#Hashtag | Sep. 2023
#HASHSTAG: LAURA LESTER
By Dustin O’Regan
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
LAURA LESTER believes in the power of art to transform the minds, hearts, and homes of collectors. Lester founded her namesake art advisory, Lester Fine Art, in 2021 after 13 years working as a gallery director and auction house specialist in New York City. In these roles, she advised private clients and collections on artwork acquisitions and sales, as well as collection management and appraisals. Lester has cataloged and researched thousands of works of art for auction, including the marquee evening sales at Christie’s. She has organized numerous exhibitions of modern and post-war artists including Lee Krasner, Stuart Davis, and Robert Motherwell. A North Shore native, Laura attended Indiana University in Bloomington after graduating from New Trier High School. She earned a master’s degree in modern art, connoisseurship, and the history of the art market from Christie’s Education—the auction house’s educational arm—in New York. Lester currently serves on the Women’s Board of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. She lives in Wilmette with her husband, three young children, and Italian Greyhound. Lester Fine Art is committed to helping Chicago collectors navigate the international art world while building world-class collections, as well as supporting established and emerging artists. Here’s how this art world entrepreneur stays in the know:
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel. I love a fresh take on art history—and Hessel’s book delivers. So many traditional histories are now being rewritten, and I love that both collectors and the market have taken notice of the power of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ artists.
#ON MY MOBILE
I follow hundreds of artists and galleries on Instagram—although I get back to New York several times throughout the year, social media helps keep me up on what is happening day to day. Some of my favorite programs are KARMA @karmakarma9, Kasmin Gallery @kasmingallery, GRIMM @grimmgallery, and Chicago’s own Monique Meloche @moniquemeloche. I also am so inspired by the world of design and love seeing images from @archdigest and lots of talented Chicago designers, too!
#IN MY EARBUDS
My favorite industry podcast is Art-Tactic which is hosted by a great New York City-based art advisor and old friend, Adam Green. It’s also the year of Taylor Swift—so plenty of Midnights in the rotation!
