Sara Albrecht

Our city is filled with fashionable collectors. On the following pages you will learn a different side to some of the city's biggest lovers of art including Kristen Skordilis, owner of Koros Art and Style, Leslie Hindman of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and Sara Albrecht of Ultimo.

Sara Albrecht
Composed and refined, Sara Albrecht (owner of the impeccable Gold Coast boutique, Ultimo) is a powerhouse of classic beauty: a petite brunette with a placid exterior and graceful reserve. This canvas however, belies a churning and deep passion for the arts. The moment the conversation turns to art, Sara’s vast knowledge and appreciation on the subject takes hold and her calm exterior folds just a teeny bit with contagious excitement about art and fashion.

Born into a family who valued the arts and taught Sara to appreciate beauty in the world, she cultivated a reverence for art at an early age. She later went on to study art history, but majored in finance. Keeping her passion for the arts alive has never been a problem; Sara is currently involved with the Hubbard Street Ballet and is a trustee with the Museum of Contemporary Art. Despite her busy schedule with a more-than-full-time-job owning and operating one of the city’s chicest boutiques, Sara’s civic involvement is a serious commitment and not something that she takes lightly. “I have been very fortunate to be part of such an amazing institution for the past 10 years and participate in a number of different areas.” She currently serves on the MCA’s collection committee, selecting pieces that enter the permanent collection, whether through a donation or by purchase. Naturally, Sara is excited for the upcoming Art Chicago and will be hitting up the city’s preeminent art fair. Hot on her list at Artropolis is the NEXT show, featuring up-and-coming artists.

An avid and seasoned art collector, Sara has traveled the globe attending the world’s major art fairs. When we asked her what was on her art and fashion shopping list, she smartly replied, “I will know it when I see it.

I try not to make lists so I don’t get disappointed if I can’t find or have something.” And this is a woman who also knows how to work with what she already has; Sara is currently completing a re-hang of her own collection, “ ...which gives all the pieces a different dialogue.” And, she refuses to play favorites with her art: “I try to think of which piece I would carry out in an event of a fire, and unfortunately, I don’t think I could carry that much.” But she did divulge that an ultimate wish list piece, “would be something from Francis Bacon. I always lose my breath for a moment when I see his work. I love the raw emotion and dark side to it.”

Does this passion and vision for fine art translate into the lines carried at Ultimo? You bet it does. With confidence, Sara explains, “The first and most important decision factor is how pieces make me feel when I see them. I think Ultimo has a definite point of view that is partially determined by our clients and our staff and the larger world of fashion and art. I also like to work with designers that I like as people and have a connection with.” While she wields tremendous influence and power in her roles as a private art collector, MCA trustee and fashion stylist for some of the city’s most polished women, Sara Albrecht is beautifully approachable. She’s open to brazen dialogues on art and fashion, willing to share her knowledge to all interested in the arts. We’re fortunate to have such a gracious patron of the arts in our city.
-Kari Skaflen

Meet Kristen Skordilis, owner of Koros Art and Style