Name: Lyla Poonawala
Class Year: 2023
Major: Economics and Psychology
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Internship Organization: Christie’s
Job Title: 2022 Summer Intern
Location: New York City, NY
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
Apart from researching and writing a lot of essays for the upcoming auction, I have understood various different softwares that are unique to Christie’s such as CANVAS and JDE. I have also gained knowledge of tax law and commodity law. Apart from this, I have learned about the Christie’s business model, and witnessed first-hand their efforts to be as efficient as possible. I also volunteered at the Christie’s Art+Tech summit, and through that learned about the future of technology in the art space, and the effect of that on the art market.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I grew up in Mumbai, the home of the Bombay progressives, arguably the most radical group of Indian artists. As a child, I always wondered why a portrait painted by M.F. Hussain of my grandparents had all but no resemblance to reality, it was then that the five-year old me got a rather piquant introduction to the modernist explorations of a newly liberated group of artists. I attended my first auction preview opening night at thirteen years old when, at the time, I was lucky to be a fly on the wall, watching artists, collectors, gallerists come together, and truly share their passions for art. As a telephone auctioneer, I was in the sale room while the first part of the Glenbarra collection was auctioned off by Pundole’s in 2019, setting world records, it was quite an experience! Apart from this, even dinner table conversations spanned from whether the recently buzzworthy Tyeb Mehta would become the next Gaitonde, to discussing whether or not Paul Gaugin should be “cancelled,” I always knew that somewhere in the artworld, I would find my metier.
At Bryn Mawr, I decided to couple my degree with a semester immersed in everything the Art world has to offer, by studying abroad at the Sotheby’s Institute of art for a semester, and it was there that I knew I wanted to work in the Art market.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
As I opted to work in the South Asian specialist department, which is a relatively small department, I got the opportunity to take on a lot of tasks I otherwise would not be able to do. Working in the department, I was given the opportunity to write lot essays for high value lots which were published in the catalogue and online. Writing the lot essays also helped me broaden my knowledge of the Indian artists I have been hearing about since I was a child.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Seeing my work published in the catalogue!
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
It is everything I expected it to be – and more. During my internship, I have gotten the opportunity to interact with several departments outside my own, work on my writing skills, and met some incredible people who I hope will become mentors, friends, and co-workers.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.