A Visionary Shaping The Modern Art World: Katharine Earnhardt And Mason Lane Art Advisory

In the ever-evolving landscape of art curation, Katharine Earnhardt’s name resonates with force. As the Founder of Mason Lane Art Advisory, with offices across the United States and Canada, Earnhardt brings nearly two decades of expertise to the forefront. Beginning as a one-woman venture in New York City in 2014, Mason Lane has blossomed into a powerhouse in the art world.

“When I first started Mason Lane Art Advisory, my target client was anyone with a pulse.  I just wanted to start advising,” explained Earnhardt. “I believed that servicing anyone was better than servicing no one, and any client project would serve as a platform for growth.  This turned out to be half true. Through word of mouth, I started getting inquiries from prospective clients that had quite diverse profiles. Some were comfortable buying art at the $50,000 level and above, while others loved Crate and Barrel ‘art’ and didn’t have any interest in exploring alternatives. I was well aware of the target client exercises, but I worked with all of them to just gain experience, learn what was most interesting to me, and identify where my skills were best used. Importantly, the stakes with the Crate & Barrel clients were also incredibly low. I was never interested in getting more clients like that, but servicing them and the eclectic mix of initial clients allowed me to experiment. I tried out different forms of art presentations. I practiced answering questions that I thought were incredibly basic, and others that were entirely unexpected. I explained details about art pricing and quality. Assessing what worked and what didn’t ultimately prepared me for the next step I wanted to take, and the target client for stage two.”

Mason Lane aims to build contemporary art collections that transcend mere aesthetics, encapsulating each client’s unique vision and ethos. Through close collaboration, Earnhardt works with private and corporate patrons to curate collections that resonate with their individual goals and complement their surrounding environments — from art discovery to acquisitions.

Central to Mason Lane’s ethos is a commitment to diversity and transparency across all business operations. From the artists represented to client engagement, the firm strives to foster an inclusive and accessible environment that celebrates artistic richness.

A women-led firm driven by a shared passion for art and collaboration, Mason Lane operates a unique four-office international model enabling localized client support while sharing multi-market insights. The Mason Lane team leverages strong global art market relationships to provide clients access to desirable works.

Beyond her role at Mason Lane, Earnhardt is a passionate advocate for art education and entrepreneurship. She holds dual degrees in Art History and Economics from Williams College and a Master’s in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Through speaking engagements and educational initiatives, she seeks to demystify the world of art appreciation, empowering individuals to cultivate a deeper understanding of art’s impact on personal growth and cultural awareness.

Photo: Glen Allsop

Photo: Jane Beiles

To learn more, visit masonlaneart.com.

Ty Wenzel

Co-Publisher & Contributor

Ty Wenzel, a recent breast cancer survivor, started her career as a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s followed by fashion editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine. She was also a writer for countless publications, including having published a memoir (St. Martin's Press) and written features for The New York Times. She is an award-winning writer and designer who covers lifestyle, real estate, architecture and interiors for James Lane Post. She previously worked as a writer and marketing director for The Independent. She has won multiple PCLI and NYPA awards for journalism, social media and design, including best website design and best magazine for James Lane Post, which she co-founded in 2020. Wenzel is also a co-founder of the meditation app for kids, DreamyKid, and the Hamptons social media agency, TWM Hamptons Social Media.