Irina Agaronyan - Gallery Curator

Good Afternoon! Let me introduce you to Irina Agaronyan. Art consultant & Gallery Curator extraordinaire. Not only is this lady incredibly talented, intelligent, and extremely good looking (I may be a little bias :p ), she's also my bff/soul sister/brother from another mother. Irina has some great advice for fashion photographers wanting to exhibit.   

Tell me a bit about your gallery/work history

"My obsession with the arts began to rapidly develop in my late adolescent years. At the naïve age of 17, I made the decision that I would become an artist, only to quickly learn that my creative skills were far below what I had hoped. To suffice my obsession with art, I began working part-time in a local art gallery on the Mornington Peninsula, and I never looked back. I have now been working in the commercial arts sector for close to ten years. My roles have included manager, curator, arts administrator, art consultant and writer. Although these positions have often been demanding, they are always incredibly satisfying and creatively stimulating. Everyday I am astounded by the creativity and dedication of Australian artists. Being part of their creative journey is truly a pleasing and inspiring experience."

How do you feel people respond to fashion photography in galleries?

"Unfortunately, it’s not often that commercial galleries in Australia choose to exhibit fashion photography, and I struggle to understand why. Often I believe that gallerists fear exhibiting ‘fashion photography’ as such, as it may interfere with the ideals of fine art, but this is not entirely accurate. In many ways, fashion photography is its own entire genre, and any explorations into this field are always met with great excitement from the public. People adore fashion photography. Its attraction lies in the unfamiliar and the glamorous, the quixotic and unfamiliar."

Who is an interesting fashion photographer that you have worked with?

"I was lucky enough to work with Sonny Vandevelde, who is also one of my favourite Australian fashion photographers. His work possesses such an incredible sense of vitality, energy and colour, but most importantly movement. He captures the fashion industry in its entirety in each photograph. I’ve also always found that Sonny’s work creates a fascinating dialogue between camera and model; a differing side of the industry that viewers would not often see."

What is some advice for fashion photographers wanting to exhibit in galleries?

"Firstly, create a great looking website that is up to date.  Gallerists will always use a search engine to learn more about your practice, and an easy-to-navigate website will make the research a pleasurable mission. Secondly, do your research on both the gallery and gallery owner, and make sure that the gallery you choose to apply for is going to benefit your career.  Thirdly, write an engaging application. The application doesn’t have to be long or complex, but it should include your career and education achievements, your contact details, and a short cover letter. It is also wise to include 3-4 images of your best work. Do keep the images to low resolution or under 250kb, as most galleries only allow a certain amount of data to be received. Finally, don’t give up! If you believe in your creative ability, you will undoubtedly find a gallerist that does too – even if it takes a little while."

Peace & Love

K