Art writer, curator and editor, London
Lizzy Vartanian Collier — aka Gallery Girl — is a writer and curator based in London, specialising in contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa. Her work has been published by Canvas, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Hyperallergic, After Nyne, the Guardian, Ibraaz, Jdeed, EVN Report and Suitcase along with many other publications. Her recent exhibition ‘Perpetual Movement’, which took place during Arab Women Artists Now (AWAN) Festival 2018, was featured broadly in the media and also had a second stop in Armenia.
We caught up with Gallery Girl for an in-depth fix on all things Middle East… Plus, she also shares her secrets on Eastern brands, we better don`t miss.
In the art world currently I find most exciting that…
attention is being turned towards festivals, exhibitions and fairs that celebrate non-Western art, and that women continue to be taking control of the future of the global contemporary art scene
Number of unanswered mails in your account today…
less than 10, I hate leaving things unopened
Perfect working outfit…
a long-sleeved mini-dress, platform heels and bling earrings
Favourite new brand discovery…
Georgian bag designer Kanchaveli
Your everyday online art read is…
Jdeed (jdeedmagazine.com)
Your necessary extravagance is…
Miu Miu sunglasses
Most ridiculous thing you ever bought…
probably something I wouldn’t want to admit to on the internet!
Ultimate secret after long working hours…
hydration
Favourite collaboration of the art- and fashion world…
when Phoebe Philo put Yves Klein’s blue anthropometry paintings on white dresses during Celine’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection
Favourite hashtag…
#art DUH
On your office table you always have…
too many books, photo albums, post-it notes and boxes of herbal tea
The most arty city is…
Venice
Who are the best dressed in the art world…
Najd AlTaher, Nina Moaddel and Natasha Arselan
Describe yourself with three emojis…
Art world gent I would love to have lunch with…
I would like to visit Cy Twombly in heaven to talk about his dreamy paintings and Greek and Roman mythology among the clouds
Artist(s) we should have on our watch list is/are…
Nadia Gohar and Evar Hussayni
Instagram: I have two because I’m greedy @gallerygirlldn and @lizzycollier