Vanessa Carlos - Gallerist

Summary

Vanessa Carlos, founder of Carlos/Ishikawa Gallery in London, discusses the challenges and evolution of running a young gallery in today's art world. She reflects on the increasing financial pressures and competitive landscape, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts among galleries to survive. Carlos also highlights the success of 'Condo,' a project where galleries share spaces to reduce costs and foster cooperation. She explores the potential for reinvention in gallery practices, challenges with online art sales, and the importance of maintaining personal relationships in the art world while embracing new models of operation.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Vanessa Carlos runs Carlos/Ishikawa, a London-based gallery showcasing international artists, often for their first solo exhibitions.
• 🖼️ The gallery has a performative and experimental focus, drawing from Vanessa's background in curating and running nonprofit projects.
• 📉 Vanessa believes the traditional gallery model from the '90s is no longer viable due to increased competition and financial pressures.
• 🌍 The current art world reflects wider issues of neoliberalism, favoring large corporations over independent galleries.
• 🤝 Vanessa promotes collective and collaborative efforts among young galleries to navigate financial and operational challenges.
• 🏙️ She organized a project called Condo, where London galleries collaborated with foreign galleries to create exhibitions, reducing costs and expanding visibility.
• 🌐 Vanessa sees potential in online art sales platforms but feels they currently lack the personal exchange necessary for success.
• 💡 Art fairs sometimes pressure galleries to showcase more commercial work, and she advocates for alternative ways to present art globally.
• 🤔 There is a need for clearer agreements between galleries and artists to protect both parties, especially in competitive markets.
• 💸 Vanessa emphasizes the precarious financial position many galleries face, advocating for better transparency and protection in sales agreements.

Q & A

What is Vanessa Carlos' gallery, and when was it founded?

Vanessa Carlos runs Carlos/Ishikawa, a gallery in London that started in 2011. It primarily features international artists, most of whom have their first solo exhibitions in London.

What is Vanessa Carlos' background before opening her gallery?

Before opening Carlos/Ishikawa, Vanessa Carlos worked for commercial galleries, curated performance events, worked with institutions, and ran a nonprofit project space with one of her represented artists. She also trained as an artist.

What is the focus of the exhibitions at Carlos/Ishikawa?

Carlos/Ishikawa focuses on more performative and experimental programs, aligning with Vanessa Carlos' experience and interests in curating performance-based art.

What challenges do young galleries face today, according to Vanessa Carlos?

Young galleries face challenges such as financial pressures, increased competition, and outdated gallery models from the 1990s. These models no longer function well due to the changing landscape, higher costs for participating in art fairs, and limited growth opportunities for emerging galleries.

How does Vanessa Carlos view the impact of neoliberalism on the art world?

Carlos sees the art world as a microcosm of broader societal issues, where neoliberal structures favor corporations over independent entities. She believes young galleries need to develop a collective, collaborative mentality to survive in this environment.

What was the 'Condo' project, and how did it work?

'Condo' was a project organized by Vanessa Carlos where eight London galleries shared their spaces with foreign galleries for joint exhibitions. The initiative was designed to reduce costs for exhibiting abroad, foster collaboration, and provide opportunities for foreign galleries to show their work in London at minimal expense.

How did the 'Condo' project benefit the participating galleries and artists?

The 'Condo' project allowed London galleries to share their spaces and resources, creating more opportunities for foreign galleries to exhibit abroad. It fostered discussions about alternative ways to operate galleries and enabled more experimental exhibitions due to the reduced costs.

Why does Vanessa Carlos believe art fairs put pressure on galleries?

Carlos argues that art fairs impose financial pressures on galleries, leading them to prioritize more commercial work. In contrast, projects like 'Condo' reduce costs and create space for more experimental exhibitions without the same financial burden.

What does Vanessa Carlos think about the current state of online art sales platforms?

Carlos feels that no one has successfully created an effective online selling platform yet. While online platforms are common, the current models lack a personal, informed exchange, and galleries are often hesitant to post their best works online due to trust and transparency issues.

What advice does Vanessa Carlos give to young artists seeking gallery representation?

Carlos advises young artists to self-organize exhibitions in unconventional spaces, like living rooms, and to invite friends and people they know. This can create a positive energy and attract galleries' attention, which is more effective than sending unsolicited emails with JPEGs.