CAREFULLY CURATED

With more than 15 years of proven consulting experience in the contemporary art market, LYDIA KUTKO prides herself on serving clients at all levels—from the new buyer to the established collector. In 2008, she opened LK Art Consultants in New York City and has since expanded with a new gallery and viewing room in Glencoe. Kutko, who studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before earning a master’s degree in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, travels to art fairs internationally with her team, bringing their finds and market expertise back to the Chicago area.

How can women support other women? Don’t settle for status quo with yourself or each other. Help push past limiting beliefs together.

What has been the most significant barrier in your career and how have you persevered? Breaking into a certain sphere of the contemporary art business requires tact, patience, strategy, and extreme learning. I happen to love the confluence of art and business and that passion drives our firm to grow and excel in the quality of art and information we bring clients year after year. We set the bar.

What are you most proud of doing? Bringing on a strategic hire who keeps our presence in New York. Alexandra Stoller joined in 2020 and comes with exhibition design and curatorial skills which we’ve parlayed into services that allow clients to experience and visualize art as if they’re seeing it in person. Another great moment was opening a gallery and office in Glencoe.

What is the most important characteristic of an effective leader? Reading the room and adjusting your strategy to the situation at hand.

What meaningful lesson did you learn in your first job? How to work 1,000 hours a week and decide it was going to make me stronger. Working for Martha Stewart is a good lesson in power!

For more information, visit lkartconsultants.com.