Saatchi Art, the world’s leading online art gallery, today announced the appointment of Rebecca Wilson as the company’s chief curator and director of artist development. Ms. Wilson will set the curatorial direction and oversee the art advisory program for the company as Saatchi Art seeks to accelerate its growth as a marketplace connecting art buyers and artists from around the world.
Ms. Wilson brings a keen eye for talent and a wealth of experience to her new post in Los Angeles. Most recently, she has served as a director at the Saatchi Gallery in London, where, during her seven-year tenure, she established New Sensations, an annual prize for UK art students that Wallpaper magazine has called “a career-propelling accolade,” and was instrumental in the launch of the gallery’s online presence.
Previously, Ms. Wilson spent fourteen years in book and art magazine publishing, working as editor of ArtReview, and before that as deputy editor of Modern Painters.
As chief curator at Saatchi Art (www.saatchiart.com), Ms. Wilson assumes leadership of a pivotal component of a company that is redefining the experience of buying and selling art, a global market valued at $65 billion a year.
“We’re building a brand known globally for its unparalleled selection of high-quality original art at a range of prices. Expert curation is the cornerstone of creating a captivating online experience in which to discover art. It’s also the best way to attract the most talented emerging artists working today,”
says Sean Moriarty, CEO of Saatchi Art.
Added Mr. Moriarty:
“Rebecca’s deep affinity for emerging artists, her quick perception of talent, and her highly-developed sense of context make her an invaluable asset to Saatchi Art. Now that she’s here with us in L.A. we’re looking to strengthen our relationship with the burgeoning art capital in our midst as we work to become the world’s go-to resource for original art.”
The appointment of Ms. Wilson and her relocation to Los Angeles mark a key inflection point in the growth and evolution of the company.
“From London, I witnessed the development of Saatchi Art from nascent artist portal to a thriving global art gallery, and am extremely excited about the potential of the Internet to make contemporary art widely accessible to people all over the world who love art,” says Ms. Wilson. “In the past 6 months Saatchi Art has sold works by artists living in 100 countries to collectors in 80 countries, and I’m looking forward to helping many more artists show and sell their work to an international audience.”
Ms. Wilson is a native of London, England and earned a B.A. Hons and an M.A. from the University of Cambridge, UK, as well as an M.A. in Anglo-American Literary Relations (Distinction) from University College London. She currently resides in Venice Beach, Calif. with her husband, the writer Geoff Dyer.
