DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions has promoted Samantha Robinson to Director of Decorative Arts & Design at its Chicago office, where she will continue to oversee the category she has helped turn into an auction-world triumph. Robinson first joined Heritage in 2018 as an Associate Specialist in the category and was named Consignment Director in 2020.

Robinson's expertise in late 19th and early 20th century decorative arts has elevated and solidified Heritage's relationship with Art Glass, Art Pottery, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and more. During her three years as Consignment Director, her careful eye, academic rigor and thoughtful work with consignors have led to the top five sellers in Heritage's Pursuit of Beauty category — a Signature ® Heritage category Robinson co-created alongside Nick Dawes, Senior Vice President of Special Collections.

"Heritage is a collectors' auction house and I am a collectors' specialist," says Robinson. "I enjoy working with those who passionately specialize in a particular type of object or maker." Robinson has sold important private collections including the Estate of Jerry N. Black, the Collection of Phillip and Gretchen Arth, the Collection of Jeep & Carla Harned, and recently important private collections of Loetz glass and Art Deco radios. "I could pore over and discuss a client's collection with them all day," Robinson says. "I love to learn from collectors, who are themselves experts. And I view the consignment and auction process as a collaborative one."

"Samantha's broad knowledge and passion for beautiful and historical objects was apparent from the day she started at Heritage in June 2018," says Ed Beardsley, Heritage's Vice President & Managing Director of Fine & Decorative Arts. "At her five-year anniversary, Nick Dawes and I are thrilled to increase her leadership in these outstanding and growing categories."

Robinson's interest and expertise in early 20th century and modern & contemporary design, and in particular glass and ceramics, has led to her management of Heritage's highly successful Pursuit of Beauty: Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Art Glass auction series. Robinson also contributes to Heritage's Design auction series, securing consignments of industrial design, studio glass and ceramics, and modern & contemporary design of all media. She is also an auctioneer and presides over auctions across Heritage's 50+ categories.

Robinson received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2010 and a Master of Arts in Art History — with a focus on Decorative Arts and a thesis on Tiffany & Co. Aztec style silver — from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 2014.

Robinson joined the Dallas Museum of Art as a McDermott Graduate Curatorial Intern of Decorative Arts in 2014, advancing to the positions of Digital Collections Content Coordinator in 2015 and finally Interim Assistant Curator in 2016. In addition to managing the research and display of the DMA's permanent collection, she curated three special exhibitions: The Wittgenstein Vitrine: Modern Opulence; Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail; and Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion. Robinson served as an Editor at Everything But The House, a Cincinnati-based online estate sale company, before joining Heritage Auctions in 2018.

Robinson's recent move from the Heritage's Dallas headquarters to its Chicago office was a natural one. The Midwest and its art and design legacy are in her blood.

"I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I went to a school with a Rookwood Pottery fountain, attended a church with seven Tiffany Studios windows, and frequented the galleries at the Cincinnati Art Museum," says Robinson. "As a result of these early experiences, I developed a passion for decorative arts and design and eventually pursued a career in the field. I am thrilled to return to Midwest and join Heritage's team in Chicago."

Robinson is now seeking consignments for Heritage's October 26 Pursuit of Beauty: Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Art Glass auction and its November 7 Design auction.