Barry Skolnick: All Things Fast And Fine
Barry Skolnick shares one of the world’s great collections with everyone, which tells you just about everything about his character.
When you first meet Barry Skolnick, you’re immediately struck by his strong handshake, deep and precise voice and a gaze which reveals nothing at first glance. But once past his initial formality, Barry quickly reveals himself as the ultimate guy’s guy who is warm, approachable and full of enthusiasm.
He also exudes the epitome of the Miami Beach vibe — he’s dashing and dapper, suave and sophisticated, elegant and engaging. Think Richard Gere in Pretty Woman meets Jonathan Goldsmith, the actor from those “most interesting man in the world” television commercials of several years ago.
Skolnick is a self-made entrepreneur known the world over for his incredible car and fine art collection and as the founder of Ikonick Motors. His multi-million-dollar car and art collection, The Ikonick Collection, is housed in Miami Beach. More gallery than showroom, his extensive collection of some of the world’s finest automobiles, sculptures, paintings and other fine art is enjoyed by everyone. He even rents it out as what must be one of the most distinctive event spaces on the planet.
Stepping into Barry’s gallery, you instantly sense his deep pride in all that he’s carefully curated and built. Unlike traditional collectors who guard their treasures privately, Barry breaks the mold by eagerly welcoming guests inside to share his passion. Entering the gallery is like walking into another dimension of art and cars, which seamlessly flow together. When you first enter Ikonick Motors you can easily get lost among the many different rooms including the Ferrari Gallery and the Porsche Gallery, the impressive line-up of McLaren cars and a stunning array of antique and classic automobiles.
From afar, it might seem simple to gather and showcase one-of-a-kind cars and rare art pieces. In reality, though, it demands a uniquely discerning eye and an unwavering vision, qualities which Barry clearly possesses in abundance. Here, every detail matters with no corner left untouched and each visitor walks away knowing they’ve experienced something truly special. It is a far cry from the world of the young kid who braved the elements to make a few bucks on his bicycle on Long Island, New York.
“My first entrepreneurial venture was as a paper boy,” says Skolnick in a recent exclusive interview with Dolce Magazine in his impressive space surrounded by rare automobiles and artwork. “I had a route and come rain or snow or shine, I had to deliver those papers, and it was tough at times. If it was pouring rain I had to get on my bike or walk and sometimes it was pretty cold. But it is not easy if you want to be an entrepreneur or go into business for yourself. There are a lot of sacrifices you have to make and maybe that’s why entrepreneurs are sort of a breed apart, because we’re willing to take those risks. There are not enough hours in the day and you just do what it takes to succeed.”
Skolnick and his brothers had what he considered a very humble childhood growing up on Long Island. “My parents purchased their house in 1957 for $21,000 and they died in that house,” notes Skolnick. “I would always say to my mother ‘Don’t you want a bigger house and a bigger bathroom so you’re not always bumping into my father?’ She would always say, ‘I like bumping into your father … why would I want a bigger house so he’s farther away from me?’ They were very old-school.”
Barry is not your typical 9-to-5 businessman — he lives by the belief that business doesn’t adhere to fixed schedules or routines. Every moment counts and his passion knows no clock. He remembers well the lessons he learned from the hard work ethic he often saw in his father. “His hope and his dream were to maybe have myself and my brothers join him in his business someday,” recalls Skolnick. “He was a hard-working man, he seemed to be working all the time, whether it was weekends or the evenings. I’d come home and he was still up doing the books or something. He was a tremendous influence on my life.”
Skolnick used these lessons well in becoming an entrepreneur, launching successful businesses in the residential and commercial real estate sectors. As founder and current owner of Ikonick Holdings, he has an equal passion for both automobiles and fine art. He enjoys supporting new and local artists as well as seeking out up- and-coming contemporary artists and realizes that choosing the right piece of art can both soothe the soul and be a very lucrative investment, just like a classic automobile.
“I had a bit of a car collection up north and it was sort of an old-barn type of setting, with old gas pumps and gas-station signs,” says Skolnick, explaining the idea behind his Florida showroom. “When I decided to move to Miami on a permanent basis, I decided I needed to create something different. I always thought I had this sort of creativity in me. One of my favourite quotes is ‘A man’s most valuable possession is his own creative power’ and I’ve always believed in that and as a result, this is what you see.”
Skolnick’s creative side is on full display in the gallery, with perhaps the most arresting art sculpture dominating the space. This large “Icosahedron,” named for its geometrical form, is a polyhedron with twenty plane faces that include equilateral triangles. He purchased it from artist Anthony James, well-known for his monumental installations and sculptures. The piece has an almost gravitational pull on all who see it from its position in the gallery.
“Barry purchased my 80-inch icosahedron from Opera Gallery in Miami and installed it among his extraordinary car collection,” says James. “I was thrilled as I’ve had a passion for cars since childhood. He invited me to see it in person, and it truly feels at home there. In a way, I create artwork from industrial materials, just as the phenomenal cars in Barry’s collection can also be considered works of art crafted from industrial materials.”
“I ALWAYS THOUGHT I HAD THIS SORT OF CREATIVITY IN ME. ONE OF MY FAVOURITE QUOTES IS ‘A MAN’S MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION IS HIS OWN CREATIVE POWER.”
What you see at the Ikonick Collection is a stunning array of some of the world’s most exotic and fastest cars, including almost every type of Ferrari you can imagine. The venue is also a showcase for some of the greatest moments and proudest creations in Ferrari’s long history. Growing up in Long Island, Skolnick always admired Ferraris and dreamed of owning one. His car journey with Ferrari began with the purchase of a 1983 Boxer, which he still has.
“Prior to my interest in Ferraris, in my early days I was more into the American cars and working on them,” says Skolnick. “That’s where my passion began and over time, I just appreciated some of the finer things in life and maybe that’s what motivated me. What was a desire became a need.”
After twenty years in Miami Beach his collection of Ferraris includes models like the 599 GTO, 458 Speciale, Monza, SF90 Stradale and even the ultra-exclusive flagship models such as the LaFerrari hypercar, the F50 and the Enzo. “One of my all-time favourite cars is the Ferrari F50,” says Skolnick. “It’s the styling, it’s the rear 12-cylinder, it’s open. To me, it’s a street-legal race car.”
The Skolnick “garage” — if you can even call it that — is one of the greatest in the world and houses a jaw-dropping collection of some of the most desired cars in the world, especially when it comes to Ferrari collections. Today, Skolnick owns more than 150 exotic cars.
As for the best of the best in his collection, Skolnick says that’s like picking a favourite child — you just can’t. But two stand out to him: the Apollo IE and the Ferrari F12tdf, which he says he’s likely to put the most miles on from his impressive Ferrari collection.
Creating Ikonick Motors was a pure passion project for Skolnick, who always dreamt of creating a work environment that brought himself and others joy. The collection has caught the eye of some of the biggest names in the collectible world, including RM Sotheby’s, the world’s leading collector-car auction house. Just over a year ago the Ikonick Collection of supercars, hypercars and classic-grade vehicles listed two rare automobiles for public sale.
Included was a 2014 McLaren P1 with just over 2,000 miles on it and a starting bid of US$1 million and a 2017 Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster with less than 400 miles on it, starting at $300,000.
To attract the attention of such a major player as Sotheby’s is testament to the quality and value of the Ikonick Collection. “We’re honoured to be listing part of Barry’s collection,” said Chip Perry, CEO of Sotheby’s Motorsport when announcing the public sales. “The Ikonick Collection is one of the greatest compilations of supercars and art in the world, and it is a true privilege to host the first public auction from the Collection. Barry is an icon in the luxury collectors’ space, known for curating only the best of the best. We’re excited to help him make room to continue expanding his collection.”
Skolnick is a successful man of substance, with a backstory that would captivate any dinner party and a palpable aura of style-without-even- trying who is immediately the centre of attention in any room he ever enters. Mystery and intrigue combined with understated sophistication — clearly a man for all seasons, with a heart of gold.
Skolnick’s late parents, Connie and Allen, instilled in him the Jewish teachings of tzedakah, in which charitable giving is a moral obligation, so philanthropy was taught to him at a very young age. After his parents died, he was put in charge of the Skolnick Family Charitable Trust, which includes supporting the Holocaust Memorial Fund, and his focus has remained on enhancing medical care, sciences and education within his community.
“I was introduced to philanthropy through my parents,” he says. “They started a Foundation and I became the sole trustee upon their passing. The Foundation grew tremendously after my parents’ passings. It was something I was raised with, that it was always important to give back and I am just very fortunate to have that position where I can make a difference and I do.”
Shortly after moving to Miami, he was invited to meet with Mount Sinai Medical Center of Miami. He felt an immediate connection and stepped up to play a leading role in 2013, culminating in the building of the Skolnick Surgical Tower on its main campus in 2019. His connection to Mount Sinai would deepen in a most personal way when Skolnick complained to his doctor about some nasal discomfort.
“That led to seeing a specialist and they put a camera up my nose and they found a tumour in my upper sinus,” says Skolnick. “They couldn’t operate and I then went through some heavy chemo and radiation, so I’ve been a patient at Mount Sinai as well. Thank goodness things went well and I’m now 15 months cancer-free. For those going through cancer, I would say to try and stay positive. Try to find something that inspires or motivates you to allow you to wake up every day and take on whatever that treatment is. It was pretty brutal. I went through some very tough times. You have to try and stay positive, even in those darkest moments and dig deep to find that strength.”
“I WAS INTRODUCED TO PHILANTHROPY THROUGH MY PARENTS … IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS RAISED WITH, THAT IT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK.”
Skolnick later served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Mount Sinai from 2019 to 2022 and as President of Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation in 2022. In 2023, he was elected Chairman of the Executive Board of Trustees, a prestigious honour at one of the premier medical centres in the United States.
“My family and I are deeply invested in Mount Sinai’s mission and what it means for the growing South Florida community,” he said when elected. “I am truly honoured to accept this opportunity to continue to improve the health and well-being of our residents.”
“Barry’s leadership and passion to continue to improve the health of our community reflect the mission of Mount Sinai, and his long-standing involvement in our efforts has been exemplary,” said Gino Santorio, President and CEO of Mount Sinai of Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Skolnick recently received another honour, in a lifetime filled with laurels, when he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Miami Beach, a tribute to the impact he has had since moving to the city a mere two decades ago.
“Barry Skolnick’s impact on our community is truly immeasurable,” said Richard Segal, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. “His dedication to philanthropy, business excellence and making Miami Beach a better place embodies the very spirit of this award. It is an honour for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce to recognize him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at our 99th Annual Awards Dinner and Gala.”
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner agreed. “Barry Skolnick’s benevolence to our community has made a profound difference in the lives of so many. His support for Mount Sinai Medical Center through the Skolnick Surgical Tower has helped ensure that world-class health care remains accessible to our residents,” he said. “His Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce is a testament to his generosity and lasting impact. He earned this honour which is so well deserved.”
However, while obviously honoured by a “lifetime” award, Skolnick doesn’t see it as a “parting gift,” as if he were about to depart at any moment. “I’m not quite sure how to take this award,” says Skolnick. “Of course, it is a tremendous honour, although I feel like I have a lot more to give and many more things to do and accomplish. I just turned 69, so hopefully I’ve still got twenty years or so to go, at least. I do many things and I try to follow my passions. I have done real estate for forty years and still continue to do it. I have gotten into many different businesses in my career. I think in life, as long as you have more successes than failures, you are ahead of the game — that’s how I look at it and I still have lots to do.”
These days, more than ever, the world needs more Barry Skolnick, truly a Renaissance man. A man who honours his parents, loves his family, contributes to his community, has faced his own mortality and shares his love of artistic and automotive rarities for the sheer enjoyment of others. The book of life is a collection of experiences. Barry Skolnick is a collector without peer and a thankful reminder of the greater good you can do, and pass on to others, through each of those experiences.
INTERVIEW BY FERNANDO ZERILLO
