Essays

Abstract

Mary-Anne Martin, a native New Yorker, majored in English literature at Smith and Barnard colleges and did graduate work in art history at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. In 1966 she interrupted her graduate studies to temp as a secretary in Sotheby’s Impressionist Department (then called Parke-Bernet Galleries). This led to a thirteen-year career with the auction house. Martin trained as an expert in Impressionist and Modern paintings, eventually becoming head of the Paintings Department as well as its first female senior vice president. A trip to Mexico City in 1974 kindled her interest in Mexican art, and in 1977 she organized for Sotheby’s the first auction of Mexican paintings ever held in the U.S. Latin American art, a broader designation, was Martin’s terminology, first used in 1979 for the Sotheby ‘s/Americas Society sale. The sale’s success led Martin to found Sotheby ‘s Latin American Paintings Department. Mary-Anne Martin/Fine Art was founded in 1982, one of the first galleries in the U.S. specializing in Latin American art. Mary-Anne Martin is a member of the Art Dealers Association of America and serves on its executive committee.KeywordsMexico CityPrivate CollectionAuction HouseWoman ArtistEstate SaleThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.