I fell in love with textiles and art as a graduate student in Vietnam. I have worn many hats in the years since, including consulting with development organizations, co-authoring a Vietnamese dictionary and translating works of literature.  I helped create Golden Thread Silks, a family textile business that works with weavers and artisans in Southeast Asia. In 2014 I co-founded Curated State, originally a staging company that specialized in pop-up art exhibitions with local artists in properties for sale in San Francisco.  Through its curation programming, Curated State now focuses on creating exhibition opportunities for local artists in pop-up installations throughout the Bay Area. 

My art advising practice has been an outgrowth of working with hundreds of artists and collaborating with other curators and non-profits to create artist residencies.  I’ve also been involved with youth programs including First Exposures, a San Francisco photography mentoring program.  In addition to deep experience working with artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, I bring a global perspective on art, with 25 years of experience seeking out all that is inspiring from nearly every corner of the world.  In the past decade, my husband and I have developed a love of contemporary photography and bring this expertise to the art advising practice.

 Why Work With An Art Advisor?

There’s nothing better than wandering through San Francisco Open Studios on a beautiful fall weekend.  Chatting with artists in their studios can be illuminating and always lends a new dimension to the work.  But for some prospective buyers, it can seem too personal or pressure laden to buy.  On the other end of the spectrum, gallery visits can provide access to an incredible range of work and artists that are profound and pioneering.  But this experience sometimes can be sterile and intimidating, especially when it comes to price.

 Buying art doesn’t have to be about investment, resale value, or what other people think is important.  The goal is to figure out what you like and what you want to look at every day.  You should love it---because it makes you laugh, makes you think, or speaks to you for any reason at all.

 For most of us, collecting art is a slow process that can take place over many years and decades.  Some works are timeless but as our tastes change, we grow out of others.  It can be challenging to introduce new art alongside your existing art or find a new place for a beloved piece.  I can help you build a new collection from square one or help work with your existing art and figure out how to find the best place for each piece, whether new or old.  I can connect you with local artists or artists around the globe, whether emerging or established.

How It Works

My goal is to find great art that works within your budget—small or medium or large, whether one piece or 5 or 10

-free consultation

-meet to discuss your art vision: medium, price point, scope,

-propose a range of artists and works to consider

-set up studio visits with local artists and/or bring work to you

-assist with purchase of work, framing or mounting as needed

-develop a roadmap for installation

-assist with final stages of delivery and installation

For more information, please email Courtney, or call at 415.254.4754