Building the Art World's Missing Infrastructure with Ade Sanusi from Art Meets Culture

Building the Art World's Missing Infrastructure with Ade Sanusi from Art Meets Culture

The collector experience doesn't exist in isolation: it's shaped by the infrastructure around it, the web connecting artists to galleries, galleries to new audiences, and new audiences to the work. The problem is, that infrastructure has gaps. Ade Sanusi, founder of Art Meets Culture (@artmeetsculture [https://www.instagram.com/artmeetsculture/?hl=en]), has spent years identifying where it fails and building his own answer to it. Through events, brand partnerships, talks, and a brilliant podcast, he creates what he calls cultural infrastructure for the next generation of artists - in particular those trying to build careers without traditional entry points. He came up through the music industry, and in my opinion the parallels he draws make the picture very telling. I am the first to tend to describe the art world as an 'ecosystem' but I like how Ade reframes it as infrastructure. Unlike an ecosystem, infrastructure feels tangible -it can be measured, objectively critiques and rebuilt. And that's exactly what he's doing. References mentioned in the episode: * Banksy documentary Exit through the gift shop [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_Through_the_Gift_Shop] * Mr Brainwash [https://mrbrainwash.com/] * DSYF [https://www.dsyf.com/] * Slawn at Saatchi Yates [https://saatchiyates.com/exhibitions/slawn-s-studio] * 1-54 [https://www.1-54.com/] * Daniel Arsham and Hublot [https://www.hublot.com/en-int/find-your-hublot/exceptional-timepieces/daniel-arsham] * Yinka Ilori [https://cristearoberts.com/artists/233-yinka-ilori/] * Yinka Ilori & Lego: Launderette of Dreams [https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2021/october/launderette-of-dreams] * Puretee Elusive [https://www.pureteeelusive.com/] * Ken Nwadiogbu [https://kristinhjellegjerde.com/artists/363-ken-nwadiogbu/overview/] * Koby Martin [https://www.kobmart.co.uk/] * Club Bum [https://www.instagram.com/clubbum/] * Hebru Brantley [https://www.hebrubrantley.com/] * KAWS [https://www.maxhetzler.com/artists/kaws] * Kehinde WIley [https://www.skny.com/artists/kehinde-wiley]

When Buying What You Love Isn't Enough with Prisca Pan

In this episode, I continue my exploration of art advisory with Prisca Pan [https://www.instagram.com/unfram_d/], founder of Unframd [https://www.unframdart.com/]. Based in the US, Prisca works with clients from tech, law, and finance and puts strategy and financial thinking explicitly at the centre of her practice, which I hadn't come across yet and therefore truly caught my attention. Her mission is to get more people collecting while understanding art as an asset class, which she directly compares to venture capital. That last part is where things get complicated for me. My day job is in finance and alternative assets, so I understand the framework. But I've always believed art serves a role in our civilisation that's hard to price: it transcends individuals and generations, captures cultural relevance in real time, functions almost like a public good. When art gets repackaged as an investment vehicle, the market starts selecting for financial value, and I worry that slowly erodes the conditions that make culturally meaningful work possible in the first place. I'm not naive about it: artists need to make a living, and markets exist for a reason. I just feel like a line should be drawn somewhere. I can't fully articulate where yet. Ultimately I do agree with Prisca that it's not about throwing away the old art world, but building on it as our broader world changes. I hope you enjoy our conversation. References mentioned in the episode: * Alvaro Barrington [https://ropac.net/artists/27-alvaro-barrington/] * Moffat Takadiwa [https://www.tyburngallery.com/artist/moffat-takadiwa/] * Tunji Adeniyi-Jones [https://www.whitecube.com/artists/tunji-adeniyi-jones] * Alexa Hatanaka [https://kristinhjellegjerde.com/artists/519-alexa-kumiko-hatanaka/overview/] Follow the podcast to see the guests' collections at ⁠@collectors_corner_⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/collectors_corner_/#] !

Collecting the Stories That Define Our Time with Kate Lee & Anne Parke

I never seriously considered working with an art advisor. To me, 'having an advisor' was something for people with a lot of means and experience - ironically, those who might need it least. Tackling that limiting belief was one of the reasons I started interviewing art advisors, alongside understanding what they actually do. Following my last episode with a Paris-based collector/advisor duo, I'm continuing with this format and introducing my first NY-based guests. Kate Lee [https://www.instagram.com/kateleeknows/] works in tech, started collecting five years ago, and the clarity and ambition behind her and her partner's approach is something I find genuinely inspiring. They focus on emerging artists from Asia and Latin America, a reflection of their own roots and identities, and have built the 603 Arts Foundation [https://www.603arts.org/] to support those artists beyond their private collection [https://fromtheprivatecollection.substack.com/], through acquisitions and exhibition support across galleries and institutions. It's rare to see a young collector couple build, this early on, what they couldn't find but believed was deeply needed. Anne Parke [https://www.instagram.com/anneparke/] is building her platform [https://www.anneparke.com/] to help a new generation of collectors step into the art world, removing barriers and bringing discernment to a space often oversaturated with content. She was the catalyst to Kate's entry into collecting and has accompanied her journey as a trusted friend and advisor since day one. What I'm taking away from this conversation: working with an advisor is more accessible than I thought, and with the right person, it can accelerate your journey tenfold. But I’ll stop here for now and leave you to enjoy my conversation with Kate Lee and Anne Parke. References from the episode: * Neal Vandenbergh [https://www.instagram.com/wizard_neal/] * Shrine [https://www.shrine.nyc/]Silke Lindner [https://www.silkelindner.com/] * Gladstone Gallery [https://gladstonegallery.com/] * Karma [https://karmakarma.org/] * Bortolami [https://www.bortolamigallery.com/] * Ben Tong [https://www.instagram.com/tongbean/] * Zéh Palito [https://www.instagram.com/zehpalito/] * Jennifer Carvalho [https://www.instagram.com/jenniferannecar/] * MoMA PS1 Greater New York [https://www.momaps1.org/en/programs/702-greater-new-york-2026] * Maia Cruz Palileo [https://maiacruzpalileo.com/] * Sylvie Hayes Wallace [https://www.instagram.com/sylvie__hayes__wallace/] * Adriana Varejão [https://gagosian.com/artists/adriana-varejao/] * Rachel Youn [https://www.instagram.com/rachelyoun/] * Komal Shah Garg [https://www.instagram.com/komalshahgarg/] Follow the podcast to see the guests' collections at ⁠@collectors_corner_⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/collectors_corner_/#] !

The Art of Trusting Someone Else's Eye with Régis Decour & Yana Kotina

I’ve always been intrigued by art advisors. Who are they, what do they do, why and how does one become one and what is their role in the ecosystem? I’ve encountered multiple and they all seem to define their work in a very unique way. So in an attempt to get my questions answered I decided to do a joint interview, an art collector and their advisor. Back in Paris I sat down with Régis Decour - an entrepreneur with no formal art background who started collecting at age 19 - and Yana Kotina (@kartadvisory [https://www.instagram.com/kartadvisory/]), his art advisor, who works across contemporary and modern art with both new and seasoned collectors. Régis and Yana’s friendship evolved into a professional collaboration, built on 6 years of talking about art, visiting studios and exchanging on artists and which opened doors to new markets, new geographies, new mediums that Régis wouldn't encounter on his own. This episode is about what it actually looks like to work with an advisor for Régis and Yana of course but also more broadly: how the dynamic works in practice and how it can wildly differ, how independence is maintained, and how you get paid. So I’ll stop here and leave you to enjoy my conversation with Regis Decour and Yana Kotina References from the episode: * Shuo Hao [https://derouillon.com/artists/shuo-hao] * Leonard Bourgois Beaulieu [https://www.instagram.com/leonardbeaubourg/] * Alexander Ugay [https://www.nika-projects.com/artists/alexander-ugay] * Poush [https://poush.fr/fr] * Thomas Devaux [https://www.instagram.com/thomasdevaux/] * Reena Spaulings [https://charlesrivacollection.com/artists/336-reena-spaulings/] * François Malingrey [https://www.paris-b.com/fr/artiste/francois-malingrey/] * Paris B Gallery [https://www.paris-b.com/] * Philippe Ramette [https://www.instagram.com/philippe_ramette/] * Sayan Baigaliyev [https://sayanbaigaliyev.com/ABOUT] * Peter Doig [https://www.michaelwerner.com/artists/peter-doig] * Jean Nipon [https://galeriepact.com/artists/nipon-jean/] * Jean and Terry de Gunzburg [https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/collection-of-jean-terry-de-gunzburg-design-masters] Follow the podcast to see the guests' collections at ⁠@collectors_corner_⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/collectors_corner_/#] !

What Defines A Collector with CURA Art

If there’s one thing I’m learning with this podcast is that there is no single or right way to collect. So speaking with Liza Shapiro (@lizashapiro [https://www.instagram.com/lizashapiro/]) and Georgia Powell (@georgiabethpowell [https://www.instagram.com/georgiabethpowell/]), the founders of CURA Art (@cura_art_ [https://www.instagram.com/cura_art_/]), I was excited to get a bit more of a meta view on the topic. Since 2019, they've worked with a broad variety of private and corporate collectors between London and Los Angeles, to support them in the ongoing care and management of their collections. To them caring for one’s art collection is akin to taking care of one’s physical health - an analogy they’ve seen eye to eye on ever since they first met while working together at the Redfern Gallery in London. Georgia and Liza care deeply about the art they look after on behalf of their clients. However, what motivates them above everything else is developing personal relationships with their clients to help them build collections thoughtfully with purpose, integrity and intent, and ultimately allow them to embrace their role as custodians. What differences are there between seasoned and new collectors, how do the London and LA art cultures compare, what is really the biggest threat to any art collection. Georgia and Liza share fascinating insights on this and more. So I’ll stop here and leave you to enjoy my conversation with Georgia Powell and Liza Shapiro of CURA Art. References from the episode: * Frieze LA [https://www.frieze.com/fairs/frieze-los-angeles] * Frieze london [https://www.frieze.com/fairs/frieze-london] * Echo Soho art fair [https://www.echosoho.com/] * NextGen Collectors and the Art market by Georgina Adam [https://www.lundhumphries.com/products/nextgen-collectors-and-the-art-market] * Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air art programme [https://media.dorchestercollection.com/the-beverly-hills-hotel-and-hotel-bel-air-reveal-2026-art-exhibition-programme/?lang=eng] * Amy Mackay [https://labeastgallery.com/artists/47-amy-mackay/] * Ackerman Studios [https://www.ackermanstudios.com/] * Wilder Gallery London [https://www.wilder.gallery/] * Xanthe Burdett [https://www.wilder.gallery/xanthe-burdett] * Tahnee Lonsdale [https://tahneelonsdale.com/exhibitions] * Joy Simmons [https://www.instagram.com/joysimmonsdivadoc/] * Henriane Mourgue d'Algue [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHGJpVxSGOa/] Follow the podcast to see the guests' collections at ⁠@collectors_corner_⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/collectors_corner_/#] ! Cover art picture by Jayne West Photography