Ottavia, the Art Enthusiast

For many, her job is fabulous and fascinating, immersed in art and culture within an international context. Today Ottavia Marchitelli lives in London, has two children, and is Director and Senior Specialist of 20th/21st Century Art at Christie's. Regarding her career, she recalls how she landed her current position. There were many hours spent in the warehouse cataloging works of art, frequent nights in the office doing research, and initial responsibilities as assistant to other auction house managers. All in all, hers is a career spanning eight years. “Then in 2016, upon returning from my first maternity leave, my first major promotion came – running an auction. I almost did not want to believe it. Each of us has a dream job but often, as in my case, that profession also hides a less ideal and very practical side with demanding working hours that require both mental and physical stamina. I believe that you must never give up; sooner or later, you will reach your goal,” affirms Marchitelli.

Paying her dues was a crucial period, says the Bocconi University alumna and graduate of the Master of Science program in Economics & Management of Art, Culture and Communication. She never stopped paying her dues, actually. “My job still today includes putting together technical reports and plenty of research, but now I have also unlocked what the psychological or financial key is to convince someone to trust me with their work or collection. Then that will be put up for auction thanks to an overall sense of teamwork among my colleagues. So, in my profession, there are essential elements of psychology and economics.” 

In short, Marchitelli’s job is a multifaceted one around which she has built a career all on her own. She began in Pavia at her classical high school, then pursued higher education at Bocconi – where she also worked during her studies – and, later, even lived and worked in Paris, among other cities. She has had the support of her nuclear family, as well as her husband – also a Bocconian, with whom she moved to London. However, she says, “I, first and foremost, worked really hard. I have always been passionate about art.” A determining factor was Bocconi University that gave her “a multifaceted approach to knowledge, helping me to feed my curiosity and to network,” in the words of the manager, who – already as a child – was cultured at home by two parents who were small art collectors and huge book enthusiasts. 

Now holding a senior position at Christie's, Marchitelli does not feel like a role model, although her younger colleagues make her feel like one. The most frequently asked questions revolve around how she did it – balancing both her professional and personal life. “Many are scared of the idea of having kids; yet, having a family encourages you to focus on the critical aspects of your job and not get lost in unnecessary details. I enjoy mentoring, also because I have been lucky enough to be able to, in turn, count on influential mentors throughout my career. I love listening to the stories of colleagues, as well as those of the collectors,” explains Marchitelli. “Working in art is difficult. You travel a lot, you work a lot, and I often even work at home after dinner. The pay is not the first motivation, especially living in a city like London. I will say it again, though – you cannot give up.” How? “Remembering the skills we have acquired, the number of languages we have learned, or the technical skills we can count on. Running my first auction, a sale of works on paper, taught me a lot. I devoted myself to its success and even became a true, quasi expert in the analysis of the paper on which the drawings are made. Is it overindulgence in art? No; in my field, it is a skill that still helps me succeed,” Marchitelli says.