Museum Studies Alumni Spotlight
Museum Studies Alumni Spotlight
Interview with Ezriel Wilson and Xenia Amaya
Launched in Fall 2022, Museum Studies minor at UTA complements major degrees in a wide variety of disciplines, notably art history, anthropology, archaeology, architecture, art education, history, and library sciences. Students gain experience in the UTA Fine Arts Collections and through partnerships with local, regional, and international art industry and museum professionals. We spoke with alumni Ezriel Wilson and Xenia Amaya who joined the team of Heritage Auctions in Dallas shortly after graduating from UTA with a museum studies minor.
What positions were you applying for after graduating from UTA with an art history degree and museum studies minor?
Ezriel Wilson: I was applying for various open gallery and cataloger positions because the most important thing is getting into it quickly to get as much experience as possible! I was even trying for unpaid internships because the experience is truly everything! I was encouraged by my mentor Cheryl Mitchell to try for the role and see if I got it and sure enough, I did!!!
Xenia Amaya: I was mainly looking for museum positions such as registrar, art handling, and even gallery attendant positions. I came across Heritage Auctions due to an email Dr. Fletcher Coleman had sent out to the Department of Art & Art History.
What attracted you in the offer from Heritage Auctions?
Xenia: The main thing that attracted me in the offer from Heritage Auctions was the one-on-one experience I’d have with all our 3D artwork. I have cataloging experience from my time as one of professor Mitchell’s interns; however, this position allowed me to further my art handling skills, but also condition reporting and learning how to be more observant.
Ezriel: Firstly, benefits. As a working mom fresh out of college this was a huge plus for me. That and the flexibility with my schedule. Then the fact that my colleague Xenia Amaya had started and had so many good things to say about Heritage, our ability to continue learning new things every day, and the overall environment.
Describe your regular day at work.
Ezriel: A regular day consists of many moving parts. You must be flexible and able to navigate a fast-paced environment. Sometimes it is a simple day filled with cataloging and research, others you are bouncing around departments and the warehouse taking pictures for clients or additional information, proofing and preparing the upcoming sale catalogs, or even multitasking popping in and out of auctions!
Xenia: My main job is to catalog and create condition reports for all 3D works. My responsibilities include finding flaws/ damage in our art glass, furniture, ceramics, and metalworks; ensuring that any provenance and COA’s are accounted for. Once all the condition reports are created, and our photography is complete we continue to create the catalog for that sale; we work closely with our marketing team for this.
Were there any unexpected skills that you have had to master recently in your new role?
Ezriel: All things decorative! When I started, I had some three-dimensional experience, but my expertise was primarily in printed 2D flat media. At Heritage, I have had to learn about an array of different materials and media from ceramics to glass, lighting, and even furniture! We also work with a variety of categories some sales focusing more on Art Nouveau/Art Deco style objects in our Pursuit of Beauty and Luxe Moderne sales, Design objects, Silver and Objects of Vertu, and a lot of French things (I was a french minor). I have also grown in my print cataloging skills, learning even more and putting my internship skills to work!
Xenia: Yes, I have been able to further my research skills during my time with Heritage Auctions. I have also expanded my communication skills when it comes to phone bidding during a live auction.
What event or assignment are you looking forward to at the moment?
Xenia: I am currently looking forward to our Design Auction happening on May 23, 2024. This auction features modern day art glass, sculpture, and Nakashima furniture! As the season comes to an end, we are always working ahead on our fall sales, and preparing those auctions is always a great time.
Ezriel: At the moment I am excited to begin using my skills as an artist to catalog paintings as I start helping out with things in our Illustration sale. I am also incredibly excited about the sales we have coming in the fall!!! Heritage Auctions is huge about encouraging us to learn more, be expansive, and grow as an individual. There is a ton of opportunities out there - you just have to take the risk and try. Sometimes that may mean jumping out of your comfort zone. One of the biggest reasons that I got this job was because I was so involved in our UTA Fine Arts Collections on campus internships, work-study, and volunteering, experiences that certainly go a very long way.
