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David Golder of Glencoe leads the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago's Board P14
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NO. 524 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
MEET LYDIA KUTKO THIS SAVVY NORTH SHORE ENTREPRENEUR DOES IT ALL BY RONI MOORE NEUMANN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Already a hyphenate—mother-fashion designer-art consultant-business owner, Lydia Kutko, at age 40, is building her art and fashion empire from her home base in Glencoe. This Madison, Wisconsin native, turned New Yorker, went to the Big Apple with an art history undergraduate degree. She jumped into an Art Market Studies master’s program at the Fashion Institute of Technology, with her eye on gaining exposure to every aspect of the art world. Her journey continued during her internship for the global “domestic doyenne”—author, entertainer, and businesswoman—Martha Stewart. While working for America’s first selfmade female billionaire was not for the faint of heart, Kutko reveled in the role, as she built sets, staged product demonstrations, and created holiday table settings. “As I learned the basics of prop styling and beauty shots, what I appreciated first-hand is that Martha’s eye for display is impeccable, as is her ability to merchandise and sell her brand extensions,” says Kutko. During that time, Kutko also learned
to trust her instincts. When she saw a gap in the art consulting world, she fused her art education and sense of style with a set of edgy artist friends along with her jet fuel—passion—to launch an art consultancy. “I knew how to read an artist’s CV and gauge if this was the right artist to invest in and/or love. As a natural negotiator, I prided myself on representing clients’ best interests, while being respectful to the galleries and artists we partnered with,” says Kutko. “Part of my goal was to remove the real and/or perceived snobbery from the process. I wanted to make the acquisition of and the appreciation for art more about access and valued relationships rather than a club that only a select few could be a part of.” Fifteen years in, her firm, LK Art Consultants, “brings exceptional artwork and installations into homes, offices, galleries, commercial, residential, and public spaces.” “It didn’t matter if the art was $5,000 or $500,000, I wanted to make the buying and living with art relatable and fun,” she continues. “I think that this energy and purpose led to the great team I have at LK Art Consultants. We’ve grown to a Continued on PG 8
Lydia Kutko, Antone Könst, Tiger Lilies, 2021, oil on canvas. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MARIANNE BOESKY GALLERY