Caroline Perkins (’16)
Advisor, Artsy Private Sales
New York City, NY
WFU Class of 2016
Major: Art History Major, Mathematics minor
DeacLink: Please walk me through your path from graduation day to your current job.
Caroline Perkins: I took a paid internship at MASS MoCA and was there for about four months, when I decided I did not want to stay. I then decided to move to NY to a part time job with Cristin Tierney Gallery. Shortly after I got my first entry level role at Artsy and I’ve been there since.
DL: How much did your studies and general experience at Wake inform or drive your career path?
CP: I was obsessed with Art history! I declared my major early so I could take more classes. I absolutely loved it. Very early onI decided I wanted to figure out how to make a career in a space where I could work with art. One of the biggest influences at wake was the Art Business class and the Venice Biennale course. Those two taken together gave me the biggest foundation for how to navigate the NY art market.
DL: How did you find and apply to the various positions you’ve held? Any tips or suggestions for the student audience on networking, interviewing and applying for jobs?
I heard through older art history grads that MAss MOCA was one of the only paid/housing provided fellowships at any museums. I applied online and it worked out. Ask people who are older than you, and be curious about other people’s networks and what they know. Cristin, who I met through the art business class, was incredibly warm and welcoming and offered me a job. I found my current job online on NYFA (New York Foundation of the Arts).
DL: What is your favorite part of living and working where you do?
CP: The best part about NY are the emerging galleries and the community of people who work in visual art. These communities are fascinating and surprisingly open. It’s a small world really. I’ve loved the people I’ve met at gallery openings, museum openings, shows, and everyone’s willingness to see everything, talk about it, start new projects and collaborate. There’s endless opportunities.
DL: What is your favorite part about where you work?
CP: Artsy is a tech company so it comes with tech benefits including remote work and global employees. We have some of the best data of all the art market places which makes things exciting. From a personal perspective I’ve been able to travel a lot with my company. I’ve gone all the way to Singapore for work. I go to Miami every year for the art fair. I’ve traveled to London and Paris. It’s great to be so young in my career and go learn about different cities, communities, and institutions.
DL: What and where is next for you?
CP: I don’t expect to leave New York any time soon. I think in the near term I’m considering working at a gallery as a sales director, but I haven’t decided what that would look like or where. In the long term I’d like to keep dealing artworks either as an independent advisor or opening my own gallery.
DL: Any other kernel of advice you’d like to impart to the readers?
CP: See art in person as often as you can!