Every artwork has a story and through her bespoke lecture series On The Flip Side, Christina Eberli seeks to enrich one's understanding of a work through these stories. A former Sothebys Old Masters expert and restitution specialist, she launched On The Flip Side, her art lecture series, in 2018 and has held lectures at such places as Christie's, Sotheby's and the Colnaghi Foundation covering topics from female Old Masters to Thomas Chippendale's furniture. Here, she tells Barnebys about what she covers in her series, what she hopes to impart to her listeners and what's next for her.
Barnebys: What inspired you to start On The Flip Side?
Christina Eberli: At Sotheby’s we were encouraged to create new ways to engage our clients outside of our role. I was inspired by my friends and former colleagues at Sotheby’s who had developed exciting programs, lectures, and events. With their support, while at Sotheby's, I created On the Flip Side.
Where do you host your lectures and what do you cover? What do you hope your listeners take away?
My lectures are hosted in private homes, at corporations (examples: real estate, fashion designers and banks), at galleries, museums and auction houses.
I uncover the stories behind the art to help people see things in a new way, from a different perspective. I reveal who once owned the work and with this I bring to life the scandalous, tragic and exciting stories and experiences that will make you look again, and remember, a work of art you might have otherwise overlooked. I hope my listeners have their interest and curiosity elevated and will notice that in life everything has a flip side which can make anything ordinary become extraordinary.
Do you have a particular favorite story of an artwork?
Every time I begin researching a project I find new stories and they become my new favorite.
You can follow my Instagram @on.flipside and #flipsideinsider to see the new stories I’m discovering and to be the first “in the know” read my Insider.
I host a Salon series that is catered to enhancing parties and events (at private homes, clubs, restaurants, event spaces, etc.). Most recently in this series, I’ve loved exploring the topic of the man vs. the woman’s gaze, or point of view.
Before launching On The Flip Side, you worked at Sotheby's for nearly a decade. What are the biggest changes you have observed in the art and auction market?
As a Restitution Specialist, I would make sure nothing was stolen or lost during WWII. I have noticed a surge of curiosity about a work’s story, who created it, and the journey it went on with its previous owners. There is interest in learning the provenance, which is the history of ownership and with that seeing the value of provenance.
What were some of your favorite art highlights of last year?
Going to Art Basel Hong Kong. The art scene in Hong Kong is unique, fast paced, and exciting.
What do you have planned for this year?
I’m excited to go to TEFAF in Maastricht and to Art Basel. I am going to give a lecture in LA and hopefully also in London. I am also planning on doing an art trip in Asia as a good friend of mine is currently living in Hong Kong.
