Sotheby's Institute of Art

Sotheby's Institute of Art The Graduate School of Art and its Markets. London • New York • Online www.sothebysinstitute.com For more information visit: www.sothebysinstitute.com.

With campuses in London, New York, and Online, Sotheby’s Institute offers graduate-level programmes and academic courses that uniquely integrate art historical scholarship, market expertise and object-based learning. Sotheby’s Institute has more than 6,000 alumni worldwide who hold top positions in all facets of the international art world.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art is proud to present Traces, a student-curated exhibition examining how the memories we have e...
04/23/2026

Sotheby’s Institute of Art is proud to present Traces, a student-curated exhibition examining how the memories we have established for ourselves, and those we’ve adopted from others, inform how we lead our lives and form our identities.

Please join us for the opening reception on April 30th from 6–9 pm EST. To RSVP for this event, please visit tracesnyc.cn. RSVP is required for entrance.

Traces features three first-generation American artists working with film, painting, and textile, who examine their personal experiences and identity through the lens of memory. Curated by MA students Stephen Callcott, Ellen Donnison, Reece Goodson, Lara Lin, and Tekla Meladze, Traces destabilizes the assumption that identity is rooted in origin stories. Instead, it proposes that memory is structured – revised through retelling, reshaped by distance, and altered by political and geographic displacement.

Featured artists include Muna Al Fadl, Pamela Lopez, and Marie Salud. Across the exhibition, memory operates not as evidence but as interpretation: a reconstruction shaped by loss, inheritance, and survival. If identity is built from memory, and memory is built from revision, then who are we becoming each time we remember?

Cover art credits:
google earth, 33°31'02"N 36°16'09"E, Muna Al Fadl
Call Me When You Land, Marie Salud
Tierra Fertil, Pam Lopez

04/23/2026

At auction, value isn’t just discovered, it’s constructed in real time.

Learn more about the psychological architecture behind auctions from the first bid to the final hammer courtesy of Dr. David Bellingham, Programme Director, MA Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Learn more about the MA Art Business program through the link in our bio.

“What excites me most is the moment when a student realizes that luxury is not what they thought it was. Most people arr...
04/22/2026

“What excites me most is the moment when a student realizes that luxury is not what they thought it was. Most people arrive with a set of assumptions that luxury is about price, scarcity, or brand prestige. Those things matter but the deeper story is about meaning, authority, and time.” —Elizabeth Chase

Sotheby’s Institute MA Luxury Business faculty member Elizabeth Chase explores luxury as a system that gives meaning through objects, institutions, and cultural memory. Her teaching challenges students to slow down, look closely, and navigate a global industry where meaning matters as much as value.

Read more about her approach to teaching luxury business here: https://sothebysinstitute.com/articles/elizabeth-chase-on-educating-the-next-generation-of-luxury-leaders/

If you’re passionate about art business, art history or the luxury market, Sotheby’s Summer Institute offers an opportun...
04/21/2026

If you’re passionate about art business, art history or the luxury market, Sotheby’s Summer Institute offers an opportunity to explore your interests while experiencing one of the world’s leading creative capitals—New York City.

Guided by industry experts, you’ll develop new perspectives on the global art and luxury markets while beginning to shape your academic and professional path.

Click here and take the next step towards your dream summer ➡️ https://sothebysinstitute.com/pre-college/summer-institute

Have you always wanted to write about art, but haven’t known where or how to begin? Our Online Art Writing course explor...
04/20/2026

Have you always wanted to write about art, but haven’t known where or how to begin?

Our Online Art Writing course explores art writing as a hands-on practice and specialized craft, with an intense focus on the key writing formats of today’s art world.

Students will begin with the foundations and mechanics of art writing (description, structure, tone), followed by an overview of specialized techniques (visual analysis, image research), and audience considerations (accessibility, vocabulary, detail).

Throughout the course, students will write short-form, publishable text through step-by-step assignments including several rounds of instructor feedback.

Join us May 6-June 17, 2026: https://sothebysinstitute.com/courses/online-courses/art-writing

Art credit: Juan Gri, “Fantômas" (1915)

04/17/2026

Emerging Artists: Camila Barvo

, a Colombian artist based in London, uses natural fibers to mimic the texture of hair for her unique, plant-like sculptures. Her abstract work is rooted in texture and explores concepts of Latin American culture, femininity, and identity.

You can learn more about Barvo and her work by reading her feature in , an art magazine entirely independently run and produced by Sotheby’s Institute students: link in bio.

04/16/2026

From a medieval English church to the auction floor, the art of “effortless cool” has deep roots.

Buried at All Saints Bisham, two 16th century brothers—Sir Philip and Thomas Hoby—mastered the subtle performance of power, taste, and style.

Their legacy lives on through Thomas Hoby’s translation of Il Libro del Cortegiano (or, the Book of the Courtier), an exceptionally rare first edition of which will be up for auction tomorrow at Sotheby's London. This book is a how-to guide for courtly success built on the idea of sprezzatura: studied nonchalance, or the art of making the extraordinary look effortless.

Centuries later, that same Renaissance ideal reminds us that the concept of coolness is timeless.

“Think of luxury as a language, not a product. This will change your perspectives and open new opportunities!” —Mary Dav...
04/15/2026

“Think of luxury as a language, not a product. This will change your perspectives and open new opportunities!” —Mary Davis, Program Director of MA in Luxury Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York and Online

Mary Davis’s approach reflects the complexity of the global luxury sector and prepares students to understand luxury not only as a business, but as a language shaped by history, value, and exchange. Here, she shares how the program equips students to navigate the sector with insight and fluency: https://sothebysinstitute.com/articles/mary-davis-on-teaching-the-language-of-luxury/

Online course spotlight: Introduction to Contemporary Art This 6-week online course provides students with a roadmap for...
04/14/2026

Online course spotlight: Introduction to Contemporary Art

This 6-week online course provides students with a roadmap for understanding contemporary art. Through lectures and discussions, this course captures contemporary art’s complex trajectory, exploring the central themes, as well as the ideas behind some of the most important works of the past 60 years.

By carefully studying the context of contemporary art, students will gain an appreciation of the impact that momentous social, political, and cultural events have had in inspiring dramatic innovation in the arts.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired a comfort level with artworks that might have previously seemed challenging or inaccessible.

Register here for our next course which starts on May 6, 2026: https://sothebysinstitute.com/courses/online-courses/introduction-to-contemporary-art

04/13/2026

The story behind an icon. 👜

The famous Louis Vuitton monogram is more than just a pattern. Inspired by Japanese mon crests, its intricate design not only honored the creator’s father, but also set a new standard for branding in the luxury world.

From heritage to innovation, discover how storytelling, design, and strategy shape global luxury brands. Explore it all in Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s MA in Luxury Business, offered in London, New York, and Online (link in bio).

Interested in spending your summer immersed in the global art world? RSVP on Eventbrite to join our Virtual Open House o...
04/09/2026

Interested in spending your summer immersed in the global art world?

RSVP on Eventbrite to join our Virtual Open House on April 23 at 5 PM ET to learn more about Sotheby's Summer Program 2026 in London and New York City. 🏙️

This is your chance to connect directly with our Program Team and hear first‑hand from a program alumnus about what it’s really like to study with us.

In this live session, you’ll:
🖼️ Get an inside look at our 4‑week summer programs
🖼️ Explore course options and academic experiences
🖼️ Learn about student life, accommodation, and on‑site support
🖼️ Understand the admissions process and how to apply
🖼️ Hear personal insights from a past participant
🖼️ Ask your questions during a live Q&A

Thinking about applying but still have questions? Book a one-on-one virtual meeting with a Collegiate Advisor to get personal guidance before you apply. Please note: This program is geared toward students 18-21 years of age who are currently enrolled in or considering enrolling in university.

This event will be held via Zoom webinar. RSVP to reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sothebys-summer-program-virtual-open-house-tickets-1985592162609

Advance your career in luxury business with a fully online MA that brings the industry to you. Today, the boundaries bet...
04/08/2026

Advance your career in luxury business with a fully online MA that brings the industry to you.

Today, the boundaries between art and luxury are increasingly blurred. Sotheby’s auction house describes itself as “the world’s premier destination for art and luxury”, while Louis Vuitton’s CEO has called the company a “cultural brand.”

Situated at this intersection of creativity and commerce, Sotheby’s Institute offers students a uniquely integrated perspective that combines business insight, industry access, and cross-disciplinary expertise.

The MA in Luxury Business (Online) blends rigorous academic study with real-world perspectives on luxury marketing, management, and entrepreneurship in a flexible, fully online format. Designed for students and professionals who cannot—or prefer not to—relocate to New York City, the program meets students wherever they are.

Learn more: https://sothebysinstitute.com/courses/masters/online-ma-in-luxury-business

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