Biography
Christine Donahue Kavanagh is the Vice President, Director of Collection Sale Management at Sotheby’s New York. She brings luxury specialist expertise and many years of experience in the auction business assisting private collectors and institutions throughout the Americas with collection management, appraisals, private sales and auction consignments. Christine began her career in 2004 as an intern at Sotheby’s regional office in Dallas, Texas. Christine rejoined the firm in 2023 and in her first nine months at Sotheby’s, she played a meaningful role in bringing to market the two landmark sales of the year: The Mo Ostin Collection, the legendary record executive’s collection of masterworks by artists who, like the musicians Ostin worked with, pushed their practice into new territory, and The Emily Fisher Landau Collection the most valuable collection devoted to a woman collector that achieved over $425 million.
Prior to her current role at Sotheby’s, Christine spent nearly eight years at Christie’s New York where she worked across all Fine Art, Decorative Arts and Luxury departments. Christine managed complex, multi-departmental consignments and single-owner sales. Most notably, Christine played a meaningful role in the most prominent and impressive collection sales at Christie’s, including the rich fine and decorative arts from The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection, sold to benefit the couple’s foundation for arts and science organisations.; La Rêverie: The Collection of Sydell Miller; The Collection of A. Jerrold Perenchio, along with many Private Collections offered discreetly through Christie's Auction and Private sale channels. Christine also facilitated engagement in Art Lending, Valuations, Museum Services, Corporate Collections, Real Estate, Fine Art Storage amongst other services offered to manage collections proactively or reactively. Christine also empowered regional programming and events, including a panel discussion on Imperial Robes, Fine Chinese Costume and Textiles with celebrity stylist Erica Cloud. Prior to moving to New York in 2015, Christine lived in Los Angeles where she was a Board Member and Co-President of the Woman’s Jewelry Association and held various positions in the luxury industry, including roles in management and celebrity dressing opportunities with Tiffany & Co.
Christine is a graduate from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In addition, Christine is a Graduate Gemologist certified by the Gemological Institute of America and she has successfully completed the introductory program offered by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
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