VOLTA VOICES | AFRODET ZURI
ART DEALER, CONSULTANT, CURATOR
Kamiar Maleki: Afrodet, tell us a bit about yourself and your experience as art dealer, consultant and curator!
Portrait: Afrodet Zuri
Afrodet Zuri: After a lifelong habit of trying to make my parents happy by being pre-Med, studying Organic Chemistry and Microbiology, etc. I decided the only way to live was to pursue my obsession with art. It was difficult to overcome the cultural dissonance perpetuated by my parents' backgrounds which rewarded engineers over art historians. I left for New York and studied for my Master's in Contemporary Art. Sotheby’s provided me with an invaluable education in the history of art and equally important the business of art.
KM: How did you find your way into the art world and what keeps you connected with it over the years?
AZ: I found my way into the art world at a young age wandering through the museum halls of Europe. I stay connected by accessing international art fairs, keeping in touch with my colleagues and exploring art everywhere I travel. I currently work with my clients on all aspects of their collecting activities, such as identifying and accessing work, negotiating acquisitions, curating installations, and facilitating potential deaccessions and donations. My main focus is contemporary art, and I work with many of my clients who are passionate about blue chip as well as emerging artists and markets.
KM: How do you champion younger and emerging artists with your client base?
AZ: To champion younger and more emerging artists, I educate my collectors about an art world beyond Art Basel. Yes, it is very important to attend Basel, Armory, TEFAF, etc. but equally important is attending fairs like VOLTA which give space to younger galleries showcasing younger or lesser known artists. The art world should be seen as a whole and not just for the stars that collectors discover once their prices have inflated and there is a 5-year waiting list.
KM: Where do you discover art the most?
AZ: Discovering art everywhere I go in the world, is one of my favorite challenges from exploring street art to museums. The art shown on museums walls in different cities or countries is only a small part of their art story. We are living in such a global society that it only takes a few clicks to figure out what artists host studio visits or what parts of town host prominent street art.
KM: What role does Instagram have in shaping content and traffic to a fair’s website or its Instagram account?
AZ: Now more than ever, people want to feel connected and inspired so they look to Instagram because it is one of the most democratic tools for art. Anyone can upload their art to Instagram including artists, galleries and art fairs. There has never been a better time to share art with the world; it is waiting for you.
Follow Afrodet Zuri on Instagram at @afrodet, as well as @stormkingartcenter, a 500-acre outdoor museum located in NY's Hudson Valley, where visitors experience large-scale sculpture & site-specific commissions under open sky