If someone asked me who I would most like to sit next to at a dinner party, Steven Zick would be at the very top of my list.
Steven has the rare gift of making every conversation fascinating. One minute he’s talking about an eighteenth-century piece of furniture discovered in a tiny antique shop, and the next he’s describing a Monet masterpiece or a spectacular diamond that has passed through his hands. His enthusiasm is contagious, and his stories are unforgettable.
A lifelong Chicagoan, Steven was born on the city’s South Side before his family moved to the North Shore. He earned his law degree from DePaul University and spent several years practicing law before discovering a career that perfectly combined his legal expertise with his passion for art, history, and remarkable objects.
Today, Steven is Senior Vice President and Director at Christie’s, where he has spent the past 22 years working with banks, museums, family estates, and collectors on appraisals and auctions. No two days are ever the same.
Over the years, Steven has overseen some extraordinary sales. In 2006, he helped sell a spectacular 22-karat sapphire ring valued at nearly $4 million. More recently, he oversaw the auction of a Monet painting that sold for $18 million, along with important jewelry collections from two prominent Chicago families.
His work also extends beyond the auction room. Steven frequently volunteers his expertise to charitable causes, most recently serving as auctioneer for the Chicago Parks Foundation’s fundraising event at the new Obama Center, helping raise funds for the beautiful Osaka Garden.
I met Steven in his office high above the city in the Hancock Building, where we enjoyed sweeping views of Chicago while talking about life, travel, art, and the things that bring him joy. When I asked him to share his favorite things, he answered almost instantly—and with a wonderfully long list.
- Planting, tending, and simply spending time in my garden.
- Swimming meditative laps in the pool.
- Arriving at the Palm Springs airport and seeing snow-capped mountains rising behind the palm trees.
- Spending time in Ireland, marveling at its forty shades of green, the ever-changing patchwork of hedge-rowed countryside, and the wonderful people who have become lifelong friends.
- Getting lost in Rome or Venice with no destination in mind.
- Laughing with friends, whether we’re in a neighborhood dive or an elegant restaurant. It’s the time together that matters.
- Seeing the world all over again through the eyes of a new puppy (Toots).
- Rain, mist, drizzle, or a thunderstorm, music to the ears of a gardener.
- My 30-year-old Congo African Grey parrot, Giotto, who makes me laugh every single day.
- Thrifting and the thrill of the hunt. My greatest find was an eighteenth-century highboy discovered in a small antique shop.
Listening to Steven, it’s easy to see why he has spent a career recognizing beauty, history, and value in the extraordinary and in the everyday. Whether he’s overseeing a multimillion-dollar auction, supporting Chicago charities, tending his garden, or laughing with friends, Steven approaches life with curiosity, generosity, and genuine delight.
He truly is a man for all seasons.
