Once associated with museums and more formal institutions, the role of an art curator doesn’t look quite like it used to. “Curating” was once intended to illuminate an artist’s work (and not necessarily sell it), but the role has evolved in recent years to suit emerging markets, blurring the lines between reverential observation, collecting, and now, commercial sales.
So what does this mean? While art curators across all areas are required to tap into their expertise to create a buzz around a specific artist, they also act as tastemakers and guides, connecting established and emerging artists with professional opportunities in the corporate world. Businesses big and small have long used art to both beautify and brand, and these days, it’s easier than ever to connect with professionals that can elaborate on the latest trends and open the door to exciting new work.
At ATP.art, we understand the role an expert art curator can play when enlivening and upgrading corporate and public spaces. But it’s a niche world, which means we also have a responsibility when it comes to educating businesses about what we can do and why art is a smart investment. So let’s take a better look at what partnering with an art curator looks like and how they can transform your space.
Great art can be integral to your brand
Being a successful entrepreneur has always been tricky, and with the constant emergence of new brands in an oversaturated marketplace, it can be difficult to know how to stand out from the crowd. But aesthetics play a vital role in our brand identity, and these days, they extend far beyond a clever logo or color scheme.
Working with an art curator can turn your business into an eye-catching destination, and a beautiful curation has the power to become an extension of what makes you unique as a company. While there was a time when businesses would make casual selections just to take up wall space or warm up a room, smart businesses now know that the choices they make when selecting art are another opportunity to tell their story and make a deeper connection.
Company messaging can be complex, as there are a myriad of ways to communicate your brand and connect with consumers. But working with an art curator can guarantee that your art selections are on-message and a natural extension of the visual identity you’ve already worked so hard to create, ultimately reinforcing your brand.
At ATP.art, our curators know that even minimalist spaces can use great art.
An art curator helps you cut through the noise
Even when you have a budget and vague vision in mind, it can be difficult to get started. What is your art curation trying to accomplish? Which artists might you work with, and do their pieces play well together? Do you want to invest in a variety of smaller, eclectic works, or create one giant piece that everything else will revolve around? This is where an art curator’s help becomes invaluable: there are a lot of moving parts you’ll need to consider, and there’s a reason why people do this work professionally.
An art curator can break down the curation process into a series of palatable steps, helping you understand the greater vision behind your investment. Almost everything becomes a part of the curation equation: your personal taste, the company’s values, and even the role and usability of the space are important considerations that your art curator will want to discuss.
Once a greater strategy is in place, the real fun can begin: selecting an artist. And this is where your curator can really start to shine. Their years of experience and familiarity with the art world means you have a shortcut to accessing top talent, and you can also rely on their familiarity with the art scene to trust their decisions. When you’re working with a seasoned pro, their recommendations act as an extension of their professionalism, which means you can trust that the artists they select are reliable and non-controversial.
Curators reflect your tastes, but also elevate them
A seasoned art curator will know how to identify your unique personal preferences and then take that information to select other art makers that align, yet expand upon those aesthetics. Remember: their job is to help you find something unique to stand out and connect authentically, which means taking your initial art direction and turning it into something remarkable.
Is sustainability an important part of your company’s mission? In addition to thinking about artists that work with sustainable materials, you might want to choose creatives that make environmental commentary a key part of their work. Or are you trying to connect with the 90% of consumers that prefer an in-store shopping experience and create a bespoke space that keeps them coming back? An art curator can spearhead that initiative, as well.
The art world is a remarkably dense and mysterious place, and even key movers and shakers are constantly looking and learning. Through their expertise and experience, an art curator can help you translate a great idea into a powerful collection that will far outperform anything you might have pulled together yourself.
These stylish works add warmth and coziness to upgrade a common area.
Art curations can support employees, too
In addition to being a branding expert, an art curator also understands the transformative power of art when it comes to wellness and productivity. Science indicates that art has a powerful impact on psychology, and when you think about the people that work so hard to make everything happen—your employees—why wouldn’t you do everything you can to make their days a little brighter and more productive?
No one dreams of spending the majority of their time in an uninspired space with blank walls and fluorescent lighting, so why not support your team by upgrading their space? Working with an art curator to take the appropriate steps will create a more engaging environment that can spark conversations, encourage openness, and even build a sense of community. And when people feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves, and when they feel a sense of pride, they’re naturally more inclined to give it their all and act as a real team player.
An art curator can help you be on the cutting edge while making long term choices
Art curators are often incredibly educated, bringing a wealth of art history and industry knowledge to the table. This means that they understand the greater roles that art pieces have played historically while also having a finger on the pulse when it comes to who the top current talents are: a winning combo when curating any sort of art collection.
This dichotomy makes them uniquely equipped to help businesses make smart art investments that will look great and pay dividends, both today and in the future. Most companies want art that feels fresh and current, but that won’t look obsolete in 5 or 10 years. A talented art curator understands this intricate landscape and can help you see the bigger picture, making you feel more confident about the larger role your art curation will play as well as its long term relevance.
An art curator can ultimately cut costs
Curating an art collection is more than just selecting artists and works: it’s understanding how to fill up a space, get the work from point A to B, and professionally install. Each one of these steps is rife with the potential for something to go wrong, and working with an expert means having a reliable partner to give you a preventative edge while equipping you with the right tools to course correct.
What’s more, art curators come with a built-in network and professional know-how, giving them a distinct ability to negotiate better deals, which their clients benefit directly from. Gaining access to better-quality art, framing experts, professional packers, and installation gurus: an art curator is ultimately able to provide more than a vision: they also supply the practical tools you’ll need to get the job done in a timely and efficient manner.
As the business world and corporate culture have evolved, the art world has also been subject to its own transformation. And while great art has sometimes felt relegated to the one percenters, these blurring lines have increasingly brought it into the public sphere, allowing everyone access to a moment of reflection.
A great art curator understands how to mold their expertise to your needs, making them an invaluable contributor to your brand and its initiatives. So why go it alone? With so many proven benefits on the horizon, there’s no better time than the present to get started.
Do you believe in the transformative power of art? Have you seen the benefits of working with an art curator play out first hand? Let us know in the comments.
