Auctioneer Spotlight: Chris Carther and Soma Holloway
Many of our Park West collectors develop friendships with the art teams over the course of their land or sea vacations. Here’s a chance to get to know them better as they share their favorite adventures in the art world.
Chris Carther’s hometown is Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and Soma Holloway is from St. Helena Bay, South Africa. Chris began his career as an international art dealer in 2004 after spending 10 years working as a musician and musical director on cruise ships. After helping the art teams with registrations, invoicing, and auction set up, he made the switch to art auctioneer. Soma began working with Park West after studying fine art in South Africa. The two met on the Carnival Breeze in 2014 and have been together ever since.
Chris and Soma make use of their new selfie stick while in Mykonos, Greece. Photo credit: Soma Holloway
Previous ships as Auctioneer: Royal Caribbean (RCI) Navigator of the Seas, RCI Jewel of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) Sensation, CCL Destiny, CCL Breeze, CCL Triumph, CCL Glory, CCL Conquest, CCL Paradise, and CCL Miracle.
Current ship: Carnival Dream
What do you like most about being an auctioneer?
Chris: Our favorite part of being auctioneers is helping people put together the best art collections they can and seeing how excited they get when they successfully win a bid on a new work for their collections. We also love that many of our collectors stay in touch with us and become friends that we will have forever. They aren’t just clients, they are friends and family.
What is your favorite guest memory?
Chris: My favorite memory was when I had a client from the U.S. Air Force collect Liberty and Justice for All by Peter Max, from the 9/11 suite. It was a very moving experience to see the emotion that these artworks evoke in those who have served in the military.
“Liberty and Justice for All” (2001), Peter Max
What has been your favorite port?
Soma: Our favorite port is Istanbul, Turkey. We both love the culture and energy of this ancient city and our favorite stop was Nardis Jazz Club. If you love jazz, you’ll love this wonderful spot!
Chris, how was transitioning from working with music to the visual arts and how has it influenced your appreciation for each?
Chris: As a musician many of the same terms and ideas apply to the visual art world. Artists compose their works just like musicians do. Artists use brushes, stones and plates like musicians use horns, drums and strings. The colors artists use are like the notes of a scale. Each artist has their own unique voice, just like musicians have their own sound. After all, art is art, whether your canvas is the written word, a movie screen, the piano keys or a canvas.
