Calls with CURA: Stories from the Art World Georgia Powell and Liza Shapiro

Hormazd Narielwalla is a London-based artist who is known for his geometric collages made from repurposed tailoring and sewing patterns. His work also encompasses original prints, artist books, and sculpture. After moving to the UK from his home of Pune, India, to study fashion, he had a conversation with a Savile Row Tailor that changed the course of his art practice. The tailor described the disposal of bespoke paper patterns of customers who had passed away and this ended up influencing Na...

Lily Ackerman founded Ackerman studios – a London-based art consultancy working closely with artists and galleries, connecting them to hotels, restaurants, and private spaces. They offer full services including strategic planning and conception, art curation and procurement, and advisory. Built on over a decade of experience, Ackerman Studios work closely with a variety of hospitality spaces, most recently including 45 Park Lane and the Daisy Green Collection. They pride themselves on wo...

Philip Smith is an auctioneer and specialist in 20th Century Design and Modern & Post-War British Art, running these departments and as Associate Director at Lyon & Turnbull.After graduating with a Masters from the Courtauld Institute in 2007, Philip has over 10 years’ experience within the auction industry, beginning his career at a leading provincial auctioneers in the South of England. During this time he has developed some of the leading sales in the country within these fiel...

Victoria Chapman founded VC Projects in 2014, out of a desire to aide artists and curators with both gallery and museum exhibitions. Her services also include art advisory, proposal writing, and social media outreach. Victoria studied at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, at Tufts University, starting her professional career early, working at the college art gallery and at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Over the course of the next 30 years she worked with Victoria and Al...

Ashleigh Brown is a trained paper conservator and collection care advisor with experience in both the private and public sector on both sides of the Atlantic. She studied History of Art at Manchester University before completing a master’s degree in Conservation of works on paper at UAL. She gained significant experience outside of conservation as an Art Collection Manager to ultra-high net worth individuals and further knowledge in insurance and the legal aspects of the art trade in her...

Skylar Hughes is an artist living and working in Los Angeles who explores relationships and the artistic process revealed through his meditative brushstrokes and warm color palette. He is interested in one’s experience and relationship to nature.The artist’s first major solo exhibition, “One Big Gust of Wind” was held at the New Britain Museum of American Art, Connecticut in 2013. Since then, Hughes has participated in multiple shows throughout the U.S. and has work in numerous public and pri...