Stephen Chambers, from DC to Christie's!
Thank you all for your feedback and support on our newsletter with Grace West! We hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and break. This week we are talking with Stephen Chambers (C’13), our first male interview! He has lots of incredible stories and advice to share with us, and we are excited to share them with you!
Did you have any internships during your time at Sewanee? If so, what were they?
“I did not have any internships while I was at Sewanee. However, when I graduated, the first summer postgrad, I did an internship at the Guarisco Gallery in DC.”
What made you decide to major in Art History?
“I took AP Art History in high school, but I’ve always been an artsy kid. I loved all the art classes, even when I was in elementary school.
“I loved art history and looking at the archeological study of cultures and times. It felt like a natural next step for me. Honestly, I thought I wanted to look into theatre, and thank god, I did not. I am so much happier now. Also, I thought about English, but because art history is so writing intensive, I still feel like they go hand and hand.
“I always have had a love for looking at objects and thinking of a person, place, and time behind that.”
What was your favorite art history course you took at Sewanee?
“Any class Greg Clark taught was my favorite. He is the most amazing, beautiful, sarcastically funny person, and so unbelievably smart, too. He was my advisor, can you tell?
“He taught one course on American animation, it was tough. It was at 8 am, and his tests were so hard, but it was an amazing class.
“I also loved his Northern Renaissance class. To date, this has been my all-time favorite course. It really honed in the art and made me feel comfortable walking into a museum and being able to have a conversation about the atmospheric perspective or how Madonna and Child are represented.”
Where did you go after graduating? What’s your story postgrad?
“Immediately after graduating, I went to the Guarisco Gallery to do an internship in DC for a few months. I was then brought back on as Collections Manager for about a year and a half. Then, I moved to Hemphill Fine Arts in DC for about 3 years, where I was the Preparator and Logistics Manager.
“DC was not nearly as energetic as New York, where I wanted to be. It was just a stepping stone. So in 2018, I moved to New York and began working at Matthew Marks Gallery as a Registrar for about a year. Then, I started working in the advisory side of the art world at the Hammond Group for about 2 years. I worked in dealing and brokering in sales and consignments with auction houses, negotiating terms, and alongside appraisals departments. I got a real understanding of what an artist’s or period’s market is like. I started to learn what kinds of images the market responded to.
“I’ve now been at Christie’s for about 7 months working for Trusts and Estates and Appraisals. I work with attorneys and estates, and that entails the three D’s: debts, divorce, and death. It is a very client-facing job. I have to sometimes put on my therapist cap, but I also have to be a professional business person, too. This job is definitely taxing and exhausting, but I love it. It’s so interesting getting to know people for who they are.
“My work experience is the opposite of what people usually do. They usually start at the auction houses and move on, but mine was reversed.”
If you had to give one piece of advice to your college self, what would it be?
“I don’t think I can give just one piece. So, here are a few.
“Just get your foot in the door somewhere, it doesn’t have to be everything you’ve dreamed of. Just because you end up somewhere does not mean that’s where you’ll be forever. You’re allowed to bounce around, and, honestly, you should.
“Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, email, or slide into the DMs of alumni. We have all been there, fighting tooth and nail for a job. There are so many alumni who just want to help you. We’re a resource and help. Don’t be afraid to take a call and ask.
“When we graduate, so many of us are pigeonholed into the art world as museums, but no. That is not the case. You need to work a gallery job. Galleries are so incredibly important and oftentimes, we forget about them. It’s hard, but you learn SO much. Make that your stepping stone.”
What’s your favorite museum/ gallery/ exhibit/ work of art you’ve seen recently?
“There are two exhibitions that I have loved. The first being at the Hirshhorn in DC. It was by Ragnar Kjartansson. It was video installations. And, I kid you not, it was the most amazing exhibition I’ve ever been to. It was a combination of music and videos. I was there for almost 3 hours, sobbing in the corner.
“The second one was at the Met, which traveled from SF MOMA. It was Vija Celmins’ “To Fix the Image of Memory.” I loved this exhibition.”
How has your art history major helped you in your daily life?
“Obviously, I still work in the arts, so it helps me every day. I think it has allowed me to have an appreciation for walking around and seeing things, not just fine art, but looking at a building and thinking about where the architecture was inspired. It really helps me enjoy the small things and the beauty that constantly surrounds me.”
Thank you so much, Stephen, for sharing your postgrad experiences with us, it was a pleasure speaking with you! If you are interested in Stephen’s experiences or want to connect, don’t hesitate to reach out. Be on the lookout for our final newsletter of the semester with Kate Barlow next week!
— Sewanee Art History Department