31. Taeste Buddies: Rita Nakouzi
On vintage watches, salads as a love language, and the new restaurant on her radar.
Welcome to the newest edition of Taeste Buddies. It’s a bi-weekly interview series that explores the idea of taste: How it’s shaped by our identities and spurred by our creativity. Each edition I chat with someone whose taste I admire, whether as a friend or from afar. This week, I’m excited to introduce you to Rita Nakouzi, Christie’s Global Head of Content, Creative and Social. Rita and I first met over coffee at Caffé Lilia in Williamsburg a few years ago. At the time she was heading up editorial for The Real Real, and we spent a chilly morning sipping cappuccinos and chatting about writing and the fashion industry.
I’ve always been enthralled by history and provenance (fun fact, I once considered becoming an archeologist) and to work somewhere like Christie’s, where the life of an object — its former owners or where its been — can be just as important as the item itself is fascinating to me. So, I was thrilled to get to pick Rita’s brain a bit about how we’re all in conversation with our stuff. Enoy!
How do you define taste? What makes "good" taste?
Taste is really about a point of view. What makes “good” taste is subjective. My idea of good taste is quite specific.
What really defines taste for me is someone who has conviction in their point of view and confidence in executing their vision.
What was the last great thing you purchased?
A Gerald Genta Success watch with a beautiful mother of pearl dial.
I love to collect and I do enjoy watches as an accessory too. I have about 6 but only 4 solid ones that I would definitely say are meaningful: The Gerald Genta, A Rolex Oyster Perpetual, A Cartier Santos Ghost, and my Hermes Cape Cod designed by Martin Margiela.
What was the last great thing you made?
I made a fig and ricotta salad with Lebanese honey. Lavender salt and a vinegar glaze. Salads are my love language.
What’s an outfit that represents your personal style?
I would definitely say minimalism is my guiding principle. I love tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and strong shapes.
Where do you think your sense of taste comes from?
Most definitely my grandparents are a huge influence, my mom’s flawless style and consuming lots of art, design, and devouring film and magazines.
I grew up in my grandparents home. My grandfather was a tailor so we always had fabrics around the house. My grandmother had all her clothes made for as did my mom. They were impeccable just from the sheer fact that their clothes fit them perfectly. They taught me how important it is to buy quality and less is more. Neither was ever show-offy or tried hard with their clothes but they always looked so good. There’s a effortless in their wardrobes that I’m still trying to capture.
How has your work inspired or informed your personal style?
From a young age, I gravitated to the minimalist movement in art and that inevitably led to informing how I dress and even how I think of spaces and what home means to me.
I live by the idea of less is more. I’m fascinated by how to tell stories with the most impact and the least flourish whether that’s visually or verbally.
What do you wear or use the most?
In your everyday work, how do you interact with the idea of taste — both your own and that of others?
In my work I see taste as a daily dialogue. While my own taste informs so much of how I approach a project, a campaign and guiding my creative judgment, but the reality is my taste is in dialogue with my colleagues, our collectors, and our audience.
It’s about balancing brand vision, personal preferences, and the diverse perspectives and sensibilities of those I work with. This interplay creates a far richer and more dynamic experience.
At Christie’s you sit at a unique intersection of creativity, monetary/critical valuation, and provenance. What is it like to work in that space?
If anything I would say the challenge is how to balance all these aspects ensuring that we’re honoring the creativity behind the work while navigating market value and historical importance. Each is a critical part of the puzzle, and for me it’s about how we piece together its story, connecting the artist’s intent with the collector’s passion and the market’s perception.
Ultimately, it’s about approaching each work with a deep respect for the artist, its historical context and appreciation for its value, and perception in today’s world. The person who owned the work and the artist who made the work are both fundamental to the piece’s identity. This holistic approach is what makes creating content in this space so interesting and rewarding to me and the team. It’s a constant learning journey.
What is something that inspires you?
I’m so inspired by my teenage children and their friends. I love to spend time with them and just hear their thoughts and perspectives on the world. They keep me curious.
I also love bringing people together around food. I do enjoy cooking as an art form. I love to work with local ingredients and create beautiful simple dishes. Gathering around food and a theme and dressing up are all things that I’m inspired by.
What’s the most recent inspiration pic you took or saved?
What’s something unexpected you have really good taste in?
For many years, I had lots of beauty clients and found myself strong at creating color palettes. It’s always been funny too as I don’t really wear much makeup but I do have an innate sense towards color harmonies.
What is most precious to you?
My family!
Can you share a few recommendations that you’re excited about?
This is so tough. I’m really excited by the new brand Teget, created by my dear friend Ana Kraš.
I’m looking forward to the opening of the restaurant Manuela from the owners of Hauser and Wirth.
I’m inspired by the cookbook Living and Eating by John Pawson and Annie Bell.
My favorite home items are ceramics by Natalie Weinberger and I love the drawings of another friend Silvia Prada.
This piece by Ahmed Mater – it means peace in Arabic.