Working in the Arts: Sarah Walfisz

This week for our ongoing Working in the Arts profile, we talk to Sarah Walfisz who is Manager of Partnerships and Client Relations at ArtFinder.

So, where do you work?  

I recently joined the team at Artfinder, after joining Art Republic 3 years ago as a Sales Coordinator. The two companies have now merged, and our team has been focusing on curation, supporting artists and buyers.  

What is your job title?   

Manager of Partnerships and Client Relations. I focus on supporting our buyers whether that be interior designers, galleries, or individuals to best support them to find the artists they love.  

What time did you wake up? What are you usual working hours? 

As a non-morning person, I usually wake up at around 8am. We are a remote company and I normally seek co-working spaces that I can walk to with a coffee to start my day around 9am.   

What are your key tasks? 

A client once described my role as an ‘Art Matchmaker’ which amused me: I find the right seller and artwork(s) for the right buyer, and make sure that both parties were happy with the marriage.  

I am constantly looking for new ways to support buyers to find the perfect artwork for them. Artfinder has a plethora of artworks and artists that I am so excited to work with and find the perfect buyer for their pieces. Whether that is through email campaigns, personal shopping, acquisition or commissioning works on behalf of a client.   

What was your career path to this role?  

Whilst my education always led me towards working in the arts, with a degree in History of Art and a master’s in Cultural Studies, I have worked in quite a few different areas from a receptionist at an accountancy firm, to marketing for a charity. All these jobs have provided me with a variety of skills of communication and software expertise that culminated in me finding the right position. 

What are the best and worst things about your job? 

Best – I am definitely a social person and love any opportunity to meet new people who share a passion about art as well as breaking down barriers and helping new buyers who are sometimes intimidated by the choice or the concept to help them see art as an attainable and exciting purchase.  

Worst – sometimes working from home too many days in a row can be a little challenging but it is a good driving force to go to co-working spaces or visit clients.  

What careers advice would you give to your 18-year-old self with the benefit of hindsight?  

Learning that you aren’t very good at drawing in your A-levels isn’t the end of the world! I would have never studied History of Art without realising I was a lot better at History than I was at Art!

Have you had a secret job that is not on your CV?  

I have had so many, from spending a summer holiday scanning documents to more exciting opportunities such as completing a TEFL course and teaching in China and Cambodia. One of the more random jobs I had was assisting a freelance photographer for weddings when I was 17 and learning how to line up the perfect shot and act decisively to take candid pictures of guests.