“I recently attended Oscar Yi Hou’s solo show opening at The Brooklyn Museum. It was exciting to celebrate with the artist and to see all his paintings made at Silver Art Projects in such a prominent museum!”
How has your art history major helped you in your daily life?
“Having a good foundation and knowledge in art history has allowed me to understand the different qualities of artists and artworks and to develop my own taste. Even when I was working at Christie’s, it felt like a graduate program. You’re going to learn a lot about the art world by being around and listening to conversations between colleagues and artists.”
Thank you so much, Lilly, for sharing your post-graduate experiences with us! If you are interested in hearing more about Lilly’s time, don’t hesitate to reach out. Be on the lookout for our newsletter next week with Tish Spearman (C’90).