Melanie Brister is a seasoned communications and marketing professional specializing in global social media strategy, content marketing, digital and traditional PR, partnerships, and influencer & celebrity relations. With nearly two decades of experience, she has worked on high-profile projects in arts and culture, media, and luxury goods. Melanie has held prominent roles, including Assistant Vice President of Press and Social Media and Global Head of Influencer Relations at Sotheby’s, where she led groundbreaking social media initiatives. She has contributed to Broadway productions such as The Piano Lesson starring Samuel L. Jackson, A Doll’s House starring Jessica Chastain, Funny Girl starring Lea Michele, and Lee Daniels’ Ain’t No’ Mo’. Melanie’s enthusiasm for the visual and performing arts, fashion, film, live events, and content creation is paired with an eagerness to promote projects she believes in.
Melanie excels in maintaining brand identity, forging strategic partnerships, and promoting projects to new and target audiences. Her global social media expertise includes content creation, art direction, and trend analysis, making her a leader in the field. At Sotheby’s, she grew the social media presence to over 3 million followers — more than double the direct competitor—across international platforms.
Collaborative projects with brands, organizations, tastemakers, and celebrities include Oprah, Oscar de la Renta, Drake, Victoria Beckham, Massimo Bottura, Tory Burch, Thom Browne, Christian Dior, Swizz Beatz & Alicia Keys, Diane von Furstenberg, A$AP Rocky, New York City Ballet, The Studio Museum of Harlem, CDFA, Cynthia Erivo, (RED), Art Basel, National Geographic, Hammer Museum, The Getty Museum, Prada, Hamilton: An American Musical, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Costume Institute. She has worked with editors from fashion, art, design, lifestyle, and national news sources, including Vogue, Bloomberg, The New York Times, InStyle, T Magazine, Vanity Fair, Artnet, Hybebeast, CNN, Architectural Digest, Los Angeles Times, W Magazine, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and Associated Press.
Her international project experience spans the United States, Hong Kong, Brazil, the Middle East, and Europe. Melanie has lived in New York, Los Angeles, and London.