The Other Movers & Shakers
September 2, 2011 Back to News
What does a typical day entail?
LP: My main responsibility is to oversee exhibitions and art fairs, work closely with our artists and help develop the gallery's relationship with collectors, curators and critics. We are extremely ative in the secondary market, so a large portion of my day usually involves researching and working with artworks that have rich histories from different time periods.
AVP: I manage artists' careers, liase with estates, curators and clients, and oversee exhibits and art fairs. I work on sales in the primary and secondary markets also work closely with our press department and write press releases.
What is the most challening aspect of your work?
LP: The need to wear so many hats. Working as a gallery director is in no way boring. There is always a lot to do in terms of administrative work, as well as shipping registrar tasks and even assisting with the accounting of the gallery. It is sometimes difficult to constantly switch from one area to the other.
AVP: Shipping and customs sometimes pose a challenge. We receive so many artist portfolios and one of my responsibilities is to bring Leila's attention those who could fit into our programme. The hard part is that 99 per cent of the time, we have to say no. While we have naturally developed a specialisation in Iranian art (due to Leila's background), we also exhibit Arab, Turkish, American and European art. It's not about nationality it's about art.
What is your most memorable experience at Leila Heller Gallery?
LP: Some include working with Iranian artist Reza Derakshani (Canvas 4.4) on his January 2009 show, which was the first exhibition at the gallery that I helped organize; another was the group exhibition, Selseleh/Zelzeleh- Movers and Shakers in Contemporary Iranian Art, which coincided with the Chelsea Art Museum's groundbreaking exhibit Iran Inside Out. It was truly a breakthrough exhibition for Iranian art in New York-a huge crowd of people amassed on opening night!
AVP: I have many! Over a year ago, I went to Iran on behalf of the gallery to look for artworks to be included in our Tehran-New York exhibition. I like working with artists, the excitement
AVP
LP: My main responsibility is to oversee exhibitions and art fairs, work closely with our artists and help develop the gallery's relationship with collectors, curators and critics. We are extremely ative in the secondary market, so a large portion of my day usually involves researching and working with artworks that have rich histories from different time periods.
AVP: I manage artists' careers, liase with estates, curators and clients, and oversee exhibits and art fairs. I work on sales in the primary and secondary markets also work closely with our press department and write press releases.
What is the most challening aspect of your work?
LP: The need to wear so many hats. Working as a gallery director is in no way boring. There is always a lot to do in terms of administrative work, as well as shipping registrar tasks and even assisting with the accounting of the gallery. It is sometimes difficult to constantly switch from one area to the other.
AVP: Shipping and customs sometimes pose a challenge. We receive so many artist portfolios and one of my responsibilities is to bring Leila's attention those who could fit into our programme. The hard part is that 99 per cent of the time, we have to say no. While we have naturally developed a specialisation in Iranian art (due to Leila's background), we also exhibit Arab, Turkish, American and European art. It's not about nationality it's about art.
What is your most memorable experience at Leila Heller Gallery?
LP: Some include working with Iranian artist Reza Derakshani (Canvas 4.4) on his January 2009 show, which was the first exhibition at the gallery that I helped organize; another was the group exhibition, Selseleh/Zelzeleh- Movers and Shakers in Contemporary Iranian Art, which coincided with the Chelsea Art Museum's groundbreaking exhibit Iran Inside Out. It was truly a breakthrough exhibition for Iranian art in New York-a huge crowd of people amassed on opening night!
AVP: I have many! Over a year ago, I went to Iran on behalf of the gallery to look for artworks to be included in our Tehran-New York exhibition. I like working with artists, the excitement
AVP
