Listen to a diverse panel of professionals discuss their career paths and background while sharing valuable tips and recommendations in the arts. This program series is geared towards high school and college students and early career artists and professionals.
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Monica King
Monica King is a devoted supporter of the arts. As an independent curator, art historian, art advisor, arts administrator, and creative brand strategist for both artists and arts organizations, she is well versed in the complexities of the contemporary art ecosystem. King has over 20 years of experience including her eponymous gallery, Monica King Contemporary, on Lispenard Street in Tribeca (2019-2021, New York City), as well as senior roles with Pace Gallery (2002-2012, New York City), Paul Kasmin Gallery (2013-2014, New York City), and SOCO Gallery (2016-2018, Charlotte, NC).
Her experience includes a vast and fascinating range of exhibitions by emerging, mid-career, and blue-chip artists; high-profile events, art fairs, and artist talks; writing, editing, and publications; thoughtful arts administration and meticulous project management; artist and collector development; strategic marketing and communications; and most importantly—strong community building. Selected exhibitions and programming have been proudly featured in Artforum, Artnet, Architectural Digest, ARTnews, the Art Newspaper, the Observer, and Whitewall, among others.
King is honored to have been a guest juror for the New York Academy of Art Summer Exhibition (2021), and juror for The Painting Center, NYC Annual Juried Exhibition (2023), the MyMA Artist Grant (2023), and the Stockley Garden Arts Festival, VA (2024). She is a current faculty advisor for the NYC Crit Club. King holds a MA in Art History from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
When she isn’t talking about art and creativity, you will most often find her cooking, running, writing, or chasing her two whippets, Julep and Jasper.
Jonathan Schwartz
Founder CEO + President, Atelier 4
Prior to forming Atelier 4 in 1989, Jonathan was an art handler plying his trade as an installer at New York City art galleries and driving trucks coast-to-coast for one of the first all-art transport companies in the United States.
In the early years at his company, he developed innovations in packaging and exhibition logistics. A frequent speaker at industry meetings, Jonathan has presented internationally on environmental and sustainability projects, security protocols for domestic and international airfreight, and the intersection of art and commerce for the American Bar Association and the International Court of Trade. He has been a contributor to several periodicals such as ArtNews, Artnet, and the Observer.
In 2004, Atelier 4 was accepted as a member of ICEFAT, the only audited trade association for fine art logistics companies with 80 members representing 37 countries. Jonathan served as the Chairman of the Steering Committee of ICEFAT from 2015 until 2023.
Jonathan graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with concentrations in anthropology, history, and studio art. He raised two children with his wife Athina, divides his time between his adopted home of Charlotte, NC and his native New York City; he travels frequently, reads avidly, has eclectic tastes in music, and dabbles in the culinary arts.
Ife Williams
Born in Atlanta, art has played a central role in her life since early childhood. Ife Williams began her formal training in sculpture in Northern Michigan at Interlochen Arts Academy, received her BFA in Sculpture and Metalsmithing from University of Michigan’s School of Art and Architecture and went on to study at Syracuse University, where she completed coursework for a Masters of Arts Degree in Museum Studies.
Over the last three decades she has worn many hats within the arts community including the roles of Executive Director of the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning (Duluth, GA), Museum Curator at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (Miami, FL); Development Consultant at the Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (Miami, FL); Assistant cCollections Registrar for the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA); and Director of Fulton County’s Department of Arts and Culture (Atlanta, GA).
In her current role as Deputy Director of The Hambidge Center, Ife continues to be active in the region’s diverse arts communities, wearing the hat of both Artist and Administrator.