Hi all,
Welcome to our ongoing Q&A feature, where we introduce a member of the Artfinder team to our community. This time, we speak with Ben, our Senior Curator.
Q: Could you start by introducing yourself to our community?
Hi, my name is Ben, I am based in Surrey, UK and have worked within the art industry for 15 years. I have specialised in artist management for the last 14 years with a focus on supporting artist build careers and an active collector base. I previously worked for Artrepublic where my focus was on limited edition prints releases. Over the last 10 years I have assisted 100s of artists and supported the releases of over 500 print editions
Q: How long have you worked with Artfinder and what is your role in the company?
I have worked with Artfinder since April last year, I joined as part of the Artrepublic merger and am currently the senior curator.
Q: What have been your highlights of working with Artfinder so far?
I have loved being part of the Artfinder team. There have been plenty of highlights in the last year but I think I would have to say being promoted to Senior Curator.
Q: Do you come from a creative background? Do you engage in creative activities yourself?
I am not from a creative family but have always had the urge to create. I would have loved to be an artist but found collaborating with artists and supporting them a more fulfilling path. I have a young son and love seeing how creative he is, he certainly has more potential than I did.
Q: What does working for a B Corp mean to you?
Before joining Artfinder I was not aware of the B Corp status. I really enjoy working for a company that believes it has a responsibility to the environment and the community. B corp means to me that we are conscious of our impact as a business and as employees and that we should do our best to make positive changes in how we work.
Q: What do you like doing in your spare time?
My spare time is very much family focused, I live with my wife and six year old son. We have spent the last 18 months living in and renovating a Victorian house. It is a huge project but has been lots of fun.
Q: The past few years have been challenging with world events such as Covid and the War in Ukraine. How do you look after your mental health when going through difficult times?
I come from a large family and am lucky to have most of them living close by. We all stay connected and are very supportive of each other. When I do need a break from it all I enjoy working in the garden and find physical work a good way to switch off and relieve stress.
Q: If you could take only three items with you to a desert island, what would they be?
I love music so something to listen to music on, my favourite book is the Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway so I would take that and finally I guess a fishing rod.
Q: Finally, do you have any message for our community?
The hard work you all put in is massively appreciated and makes my job so much easier. Artfinder is built on the artists that use the platform and we are all very proud of everyone that contributes to making Artfinder what it is today.
