At a panel hosted by the Barnard club Meet Me at the Museum, students heard from and mingled with accomplished women working in the art industry.

Disclaimer: The Careers In The Arts panel was put on by Meet Me at the Museum; this Bwog Staffer is a general member of the club and had no part in organizing this event.

A low buzz of chatter and the dulcet tones of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” filled the James Room, an open space on the fourth floor of Barnard Hall, as students dressed in their best business casual waited for the Careers in the Arts panel to begin. The event, organized by Meet Me at the Museum (MMatM)—a Barnard club that works to bring art education to the community by giving free tours of the Met to New York public schools—allowed students to hear from and speak to successful women working all over the art industry. 

A few minutes after seven, MMatM president Sasha Celico (BC ’25) introduced the panelists: Sophia Perez, a Barnard alum who currently works in brand partnerships at Pinterest; Conçetta Ciarlo, a beauty commerce writer at Vogue; Amanda Laferriere, a portrait and concert photographer for musicians on tour; Kyla Rys, the associate still life photographer at Ralph Lauren; Ottilie Lighte, another Barnard alum who is the imaging production coordinator at MoMA; and Gabby Redding, a designer at the architecture firm Vocon and a writer for The Groovement. 

The speakers responded to questions about networking, career decisions, finding footholds in the art industry, and personal advice. The concept of “grit,” the kind of desperate passion that accompanies a desire to make a living in the art world, was frequently brought up. The difference between being eager to work and being willing to do free labor for no reward is important, the panelists stressed. Ambition can—and has to—be balanced out by boundaries and self-respect. Ottilie Lighte shared a story about dealing with a verbally abusive boss and the struggle between finding personal fulfillment and pursuing what other people define as acceptable or great; in her next jobs, she said, having autonomy and freedom became extra important. “The art world is forgiving,” she reminded the audience, insisting that self-respect and boundaries should always be the first priority in a job.  

There was also a certain wry acknowledgment of the art world’s reliance on connection (and, frequently, nepotism); when sharing their industry stories, lots of the speakers emphasized the role networking played in their careers. Amanda Laferriere, acknowledging that networking can often “feel slimy,” advised approaching it as a genuine connection before anything else; find common ground, even friendship, she recommended, instead of treating a real person like a business opportunity. Agreeing, Ciarlo highlighted the way in which reaching out to an old friend helped her “get her foot in the door” of the industry. Redding told the audience to stay in touch with people after they graduate and to “never be embarrassed to ask people you know, or your friends, to help you get work.” People want to help you, she reminded the audience; it never hurts to ask.

Though finding a way into the art world can be difficult, it’s not without its eventual rewards. Ciarlo told us about her experience working the Met Gala—a lot goes on behind the scenes, with event planners working for almost the whole year leading up to the party—and getting to meet Lana Del Rey. Laferriere revealed she’d been dreaming of her current job since she was 15. Lighte, after submitting applications to the Met every semester, eventually had their curator reach out and ask her if she wanted a semester-long internship because they needed someone with a knowledge of Sanskrit. Clearly, persistence and hard work pay off. 

After the official panel, students were free to approach the panelists—each of whom was assigned their own table—and ask any further questions. Many emails were exchanged, and both groups seemed equally interested in each other. I was more than a little starstruck—it was inspiring to see not only the careers and accomplishments of these women but also their individuality and genuine passion for their art.

Careers In The Arts via Dora Pang