Lisa Applebaum’s life’s work has been devoted to the arts and the arts community of her hometown metropolitan Detroit and former residence, New York City.  After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in art history, Ms. Applebaum moved to New York and soon began working at Sotheby’s auction house.  After completing Sotheby’s one-year American Arts Course, Ms. Applebaum launched an art advisory business and began her own collecting activities, in which she focuses on contemporary art in all media, with a particular emphasis on emerging artists.

Ms. Applebaum’s current volunteer and philanthropic emphasis is to bridge her extensive experience in the New York cultural and arts institutions with enhancing and revitalizing the arts in metropolitan Detroit.  Currently, Lisa is spearheading the Applebaum Family Fellowships in the arts in Detroit. 

Ms. Applebaum is currently a Board Member and Artist’s Liaison, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Board Member, the American Friends of the Israel Museum, member of the University of Michigan Museum of Art Director’s Acquisition Committee, Board Member of Higher Hopes, Board of Advisors of the HIGH Program and Emeritus member of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Board of Visitors at Wayne State University. Previously, she was an Executive Board Member, Project Art Detroit and served on the Acquisitions Committee at the Guggenheim Museum.

Lisa Applebaum serves as Co-President of Applebaum Family Philanthropy.