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The Art Business is a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to talking about both cultural and business aspects of the art world with some of its key players. It is hosted by Dr David Bellingham, Programme Director of the MA in Art Business at Sotheby‘s Institute of Art London.
Episodes
Friday Apr 12, 2024
VIRGINIA DAMTSA, GALLERIST & CURATOR
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Virginia Damtsa- CULTIVATING ARTISTIC FUTURES & CATALYST FOR CONTEMPORARY VISIONARIES
With a wealth of experience spanning twenty-seven years, Virginia Damtsa, Director of VVA VirginiaVisualArts Ltd., stands as a seasoned and respected Art Dealer, Art Gallerist, Curator, Cultural Strategist and Artist Agent, bringing a unique and invaluable perspective to the art world. Damtsa's passion for the arts began at a young age when she helped her uncle open the Museum of Alekos K. Damtsa in The Art Centre Giorgio de Chirico at just sixteen years old. She went on to pursue History of Arts in Cambridge followed by two Master's degrees in Art Management at the University of the Arts and Contemporary Art at Sotheby's, where she honed her expertise in the field.
Throughout her career, Damtsa has curated several exhibitions in her personal gallery space, as well as in other galleries, temporary spaces and art fairs. From 2003-2017, she co-owned with composer and writer Tot Taylor, Riflemaker London, a contemporary art gallery housed in a historic gunmaker's workshop off Regent Street. Built in 1712, it is one of the oldest public buildings in the West End of London.
In addition to her work as a gallerist and curator, Damtsa has also lectured at Christie's for the Master's degree in Art, Law, and Business. Damtsa, who co- founded iconic gallery Riflemaker, counts Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran and Michael Seresin, cinematographer of Harry Potter, amongst her collectors. Annie Lennox has also been a long- standing enthusiast of the gallery’s representation of visionary powerful artists. Virginia Damtsa has also worked with musician Peter Gabriel on an art and music project for his new album, i/o. The project features renowned artists such as Annette Messager, Olafur Eliasson, Ai Weiwei, Tim Shaw, Nick Cave, David Spriggs, Cornelia Parker, and many others. Damtsa is currently planning to tour the project in various museums.
With her extensive experience and impressive network of industry connections, Virginia Damtsa continues to push boundaries and expand the reach of contemporary art.
Curated Exhibitions
Damtsa curated several exhibitions with emerging and established artists such as Martin Kippenberger and Maria Papadimitriou, Judy Chicago, Takis, Yoko Ono, William S. Burroughs, Liliane Lijn, Penelope Slinger, Gavin Turk, Alice Anderson, Chris Levine, Christopher Bucklow, John Maeda, Julie Verhoeven, Ralph Ziman, Conrad Shawcross, Wolfe von Lenkiewicz and many others.
She also worked with legendary musician Peter Gabriel and his team for an amazing collaboration of art and music bringing artists such as Ai Weiwei, Cornelia Parker, Judy Chicago, Nick Cave, Olafur Eliasson, Tomas Saraceno, Barthelemy Toguo, Annette Messager, Tim Spriggs, for an impressive immersive exhibition live and online. The album is now number one in the UK.
Virginia Damtsa is a highly respected art dealer, curator, and gallerist with a deep understanding of the art market. In 2018, she founded VirginiaVisualArts, an art agency and gallery that represents more than fifty artists and manages their careers, introducing them to new opportunities, exhibitions, museums and collectors.
As a strategist, mentor, advisor, consultant, and PR expert, Damtsa provides artists with the support they need to break into the art market and achieve their full potential. She is deeply committed to working closely with each artist, guiding them through the art world's complexities and assisting with sales and promotions.
In addition to her work with VirginiaVisualArts, Damtsa runs her own art school, where she teaches professionals about art history and the art market. She also provides mentorship and guidance to artists and creatives and writes about art in major financial newspapers. Her expertise has also led to numerous appearances on TV as an Art World Expert, where she shares her insights on the contemporary art world.
Damtsa curates over twenty exhibitions per year and uses several exhibition spaces in Fitzrovia, Marylebone, Mayfair, Notting Hill and other galleries to showcase her artists' works. She actively participates in art fairs and collaborates with other galleries to curate exhibitions and create connections and sales between artists, galleries, major collectors, and museums. With her extensive experience, vast network of connections, and in-depth knowledge of the arts and the art world, Virginia Damtsa continues to make a significant contribution to the contemporary art scene, empowering artists to achieve their full potential and bringing their works to new audiences.
Reference
All artists need help and support to build their careers and Virginia Damtsa is well equipped to provide that. Judy Chicago, Artist
I worked with Virginia on the IO art & music project where she coordinated and helped to select artists for each of the different songs. It has been a pleasure to work with her. She made some great recommendations, was very thorough putting everything together and her deep knowledge of the art world was a real asset for our project.
Peter Gabriel, Musician
Links:
Instagram:virginia_damtsa
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
Monday Mar 18, 2024
ADAM BLACKWOOD, PRIVATE DRAMA EVENTS
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Adam Blackwood trained as a professional actor at RADA and has over 25 years’ experience working in film, theatre and television. In 2002 he founded Private Drama Events, the UK’s leading multi-award-winning experiential and events agency, while also overseeing the corporate theatre space for several years at The Globe Theatre with fellow RADA alumni Mark Rylance.
Today, Adam is one of the UK’s top creative directors and is renowned for his expertise, knowledge and passion for the arts and brings a unique understanding of how to create and develop theatrical, immersive performances.
Private Drama Events provides artists and shows for some of the world’s most recognised luxury brands, corporates, charities and private clients. Past and present clients include Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and British Pullman, Belmond Trains, Save the Children Fund, One Young World, Veuve Clicquot, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Goldman Sachs, Prince’s Trust and numerous private clients.
In 2020 Private Drama Events was the Gold Winner for Best Conference at The Evcom London Live Awards for its work on the One Young World London Summit.
Links:
www.privatedramaevents.com @privatedramaevents @adamblackwood01
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
Friday Mar 08, 2024
SHARON OBUOBI, AFRICAN ART EXPERT & ART/LUXURY FINANCIAL ASSET ANALYST
Friday Mar 08, 2024
Friday Mar 08, 2024
Sharon Obuobi is a talented entrepreneur with experience in art, business and technology. She currently conducts research in data science and innovation for fintech and insurtech use cases. Her business Alt/Finance develops solutions which optimise market intelligence to improve the experience of consumers in these industries. Alt/Finance was launched at the TechCrunch Disrupt stage in San Francisco in September, and was selected for the Techstars New York accelerator.
In 2022, she was recently featured as a top 10 founder by the Telegraph x Natwest's initiative recognizing 100 UK female founders. She was also in Apollo Magazine's 2021 global list of 40 under 40 art tech innovators. With art business experience in New York, Lagos, and Toronto, Sharon established the Modern & Contemporary African Art business at Sotheby's. During her role, the department sold over 5 million GBP of art, and broke 25 world records for sale prices.
Sharon graduated with a B'Comm from Queen's University in Kingston, Canada. She has been featured on CNN, the Financial Times, Virgin Magazine, Tush Magazine Nigeria, NKA Journal, IRAAA Journal, Konbini, iPaper, and more.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonobuobi/
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
Friday Mar 01, 2024
JAMES WARD, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF JC GALLERY, MAYFAIR, LONDON
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Friday Mar 01, 2024
KEYWORDS: JC GALLERY; ALTHORP HOUSE, NORTHANTS, UK; HERITAGE INDUSTRY; HOUSE MANAGER; AMERICAN MODERNISM; MODERNIST ART; GALLERY CURATION; CURATOR; GALLERIST; SPENCER FAMILY
Driven by a passion and speciality in American Modernism, James Ward opened JC Gallery in the heart of London’s Mayfair in 2021. JC Gallery is the first European gallery to specialise in this exceptional era of early 20th century art, focusing on exhibiting works by renowned artists including Arthur Dove, Stuart Davis, Thomas Hart Benton, John Marin, Joseph Stella, Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper.
Prior to founding JC Gallery, James Ward spent 15 years working for Earl Spencer at Althorp House, Northamptonshire, surrounded by Europe’s largest private art collection which includes some of the most exquisite and extensive Old Masters and 17th century works.
James Ward also studied art at King Alfred’s University in Winchester and later at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
LINKS:
@jcgallery.mayfair
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PP
Friday Feb 09, 2024
Friday Feb 09, 2024
Having worked in every area of art handling & shipping since 1993, David has a wide knowledge and understanding of how his specialism interfaces with the wider art market and the related rules that govern it. His experience working within the industry has made him well known for providing solutions to the most complex art transport and installation challenges for some of the world’s most prestigious institutions & galleries, renowned artists and collectors.
Link: https://www.crownfineart.com/
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PP
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
LAURA PEH, PUBLISHER & ART COLLECTOR: SINGAPORE ART WEEK
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Laura Peh is the founder and creative director of Cinnamon Art Publishing - an independent publishing house specialising in illustrated non-fiction books for children. She is also an accomplished concert harpist and keen contemporary art collector, focusing on socially-engaged practices from artists of Southeast Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern heritage. As a publisher and collector, she has spoken on panels and given talks with AWITA, Art&Summit (Singapore), National University of Singapore, Courtauld Institute of Art (London) and Sotheby's Institute of Art (London). She is a laureate of Prestige Singapore's 40 Under 40 2023, and has been featured in media articles including Channel News Asia, The Straits Times, Singapore Global Network, Lianhe Zaobao, Prestige Singapore and Tatler Asia.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Singapore, Laura moved to Paris at the age of 15 to study at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the Royal College of Music in London. After shifting her focus to art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art and obtaining a Masters in Art Business at Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, Laura spent two years working in the art industry in Hong Kong before moving back to Singapore in April 2020 to realise her passion project, Cinnamon Art Publishing.
Favourite Artist: Citra Sasmita
Links: www.laurapeh.com and www.cinnamonartstories.com
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PP
Friday Jan 19, 2024
MARINE TANGUY, CEO MTArt AGENCY & AUTHOR OF 'VISUAL DETOX' (2024)
Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
Marine Tanguy launched Certified B Corporation, MTArt Agency in 2015, following a career in visual arts in London and LA. MTArt agency is worth £35 million and is the art sector’s leading talent agency representing some of the most talented, forward-thinking artists in the world. The agency looks to support, promote and enable artists to work with the broadest canvas possible, from working with brands to public art and fine art institutions. The agency works with global organisations and cities, nurturing an international community of art-lovers and collectors as well as diverse brands ranging from Apple to Dior and even the World Cup. Marine is an influencer and passionate advocate for the role of the artist in guiding the public through a world flooded with visual noise and the agency seeks to ensure artists are rightly recognised as the spokespeople for a visual age. As a business person, Marine was awarded Forbes 2018 30 under 30 Europe: Art & Culture, UK entrepreneur of the year for the 2019 NatWest Awards and Woman of the Year 2021 by the magazine WOTC. She is a writer and keynote speaker on contemporary art and art investment. Her talks include two TEDx Talks on how to transform cities with art and how social media visuals affect our minds and she has recently published her first book “The Visual Detox – How to Consume Media Without Letting it Consume You” with Penguin.
Links:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/298745/marine-tanguy
https://www.ted.com/talks/marine_tanguy_how_artists_can_transform_our_cities_jan_2017
https://www.ted.com/talks/marine_tanguy_how_social_media_visuals_affect_our_mind
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PP
Friday Jan 12, 2024
ANINDO SEN, INDIAN ART & TECH SPECIALIST
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Anindo is an alumnus of the MA Art Business programme at Sotheby's Institute of Art London and a specialist on technology and Indian art and its markets. The podcast starts with a 15-minute history of Indian art and its markets. We then discuss Anindo's experiences of the first edition of the Mumbai Art Fair and his opinions on the potential for exponential growth of the Indian economy and its art market.
Links: https://news.artnet.com/market/art-mumbai-2023-opening-2396128
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PPL
Monday Jul 31, 2023
PAOLA LUCENTE, Director and Curator, Procreate Project
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Paola Lucente is the Director and Curator of Procreate Project, the first UK social enterprise which supports the development of contemporary artists who are also mothers working with different types of art. She holds a BA in Visual art and an MA in Art Management Psychology and has previously worked at the Guggenheim Museum, Marian Goodman Gallery, Scope and Volta art fairs in New York City. Paola was Gallery Manager at the Zabludowicz Collection from 2011 to 2016, where she was responsible for the daily activities of the London gallery, managing events, gallery assistants and the production of art editions. She was also Head of Exhibitions at Spazio Murat, the very first contemporary art space in Bari, Italy.
Links:
https://www.motherhousestudios.com/
https://www.procreateproject.com/
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PPL
Saturday Jul 15, 2023
Claire Fry & Joanna Shepard, Art & Heritage Conservators
Saturday Jul 15, 2023
Saturday Jul 15, 2023
Claire is an accredited conservator specialising in preventive conservation for historic house and museum collections. She has over twenty years experience of all aspects of preventive conservation/collections care including: condition audits and risk assessments; collection care plans; conservation housekeeping; environmental monitoring and control; insect pest management; safe display and storage methods; and reducing the risks from hospitality, filming and events.
https://www.spencerandfry.co.uk/
Joanna is an experienced director and professionally accredited conservator with a demonstrable history providing modern & contemporary art conservation services to the international commercial art sector and museums. She is skilled in conservation issues, project management, visual arts and lecturing.
https://www.joannashepard.com/
image
Church of Suceviţa Monastery , burial chamber. Removal of adherent surface deposits by physical chemical means (by cotton swab). September 2006, Romania , Suceava,
CERECS ART S.R.L.
This image is released under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
music
‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama)
by TOT TAYLOR
is used by kind permission of the artist
©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)
PRS/MCPS/PPL