WHO WE ARE
A FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING THE ‘OUTSIDE’ LIVES OF THE MANY VARIED AND INTERESTING MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.

—by Lois Chazen

The first business field Stephen S. Lash entered after he was awarded an M.B.A. from the Columbia University Business School was investment banking. He spent seven years at S.G. Warburg, two of those years in London. His second career—the one that he seemed destined to follow considering his love of art and business acumen—is in world of the auction house. He joined Christie’s, the venerable London-based firm, in 1976 just before it had a presence in New York. It was an eight-man start-up operation. His first assignment was to find a suitable exhibition and sales space in New York. He found the space at the former Delmonico’s on Park Avenue. Today Christie’s, New York has 500 employees and Stephen is the Chairman of Christies, North and South America.

Stephen Lash

Art has always been an important part of Stephen’s life. He recalls from his early childhood that his parents frequented museums and galleries and usually, he accompanied them. They were collectors of antique American furniture. He grew up in Newton and Brookline, Massachusetts and attended Avon Old Farms boarding school in Connecticut. He then went on to Yale where he majored in French Literature. “All of these experiences,” he said, “helped prepare me for my work and still remain useful today.”

A true New Englander, he quipped, “When I was first interested in the auction field, I applied to Sotheby’s. I was offered a job as assistant to a young man they considered an upcoming star. His name was John Marion. Being a New Englander, I turned the offer down. I thought I would enjoy it so much, I would feel very guilty.”

Stephen worked and lived in London for two years while he was at Warburg. There, he became deeply involved in the London art world. He and his wife spent their free time at the galleries and museums and at Christie’s. “I was struck by the atmosphere and culture at Christie’s and began to formulate ideas about the possibility of a Christie’s branch in New York.” Subsequently, he met John Floyd who was Christie’s Chairman. Mr. Floyd had also been pondering this question. Floyd proposed that Stephan with the assistance of seven other staff members put the idea into effect—an offer Stephen accepted.

In a discussion about changes he has witnessed during his tenure, Stephen said, “There are two major shifts. The first one is that the business has become truly international. A seller may be in France; the auction may be in London. Phone and absentee bids come in from Hong Kong, Detroit, Copenhagen, Capetown and Brazilia. The second is that it has become a retail business. More attention is given to presentation. For Christie’s, it occurred in 1999, when we moved to Rockefeller Center. Pre-auction exhibitions are more like museum displays: catalogues have become art books; the flowers and client parties are lavish and important pieces may be circulated to several locations.”

Stephen joined All Souls twenty years ago and a few years later, was one of the church members who founded the Heart and Soul Auction. Prior to that, the annual church fair was the money raiser for All Souls’ outreach programs. Stephen has volunteered his services as auctioneer for the All Souls auction for many years. Artfully and with great charm, he has raised a significant sum of money for the Church’s charitable work. This year the auction was held at Christie’s at Rockefeller Center, which will also be the venue next year.

“I would hope to have more volunteers to assist and more luxury items to offer at future Heart & Soul Auctions,” Stephen remarked. “The potential to increase the proceeds is good. Emphasis on the work of the Foundation’s broad-based supervision of applications, and monitoring of funds they award to established New York community organizations would be useful. It would emphasize the breadth of our mission, especially on the Internet where the Fund is not known. More bidding would also increase the proceeds. For example, the Committee members could each ‘Adopt-A-Bidder,’ and have fun and practical use with that device to increase the number of bids.”

Collecting is also part of Stephen’s life. His interest is the history of ocean liner travel. He has a sizable collection of paintings, prints, models, posters, books and all sorts of memorabilia about such famous vessels as the Queen Mary and the Caronia. He was the first president of the Ocean Liner Museum, which operated for twenty years.

Outside of Christie’s, Stephen’s family is his priority. His family includes his wife, Wendy, his daughter, Abigail, who works at Christie’s, and his son, William, who has an art business in Brazil. He and his wife dote on two perky Jack Daniel terriers that share their home. His apartment in New York is around the corner from All Souls. “I don’t even have to cross the street to have access to spirituality,” he added amusingly.

He is engaged in a number of organizations and foundations with a focus on art, architecture, and preservation. He is a member of the boards of the National Buildings Museum in Washington, the Museum of the City of New York, the New York Landmarks Conservancy (a former chair), the New York City Preservation Council, the Council for a National Plan for Historic Preservation and his alma mater, Avon Old Farms School, among others. He is also active at the Yale University Art Gallery.

Stephen is a dedicated gardener and finds diversion and relaxation in doing this at his country house in Stonington, Connecticut. Travel is another favored diversion. How fortunate for one who is in charge of a hemisphere for Christie’s!

Outreach +
In-Reach
= Connecting

All Souls
Peace
Task Force

14th Annual
Heart & Soul
Auction

ISight