Swann in Profile: Lisa Crescenzo

After 10 years with Swann and the reorganization of the house’s fine art offerings, Lisa Crescenzo is now the Managing Director of Fine Art. As she transitions into her new role we asked a few questions about her time with Swann and what she’s looking forward to in this new phase of fine art at Swann.

You’ve been at Swann since 2014. Can you tell us about your work and how things have changed over the years?

Coming from the gallery world, I began my career at Swann as an Administrator in the Prints & Drawings department, producing eight or more auctions a year. I observed the constant, fast-paced flow of consignments coming through the gallery doors, assembling sales that typically consisted of more than 400 lots each. I recall the excitement of handling a large volume of artwork by prestigious artists, from Picasso to Ai Weiwei. Every day was, and still is, exciting when we receive a new shipment from a consignor and see which prints or drawings will be included in our upcoming sales. After a few years, I was promoted to Department Manager, where I managed the workflow of five staff members—administrators and cataloguers—and maintained relationships with clients. One of my top goals then, and still to this day, is to understand the client’s needs and ensure a positive, memorable experience when working with Swann.

Over the years, the company has grown in many ways, such as incorporating thematic annual interdepartmental sales like LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History, Subculture, and Focus on Women, creating entirely new gallery spaces, and becoming more technologically advanced to keep up with the times and the needs of the staff and clients. 

What has been the most memorable sale for you?

The Virginia Zabriskie Collection in September 2021 has to be at the top of my list. This auction resulted from a long relationship between Swann and Zabriskie Gallery. Sometime after her passing, Swann was presented with the opportunity to work with a selection of consignments directly from the estate, which consisted of artworks that were part of the gallery inventory as well as artworks that were once part of Ms. Zabriskie’s private collection. It was an honor to present the career of a groundbreaking Paris–New York female gallerist. Each artwork, whether an editioned print or photograph, unique drawing, painting or sculpture, represented her independent collecting style and a snapshot of all artists and art movements she promoted throughout her career. I was lucky enough to visit her NYC apartment/gallery space multiple times before it was emptied. My colleagues and I leafed through gallery notes, solved some unknown artist mysteries, met with known research committees to formally authenticate artworks, and had primary insights from one of her lifelong employees. We learned so much more about Ms. Zabriskie than I thought we would, and I think we did a wonderful job presenting her legacy via the auction. She was a strong force in the art market for many years. I wish I had met her in person. 

How have your years at Swann influenced your career? What are you looking forward to in your new role?

Swann has taught me always to explore a business opportunity and not to shy away from new concepts or ideas. I look forward to focusing on my client management skills to bring in higher value, large quantity consignments for all the fine art sales. In the past few years, I have been slowly dipping my toes into working regularly with all of Swann’s specialists on multi-department consignment proposals, but now I will be devoting my time to working with consingors. I want clients to know that they should come to me with fine art collections such as artist’s estates, private family estates, corporate or institutional collections looking to deaccession artworks, or even contemporary collectors who may be ready to sell and collect a new curatorial vision. 

What brought you into the art world? Do you have any favorite movements?

As a child, I was always looking to create art and perform. I also always had a fascination with facts and history. Once I started to apply for colleges, I zoned in on the schools that offered me the chance to enroll in my first art history course and other courses in the arts, including dance and theater history, art studio, and dance practicums. I figured it would be a way to keep my required college curriculum enjoyable while focusing on the harder coursework. After my freshman year, I was so immersed in the arts programs that it was only natural to continue on an art professional path. One of my hobbies is reading biographies and learning about people’s personal cultural experiences. I see all art forms as a direct result of one’s personal experience, leading them to their own artistic choices.  

Among my favorite artistic movements is American Modernism from the early twentieth century—artists such as Arthur Dove, Joseph Stella, Rockwell Kent, and Ralston Crawford. This was a time period when artists in America were taking the training and movements from abroad and expressing themselves as new American artists. This period offers a vibrancy of creation that is unique and fresh, establishing a visual American experience that was attributed to their European predecessors. 

Are you a collector yourself?

I would say first that I am my own personal archivist and then second that I am a budding art collector. I have objects from my past that I hold dear, and I have found creative ways to keep them as my life changes. I have started a small collection of works on paper, most of which I acquired through bidding at Swann! On my walls at home, you will find a Southwest print by Howard Cook, a woodcut by Stanley Hayter, an ink drawing by Robert Henri, and colorful geometric screenprints by Robert Goodnough. 

What should collectors and consignors alike know about the art market that would help them when working with Swann?

It goes without saying that the art market is constantly changing and is different for particular artists, movements, and styles. These categories ebb and flow in and out of collecting interests like clothing and fashion. We do our research to understand and predict auction trends from across the globe, and we know what we can sell best for you. What do our buyers want or tell us what they like through our relationships and purchases? Swann may not be able to handle everything in your collection, but we will be honest about how we propose to present your collection to our buyers. 

I hope that collections of all types will find their way to my desk and hopefully as featured highlights of our sale seasons. 

A selection of collections handled by Lisa Crescenzo: