Insider tip from museum director Zoë Ryan: how to be the artist curators remember from thousands of studio visits
Published: Thu, 04/04/24
We had the privilege of hosting Zoë Ryan at a recent Praxis Roundtable -- a weekly Zoom call where Praxis students meet and interact with influential collectors, curators and gallerists.
Here are some highlights from that Roundtable:
- Video Clip 1: She is talking about the role of curators akin to scouts, actively engaging in extensive studio visits to truly understand artists and their work. Emphasizing the importance of these visits, she highlights the University of Pennsylvania's strong art program and the vibrant Philadelphia arts ecosystem. The process of curating exhibitions involves a significant investment of time, sometimes taking a decade of
conversations before an artist's body of work is deemed substantial for an exhibition. She elaborates on an exhibition she developed…
- Video Clip 2: She is talking about her perspective on design, emphasizing its foundation in ideas that transcend mere functionality. Drawing parallels to past exhibitions that explored unconventional uses of furniture, she mentions the current show, "movables," featuring contemporary artists reimagining everyday objects.
- Video Clip 3: She is talking about the critical role of relationship building in her career as a curator and director. Acknowledging her upbringing's influence on conversation styles, she highlights the necessity for strong relationships in navigating challenging discussions during collaborations, especially with living artists. Additionally, she discusses an exciting project involving art on the front facade of ICA, aiming to create a welcoming entryway that integrates historical and cultural elements.
Would you like to meet her?
Would you like to know exactly how to present your work to her so she takes an enthusiastic interest in you?
As a Praxis member, you can!
- You get access to Zoë Ryan’s contact information - as well as the private contact details of 200+ other prestigious collectors, curators and art dealers…
- When you enroll, you get access to the full, 1-hour recording of our Roundtable with Zoë Ryan. The insights Zoë Ryan shared will help you know how to have a successful conversation and studio visit with her.
- In addition, as a Praxis member you also get to meet a new art world insider like Zoë Ryan every single week, live, at our Praxis Roundtable, which is a Zoom call with a different collector or curator each week…
- You’ll get my assistance to effectively reach out to the movers and shakers you meet at these Roundtables. I’ll give you two letter templates you can use, so that you don’t have to worry about what to say and will have a better chance of getting a response back.
- Best part? Mentoring. You can ask me to personally edit these emails and letters before you send them out to make sure that they are compelling and you don’t get ghosted.
That said, I’m willing to bet that if you ONLY showed up for the weekly Praxis Roundtables over Zoom and met the collectors, curators and dealers that are there, without doing ANYTHING else, you will at the very least 3X your investment right away.
Which is why I offer a money back guarantee if you are not happy.
Join the VIP Edition of Praxis Center Membership (Monthly $59/m | Annual $595/yr) and unlock a truly international circle of art world insiders who can propel your career!
Enrolment closes on Friday, 5th April. No exceptions.