The Shared Drive
Introducing ArtLoft - a project that I've been squirrelling away on in my (very limited) spare time..
Some of the best ideas come from moments you don’t plan for, ArtLoft is one of those ideas
ArtLoft began, to some extent, earlier this year at 8 Vine Yard, where I was hosting a patrons’ dinner for the Delfina Foundation to support then 8VY resident Ghazaleh Avarzamani’s upcoming presentation. Sitting across from me was Farah Nayeri, a NYT journalist, author, and podcast host, with that rare ability to make the art world feel both alive and accessible. We hit it off immediately - a chance encounter made possible thanks to the networks of people that gathered at Vine Yard. One conversation over dinner became many more: coffee meets, walks that turned into brainstorming sessions, and endless talks about artists, collectors, and the invisible threads that hold the art world together. Somewhere in the middle of all those conversations, an idea began to take shape; a space where people could engage with contemporary art, feel welcomed, and leave inspired, rather than overwhelmed.
Shortly after, Farah kindly introduced me to Annka Kultys; I had followed Annka’s eponymous gallery for years on instagram, so I was (of course) already familiar. Annka has become one of the leading figures in digital and new-media art, championing artists who merge technology with imagination. She had worked with several artists I know well, taking painters into the metaverse and building a gallery programme rooted in her own passion for collecting. From our first meeting, I admired her clarity of thought and her openness in sharing it. Her loft space in central London felt like the natural home for our idea - warm, spacious, and deeply connected to the kind of dialogue we wanted to foster.
For me, ArtLoft reflects everything I value about curating. Curating is about care, curiosity, and connection. It is about nurturing artists and their practices, creating experiences that invite people to look closely, think deeply, and engage openly. I saw this clearly during the 8 Vine Yard residency, which remains one of my proudest projects. Bringing together five artists in a supportive environment, sharing their work with the public, and watching collectors and visitors respond to the space reminded me how rewarding it is when art becomes a shared experience. ArtLoft builds on that same ethos.
Collaborating with Farah and Annka, two women whose experience in the art world is completely different from my own, has been really enjoyable. Their perspectives, expertise, and energy bring fresh ideas to the table, and together we have created a space where conversations, encounters, and connections can thrive. I hope that everyone who comes to ArtLoft leaves not just having seen art, but having felt part of a dynamic community.
Over four evenings, you’ll experience all of this in action:
Farah Nayeri will share her stories from decades of interviewing some of the world’s most iconic artists—revealing who they really are, how they think, and why the public often misunderstands them.
Annka Kultys will take you into the world of digital and new-media art, showing how artists are creating, performing, and collecting in ways that blend technology and imagination.
And I’ll talk about collecting and curation; why it matters, how to build a collection, and how relationships with artists shape the work we bring into our lives.
Myself, Annka & Farah in action.
In between talks, you’ll see live performance, virtual-reality installations, and exhibitions of new-media art. You’ll meet artists, collectors, and fellow participants, and have time to talk, ask questions, and form connections over drinks and nibbles.
For me, these interactions and relationships are the most important part of the experience.
The seminars run from 6:30–9:30 pm on:
Tickets are available for single seminars (£150) or the full series (£500).
If you’ve ever been curious about the art world, wondered who artists really are, or thought about starting a collection but didn’t know where to begin, ArtLoft is for you. It’s a chance to see, to learn, and to connect - and I can’t wait to welcome you there.