Podcast: Play in new window
While at the Berlin Art Fair, Alia Fattouh and I had a chance to talk about: The importance of art fairs in introducing artists to curators, museums and patrons, Saudi Arabian art, Pre-october 2018 Saudi art market, Saudi art council, YSA – Young Saudi artists, How galleries choose artists, Artist introducing other artists to galleries, Do not email or drop off portfolios with galleries, it does not work, References will get you represented, Artist selling work through social media rather than a gallery, Galleries build careers for artists, Instagram as a way to be discovered, Social media as a resource for artist sand galleries, Artist selling out of their studios, A strong interest of Saudi Artists in new medias, traditional techniques are less common, Social engagement through art, Addressing issues in a mature way, Highlighting without criticising, Language barrier, Vision 2030, Artist residencies, Partnership with Pace Gallery, 2139 exhibition, the importance of having management and business skills, Do not follow trends, have your own vision, Building the career of an artist is a long term endeavour, Galleries should learn to grow with their artists, Artist poaching among galleries, Long term planning, Artists and galleries setting yearly goals and strategies, Know your market, and the need to do research, look at what else is being exhibited and collected in a market
About
Director of Athr Gallery, Jeddah, where she recently moved after residing in New York for eight years. Founded by Hamza Serafi and Mohammed Hafiz, Athr is one of the driving forces behind the Contemporary art scene in Saudi Arabia. She co-founded TandemWorks with curator and sister Mayssa Fattouh in Beirut in 2015, an award-winning non-profit arts initiative that encourages change on social, cultural and environmental issues with interventions in the public realm. She previously served as Director at Lombard Freid Gallery in New York. During her tenure there, she worked closely with international artists, introduced a number of artists such as Huguette Caland and Kemang Wa Lehulere, and spearheaded initiatives with the West Asian market. Before moving to New York in 2011, Fattouh was Education Manager at Canvas, Dubai, a publication dedicated to art and culture from West Asia, where she developed art classes for collectors across the Gulf, the first initiative of its kind in the region. Fattouh received her BA from the American University in Beirut in Political Studies and holds a Masters degree from Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Science Po Paris in Conflict Resolution and Development.
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Transcript available: https://wisefoolpod.com/transcript-for-episode-023-gallery-director-alia-fattouh-athr-gallery-jeddah-saudi-arabia/
