Much of the art world revolves around questions of value, not just in terms of appraisals and price tags, but also: what is worth your time in These Times, and your energy? , your attention and, yes, your hard-earned money?
What calculations do you make to determine the meaning and value of something? What moves you? What enriches your life? In this new series, we ask individuals from the art world and beyond about the assessments they make on a personal level.
New York-based curator Anjuli Nanda Diamond knows how to mix purpose and fun, even when, like previous months, her schedule has been a whirlwind.
Diamond is the Artistic Director of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation (SDRF), located in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, a mission-driven organization that supports civic change through arts programs. She was appointed to the position last year after nearly a decade as the foundation’s curator.
Diamond sitting next to the monumental Bang Geul Han Warp and Weft #05 (2022). Photo: George Bolster. Courtesy of Anjuli Nanda Diamond.
Diamond, who can usually be found at his desk, sipping a Diet Coke and wearing his signature Elsa Peretti Bone cuffs, is a source of new ideas, and she spends her days constantly trying to bring those visions to life. At the moment, the 8th floor, the gallery of the foundation, presents “Land of tenderness», a solo exhibition of works by Korean-born multimedia artist Bang Geul Han, co-curated by Diamond. Last year, she launched the SDRF’s first-ever open curatorial call, a success that resulted in “El Corazón Aúlla (Heart Howls): Latin American Feminist Performance in Revolt,” an exhibition that brought together a powerful group of contemporary Latinx artists. (This year’s open call winner, Caitlin Chaisson, was just announcement last week). Last year also saw the release of A Incomplete Archives of Activist Art, Totwo-volume publication Diamond co-edited, which is filled with essays, poems, and recently commissioned artwork examining SDRF’s art and social justice initiatives. Meanwhile, this spring, she is working on organizing “Sight/Geist,” three evenings of film and video art screenings focusing on pressing cultural issues at the foundation.
In her coveted free time, Diamond is equally passionate, and can be found thrifty at Housing Works, supporting New York’s meal delivery charity, God’s Love We Deliver, and enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. with her husband, son Ravi, and beloved dog Luna. Recently, we spoke with Diamond about what she values in art and life, and why.
View of Lower Manhattan at the corner of Beaver Street and William Street taken during a walking tour, March 2023. Courtesy of Anjuli Nanda Diamond.
What’s the last thing you splurged on?
My husband is notoriously hard to buy, so recently I bought him tickets for a private historic walking tour of the Financial District, Lower Manhattan, and the Seaport. It was led by Keith Taillon, a historian specializing in the many centuries of development of this city. I started following his @keithyorkcity Instagram during the pandemic, and have long admired him. Having never done a walking tour like this before, especially in New York, it was amazing for me to see the city from a new perspective and explore its discrete layers of cultural and political history.
What are you saving for?
I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, I think it’s something worth saving up for. It would be fascinating to see Tokyo and Kyoto, see artists’ studios, and maybe visit Hokkaido and Osaka.
What would you buy if you found $100?
The first thing I would do is go to my local newsstand and buy a Diet Coke. With the remaining $97.50, I would go to Printed Matter and stock up on as many zines and art books as possible. I love collecting books and have found some amazing publications there. One of my all-time favorites is Chris Nosenzo’s “Klein-Fünke Comparison,” which brings together Tobias Fünke’s obsession with The Blue Man Group and artist Yves Klein’s International Klein Blue. He brilliantly confuses the marks left by Tobias around the Bluth model home in the series Development stopped with Klein’s “Anthropometry” paintings.
Carlos Martial, alter ego, June 18, 2022, on the 8th floor. Photo: Philip Andrew Iglesias. Courtesy of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.
What makes you feel like a million bucks?
This rare occasion where, on the eve of an opening, where miraculously occurs, everything is linked with free time.
What do you think is your greatest asset?
My sense of self, knowing when to compromise and knowing where to draw the line.
What do you appreciate most in a work of art?
All my favorites are the ones I return to again and again, to experience something new. Although it’s outside of my life as a curator, I always make plans to see Titian Assunta every time I’m in Venice.
Who is an emerging artist worthy of everyone’s attention?
The three that come to mind without hesitation are Carlos Martiel, Christopher Udemezue and Bang Geul Han. Each of them uses a compelling point of view to understand and contemplate the world we inhabit. Plus, they’re all wonderful to work with.
Who is an unknown artist who has not yet received his due?
There needs to be a substantial rewriting of art history to take into account the many artists who have been marginalized or overlooked by the Western art canon. The list is far too long to fit in this article. Recently, I was introduced to the work of such an artist…Winfred Rembert, a 20th-century African-American artist. His solo exhibition blew me away, partly because of his incredible life story, and also because of his very unusual process of making paintings. How many artists earn a Pulitzer in addition to their artistic practice?
What do you think is the most overrated thing in the art world?
As a beer drinker, I find it exceptionally punitive when there is only wine provided at openings.
What is your most valuable asset?
My Elsa Peretti Bone Cuffs are my protective talismans, they make me feel like Wonder Woman, and I wear them on every wrist like she did.
What was your best investment?
A few years ago I found an amazing full length cashmere overcoat at Housing Works in Chelsea for $75 with the tags still on. Still in perfect condition! Seriously, in this business, the best investment you can make is maintaining positive relationships with people.
Luna and Ravi. Courtesy of Anjuli Nanda Diamond.
What is something small that means the world to you?
In terms of size, my son and my dog are a similar size, and I’m loving both.
What’s not worth the hype?
Lists “under 30”.
What do you think is a good cause?
The organizations that have the power to transform this city for the better are close to my heart. There are many admirable ones. Two favorites are Recess, which offers a youth court diversion program, and God’s Love We Deliver, which for over 30 years has cared for those who are too sick to shop and cook for themselves. Both are doing amazing work in New York.
What do you aspire to?
To quote Tracy Jordan: “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.
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