About us
THE CULTURE ATELIER, ART. ADVISORY. LEGACY.
The Culture Atelier is a consulting collective dedicated to legacy-building through art education, cultural strategy, and bespoke advisory.
We work with UHNW collectors, family offices, brands, and institutions to develop purposeful strategies that connect art, culture, and legacy.
Our services span collection advisory, philanthropic and cultural partnerships, educational programme development, and brand collaborations— each designed to create impact and enduring value.
Bringing a distinctive blend of academic rigour, market insight, and narrative intelligence,
The Culture Atelier helps clients articulate their cultural vision and shape meaningful legacies with authenticity and intention.
Sara Mao, Founder
An art industry veteran with over 17 years of experience across the art, luxury, and auction worlds, Sara Mao is known for her strategic foresight, narrative intelligence, and deep cultural fluency. She has led record-breaking auctions, curated global summits, and designed executive education programmes that bridge legacy, value, and innovation.
Sara previously served as Head of Strategic Growth Initiatives for Christie’s Asia, where she drove new businesses, academic programming, and cultural partnerships.
Her career spans the art and luxury sectors, including a decade (2008–2018) leading the auction of Chinese Modern paintings at Christie’s, where she secured record-breaking results such as Fu Baoshi’s The Song of the Pipa Player (HKD 204.8M).
In 2018, she was appointed Director of Christie’s Education Asia, overseeing program development across the region with
a focus on Art Business, the Luxury Market, and Women Artists.
She has curated landmark initiatives including Christie’s Art + Tech Summits, the Academic Conference on the Chinese Art Market, and the Art & Sustainability Summit, bridging scholarship, innovation, and cultural stewardship.
As an auctioneer, Sara conducts charity auctions for organizations including Save the Children, UNICEF, and the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. She also serves as a board member of the Sovereign Art Foundation in Hong Kong, supporting art therapy for children with special educational needs in vulnerable communities.
Sara’s advisory practice is defined by discretion, empathy, and strategic foresight. She works closely with private collectors, family collections, and institutions to build meaningful collections and shape cultural legacies with sensitivity and vision. Whether advising on acquisitions, philanthropic initiatives, or educational engagement, Sara brings a distinctive blend of academic rigor, market insight, and narrative intelligence. Through The Culture Atelier, she continues to shape conversations around legacy, value, and the transformative power of art.
