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“Every generation has a moment where art and pop culture merge,” says Kimberly Drew. “I think we’re in one of those moments now, and I think it’s heightened to a new scale because of social media.”
Drew would know. The 28-year-old became an art world ingenue after her blog, Black Contemporary Art, became a must-read for students and senior curators alike. Until last month, she was also the social media manager for The Met. Her own Instagram page, Museum Mammy, boasts 234,000 followers, and mixes her personal adventures with digital art education; she was also in a Gap ad. Now Drew is at work on her first book, a collaboration with writer Jenna Wortham.
This week, Drew hosted a panel with American Express Platinum and The Wing to discuss creativity, privilege, and the changing face of art and its audience. Then she sat down with ELLE.com for a deeper conversation on gallery living, even for those who aren’t—as Carrie told Petrovsky—“very arty.”
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Everyone knows about the celebrities and parties at Art Basel Miami Beach. But as someone in the art world, what are you actually looking for during an art fair?
I’m always looking for people, new and old. It really feels like homecoming, with an opportunity to reconnect with old friends. So there is a lot of socializing—a lot of catching up and getting news on people’s projects.
What about the actual art?
When it comes to specific works of art, I’m really interested in the artist’s intentions. What were they thinking about when they made the work? What do they want to discuss? Whenever I have an opportunity to talk to an artist in a booth [at an art fair], that’s what I want to do.
Gallery booths—and galleries in general—can be really intimidating. What’s your suggestion for neophytes looking to explore the art world?
I would say, as with any environment, going in with a certain level of curiosity is the most powerful thing you can do. If you’re afraid of being out of place, you won’t get anywhere. But if you lead with curiosity instead of fear, then the whole world can be your oyster.
Is that true with museums, too, or just galleries?
Oh, at museums you should try to talk to the guards! That’s a great entry point into the art, because the museum guards spend so much time with the work! You have to remember, whether it’s a museum or a fair or a gallery, the thing is, talking about art is these people’s job. If you’re respectful of their time and knowledge, I think you’ll be really surprised at how much they’ll tell you.
So even if you’re not going in to buy a painting, you should still engage the curators…
Artwork is always awaiting a conversation. For galleries in particular, what makes it exciting for me is that they’re free! So financially, there’s actually more accessibility there. It doesn’t cost anything to go in and look. I’d say, pop into a gallery once and look. If you like the work, go in a second time and ask a question. Go in a third time and ask for a press release or an artist’s statement. Everyone is there to initiate dialogue around the work. They show up to tell stories. But it is hard because the industry is closed off, financially and sometimes socially, too.
Would you say that’s changing?
I’d say now because of Instagram, people feel they have an opportunity to engage in other people’s work and to present their own. They can think about what they want to see and share with the world, and that can change everything.
You’ve been working in the art world for about seven years. What else have you seen shift since you started?
I would say there’s been an incredible increase in terms of scale, but I love that. I love that there isn’t just one art fair happening; there are tiny satellite fairs all around it with new work and new people. Honestly, that’s the best part—when you see people making their own opportunities…. And I think the art world is getting increasingly diverse in terms of viewpoints. More people of color being represented, more political views are represented, and people who weren’t welcomed or represented in spaces before are really coming up. Even just since I started, I can really see it happening.
Are you making any changes in the way you work with art?
Yeah! I hate thinking, like, “What do I want to do in 2019?” but in general, in the near future, I want to spend more time with art students. I got so used to being around the “bigger people” in the industry, but I lost touch with emerging artists. I really want to spend time focusing on what artists coming up right now really need.
What do they really need?
A lot of money! [Laughing]
Museums and art fairs have become street style hotbeds in recent years. Should we get dressed up for art shows, or is it upstaging the art?
No, not at all. It’s really what makes you feel powerful in an unfamiliar space. If you have a dress you love that makes you feel amazing, you should absolutely wear that. But you don’t have to dress up to visit a museum or a gallery. You can come in jeans and it’s perfect.
Is it okay to take selfies with art?
Unless it says “no photos”? Absolutely! If you see something and you love it, why wouldn’t you share it on social media? I’m very pro selfie. Just don’t climb on the work, or lean against the work, or, you know, fall and break the art while you’re trying to pose. That’s not cool.
"Her beauty and her brain go not together." —William Shakespeare
