Art Coach Jeremiah Ojo: Passion and Proficiency
“The combination of passion and proficiency enables an artist to really command and assert their value in the marketplace.”
Art Coach
When you hear Jeremiah Olayinka Ojo you can tell right away that he knows what he’s talking about. Since he was last on Studio Noize (Episode 18), Jeremiah completed his Masters in Art Business from Sotheby's Institute of Art, NY & the Center for Business & Management of the Arts at Claremont Graduate University. He’s worked with a countless number of contemporary Black artists, galleries, and organizations like Prizm Art Fair, Black Art Futures Fund, and has conducted professional development workshops and webinars around the globe, from Los Angeles to New York and even in Nigeria. He spoke about how his depth of experience within the art ecosystem gave him a perspective of the art world that allows him to bring a unique value to his clients.
“I've been coined as being an “Art Coach” where I use my art market knowledge to support artists as they matriculate through the art market ecosystem. So whether it's in the studio and … you need a second voice, to dialogue conceptually about your work, or about materiality, (being a former practicing artist myself) I know how to have those conversations, but then also I know how to shift it and say, …..work's done. It's been inventoried, we've priced it, now, let's talk about selling... What is our sales strategy? Let's talk about marketing. Yeah... I'm kind of in a unique space there. Then I'm able to kind of oscillate between multiple spaces, but not just focus on one.” (36:13)
Traveling the Diaspora
Traveling has given Jeremiah first-hand knowledge of the experiences of Black creators all over the world. He takes time to arrange studio visits with artists through the diaspora and on the continent he’s visiting. He engages in conversation with them to understand what challenges they are facing and how he can assist them in solving it. He says the challenges are the same, although the proportion of them may be different. Artists everywhere are having conversations about looking for mentors, finding exhibition spaces, sourcing materials, and seeking support. One of the biggest issues across the diaspora is being able to do what you love unapologetically and still sustain yourself and your family, economically.
Jeremiah Ojo with Brooklyn based painter, Genesis Tramaine
The type of professional development Jeremiah provides focuses on the tools and practices artists need to prepare to succeed when entering the art market. From managing a studio to managing the expectations of a gallery, Jeremiah & his team supports it all. Such as one of his recent collaborations with the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) for a workshop entitled, Power Pivot: New Strategies in Artwork Pricing and Repositioning Value, or even back in 2018 when he collaborated with the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), to conduct a professional development workshop entitled, ArtPro: Navigating The Business of Art. Artists should work to understand what their goals are and use people like him to devise strategies to help achieve them. It is an investment in their practice as much as buying canvas or paying for your studio.
“I say all the time is professionalism is the combination of passion and proficiency… If you're creative, you're already passionate because most of your parents or family members think you'll be poor. Right? You do it anyway because you love it. And you need to make, you need to do something with your hands. So there's that's one side. But the thing that's actually going to sustain you is proficiency. .. And the combination of passion and proficiency enables an artist to really command and assert their value in the marketplace.” (49:25)
Jeremiah Ojo presenting for Creative Milieu
Our Door
The key motivation in all of it is a deep appreciation of the art and the kind of cultural relevance that Jeremiah knows it contains. He talked about learning more about his Yoruba ancestral culture through artwork. At the heart of his ferocious curiosity and tireless work on behalf of his clients is a love for Black people. Now with his staffing services company Creative Milieu and the newly formed Ilekun Wa, which translated means “Our Door” Jeremiah wants to offer more professional services that can help artists on any level, emerging to established, succeed in the art world.
“With Ilekun Wa, it is about our door, that possessive pronoun of “our,” I chose very specifically because I want artists to know that this is a community that we should own. So within this new structure, you know, in the month of June and July, we'll be releasing a whole new suite of services and some great things to better support artists to help them create, sustain and thrive.” (49:01)
Follow Jeremiah: @howtallareyou + @ilekun.wa
Listen to the full interview on Studio Noize Episode 90
Links
www.sothebysinstitute.com/new-york/masters-programs/ma-art-business
https://www.cgu.edu/center/center-for-business-management-of-the-arts/
https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/why-artists-are-using-art-coaches-to-get-ahead
https://femaleartistsassociation.com/
