Chela Mitchell, Art Advisor x Private Dealer , Washington, D.C./ Currently residing in NYC (Manhattan)
Having previously worked for Net-A-Porter, art girl Chela Mitchell has set her sights firmly on the art world, setting up her private art advisory – Chela Mitchell Art (CMA) – to help public, private and new collectors navigate the often confusing contemporary art market. From studio visits to auctions, Chela is able to secure the pieces her clients need to build their collections. Here Chela lets us in to her artsy life…
In the art world you currently find most exciting that…
We’re beginning to have more conversations that center around inclusion and diversity. Artists are speaking to racism, gender and our political climate more than ever. You have Carolyn Lazard’s work that speaks to disability justice at this year’s Whitney Biennial. Exploring the identity and inequality in each of these communities is so important.
Number of unanswered emails in your account today…
I have 140 unanswered emails right now. Not bad, but not good either.
Perfect outfit to sell art in…
On studio and gallery visits I like to be comfortable because I walk so much. My uniform is an Acne sweatshirt with a roll neck underneath, my favorite oversized J.W. Anderson track pants with sneakers. When working with my clients, I like to step my game up a bit. A knitted dress with a heritage blazer and a stiletto boot or pump.
Your everyday online art read is…
I read The Art Gorgeous of course, Artnet News and Cultured Magazine religiously. I think people would be surprised to know how much advisors and other art professionals read. The contemporary art landscape is always changing and my clients need me to be informed.
Most ridiculous thing you ever bought…
It was 2005 and I definitely had a bedazzled T-Mobile sidekick. Like who was I?!
After a bad day in the art world, you need…
A workout, a listen to my favorite podcasts (Essence Magazine’s Yes Girl!, Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History, Girlboss Radio and Collect Wisely with Sean Kelly), a hearty home cooked meal and a serious venting FaceTime session with my girls are what helps me on my bad days. It doesn’t matter how strong you are, you need a supportive network of friends and family to share your great and not so great moments with. Podcasts may seem like a weird way to combat a bad day but there are so many stories that I encounter where people share the challenges or resistance they have faced in their industry and how they’ve handled those situations. It’s inspiring! Soul food always puts me in a better mood. I’ll stop by one of many fish markets in Harlem on my way home to grab food — an instant mood booster!
On your office table you always have…
Ginger kombucha, an iPad, a pen and paper. I really like working on the iPad so I can travel around the city and work with ease. I’m very old school. I still like to write out ideas and strategies on paper. The pen really gets my brain flowing.
Favourite art x brand collaboration…
Pyer Moss x Derrick Adams.
You first post on Instagram…
My first post on my art instagram is a picture of me and my daughter, Chloe-Yves at the opening of Nina Chanel’s ‘Punch’ group show at Jeffrey Deitch last year.
Favourite hashtag…
#periodt #kerryjamesmarshall
Your art world girl crush…
Cecily Brown.
Describe yourself with three emojis…
Very good question! The 100 emoji because being authentic and true to my culture are extremely important to me. The light bulb emoji because I’m always full of ideas. I’m a Pisces, we love to create. The handshake emoji because I love sealing the deal on new acquisitions for my clients. One of my clients texted me today to say how much she loved waking up to her new painting that we installed in her bedroom two weeks ago. Their happiness is my happiness!
Art boy I would love to have lunch with…
He’s definitely an art man and a huge inspiration to me. Swizz Beatz has done and is doing so much to contribute to the black and brown contemporary art community. I want to have the same impact on the art world. Call me, Swizz!
Favourite new artist discovery…
I was in Athens in September and visited the super cool TAF (The Art Foundation). If you have not been there, you need to put this place on your bucket list. There’s an outdoor bar, an art shop and a gallery space. I walked into the gallery and was instantly pulled towards this piece by an artist named Pirro Caridha. He puts these really cool digital images on cardboard. We’re working together to bring some of his art to the U.S.
#artworldgoals?
I want to own a gallery in the next two years which is a huge goal of mine. Selling art to Rihanna is another goal that I have on my list. I believe in creative visualization and the law of attraction so maybe it will happen. You never know.
Instagram: Work:@chelamitchellart Personal: @chelamitchell
