09/23/2024
After 10 years of bringing business to artists, Client Raiser is closing.
In 2014, I discovered a niche that was not being fulfilled – helping artists with their business development. With a background in strategic planning and project management, I embarked on a journey to assist artists to reach their goals. I am amazed at the success that Client Raiser enjoyed, considering that I only had a casual interest in art at the time and no entrepreneurial experience. Certainly, the highlight has been the people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years.
I am beyond grateful to the artists who trusted me to contribute to their art practices; the organizations that invited me to speak to their constituents; the companies that partnered with me on various initiatives; the collectors who sustain the creatives in our communities; and the phenomenal art professionals that continue to captivate me with their knowledge and talent.
Below are some of the special events that I have felt honored to participate in with our clients over the years as well as Client Raiser’s most memorable accomplishments:
- Working with over 250 artists in 20+ states
- Speaking engagements at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, ArtTable, Hemphill Gallery, and other notable establishments
- Leading workshops for the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Washington Project for the Arts (WPA), Transformer, Hamiltonian Artists, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, the City of Alexandria, VA, and more entities
- Selling 150+ artworks
- Conceptualizing and organizing Art Speak: Black Voice, an online exhibition sponsored by Your P&rtners at Compass Real Estate, which ultimately inspired our Curated by the Collector series that included four more online exhibitions during Covid
- Partnering with Level Head Installation on an art consulting project for a law firm on K Street in Washington, D.C.
- Accompanying an artist client to the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in which she was a finalist
- Attending the launch party at the Phillips Collection for an issue of DC Modern Luxury magazine which featured three artist clients
- Hustling to address several “art emergency” requests which resulted in four solo shows for artist clients
- Arranging a spontaneous studio visit with a billionaire to an artist client’s studio, and another with a British magazine editor at Halcyon Arts Lab
- Participating in Superfine Art Fairs in DC: hosting a brunch for the public, leading numerous workshops, and being a guest on their podcasts
- Attending the openings of our artist clients’ gallery spaces at Beyond Art, Grail Art League, and Studio Lab RD
- Co-hosting pop-up exhibitions for Bloom Art DC as well as District Property Group at Compass Real Estate
- Joining a board member of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden for its New York Gala
- Attending Art Basel Miami with colleagues and artist clients
- Collaborating with Hera Hub DC on numerous exhibitions
- Fundraising for STABLE
- Inviting our Jewish clients to participate in a conversation that led to Radically Amazed, an exhibition at Bender JCC of Greater Washington
- Hiring three of our photography clients for various photo shoots
- Inspiring the main character for a book (she was an Artist Advisor)
- Hosting Client Raiser’s annual client party!
Last year, I was thinking about Client Raiser’s next act when I was diagnosed with cancer. Although I am currently doing well, my business has been on hold for over a year, so I have decided that now seems like a natural time to call it a wrap and explore other personal and professional interests.
I am walking away from this experience with a completely different worldview. Perhaps my most interesting realization is that I admire artists more than their artwork. Although I've had phenomenal opportunities working with the NBA, at The White House, and the greatest civil rights leaders of our era, I have found that artists are truly my people. Their honesty, vulnerability, integrity, and, of course, creativity are unmatched.
I look forward to seeing how all of the creatives that I have met over the past decade continue to share their interpretations of life’s angles and slants with the world. And, who knows, maybe I will join them and become an artist too (just kidding)!
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