Hi Kaylee, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The first art fair I participated in with Abigail Ogilvy Gallery was in New York in the fall of 2021. SPRING/BREAK, an artist-centric, curatorial fair, operates each year with a specific theme that is often accompanied by a list of required reading, listening, and viewing. Abigail and I worked together on this presentation and it was a pivotal moment in my understanding of what gallery representation can be for an artist.
For this fair, we chose to work with emerging artist Haley Wood, who had earlier that year received her BFA in Fibers from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. While researching the fair’s theme for that year, Haley came to mind as a perfect fit, and so we chose to feature her as a solo presentation. Having graduated into the pandemic, Haley had not yet shown her BFA thesis in person, and the work was visually stunning, well executed and conceptually impactful. Haley’s body of work, WOAD, was a twelve panel narrative of tufted rugs that detailed her relationship with her grandmother towards the end of her life, told through the eyes of medieval hares. Haley’s storytelling beautifully recounted the hardships of dementia in a way that was approachable but real. Conversing with visitors about the artworks, brainstorming a curatorial presentation surrounding the series, and working directly with Haley were valuable and cherished experiences for me that really emphasized the impact a body of work can have on both the artist and the audience. Seeing the success of sales for a talented artist whose career was just starting was an incredibly rewarding experience for me, and something I have strived to continue with my work.
Kaylee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am the current Director and founder of Abigail Ogilvy Gallery’s Los Angeles location. I’ve worked with Abigail since 2018, where I began as an intern at the gallery’s original Boston location before expanding the business to LA in 2023. In those six years, I have participated in curatorial opportunities throughout the US and Switzerland, helped to manage a roster of nearly 30 artists, and formed rewarding relationships with collectors and art world colleagues.
I hold a BFA in Art History and Fibers from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. My practice focuses on exhibition design and curation, aiming to champion emerging contemporary artists, and I am passionate about fostering positive gallery relationships and experiences for artists, collectors and visitors.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think one of the biggest ways to support an artist is to collect their work. Especially as someone who works with artists who range from emerging to mid-career, seeing the way a career can be propelled forward by collectors who believe in the artist is one of my favorite parts of the job. Artists who choose to sell their work are entrusting their collectors with a vulnerable part of themselves, no matter the concept behind the piece. An artist’s career can take off from just a few beginning sales – adding value and demand to the work is a crucial part in generating sales momentum, and helps to fund future artworks (materials and time are both costly!).
Space and money are also crucial factors in an artist’s career. Opportunities for grants, as well as residencies that provide studio space and financial support for their artists are a necessary part of this ecosystem.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I was incredibly lucky to have come around to this knowledge before leaving school, but I really had no idea how many career opportunities can stem from an art history degree. Like many of my peers, I had assumed that my only path forward was through museum work. During my third year of college, I took an internship with Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, and have loved working in a small business setting within the curatorial field.
Another great resource that a college professor had introduced me to was College Art Association – particularly their opportunities board. They post daily calls for art, calls for papers, and other opportunities for artists and art historians that helped me bulk up my CV and see just how many possibilities there were for me to engage with the art world right away. There are annual conferences that provide excellent networking on a national level as well!
Finally, the best thing I realized early on is to just go for it. There is always going to be an obstacle for you to overcome, and the best way out is through. I was lucky enough to learn this in real time at the age of 22, when I was fresh out of school and feeling like I would never make a significant contribution to my field. My roommate at the time, Abby Ouellette and I, had no space or money, but decided to convert our small apartment into an underground gallery space once a month just to continue our engagement with our peers and the art world. Realizing that we could take the limited resources already at our disposal and make them work in our favor was something that I have carried with me since, and am incredibly grateful to have figured out at that age.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abigailogilvy.com/
- Instagram: @abigailogilvygallery
