INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINED CREATIVITY

Mentor

Mitra Khorasheh

Mitra Khorasheh

I am a Canadian curator, writer, educator, and gallerist based in New York City. I am the owner and director/curator of Signs and Symbols, a contemporary art gallery dedicated to artists working in performance and time-based media. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about supporting artists, creating meaningful exhibitions, and helping others navigate the ever-evolving contemporary art world.

I was trained as an art historian and curator, and my career has allowed me to bridge scholarship, curatorial practice, arts education, and gallery leadership. Before opening Signs and Symbols in 2015, I spent more than a decade working as a curator, organizing exhibitions, performances, large-scale public art installations, and interdisciplinary projects for galleries, museums, nonprofits, and art fairs throughout the United States and internationally. My curatorial practice has focused on site-specific and performative work, with an emphasis on the body in painting, and other forms of time-based media. One of my most notable curatorial projects was the 2016 site-specific installation and performance by the pioneering artist Ulay, marking his first performance in New York in more than thirty years.

Founding Signs and Symbols gave me the opportunity to build a gallery that champions ambitious contemporary artists while fostering thoughtful dialogue between artists, collectors, curators, institutions, and the public. Running a gallery has given me firsthand experience with both the creative and entrepreneurial sides of the art world, and I enjoy helping others understand how artistic vision and sustainable business practices can work together.

In addition to my work as a gallerist and curator, I serve on the faculty of Sotheby's Institute of Art, where I teach courses including Art Business, Art Business Essentials, and Running a Contemporary Art Gallery. Teaching is one of the most rewarding parts of my professional life. I believe that understanding the business of art is just as important as understanding its history, and I enjoy helping students connect theory with the practical realities of today's global art world.

My experience spans both the commercial and nonprofit sectors, where I have worked as a curator, project manager, educator, and gallery director, as well as fundraising and development for non-profits and artist foundations. These different perspectives have shaped the way I approach mentorship and have given me an appreciation for the many paths a career in the arts can take.

I believe there is no single roadmap to building a meaningful career in the art world. Every artist, curator, and arts professional brings a unique perspective and has a unique path, and I enjoy helping people identify their strengths, clarify their goals, and navigate moments of transition with confidence. Whether you are beginning your career, considering a new direction, launching a gallery, developing a curatorial practice, or trying to better understand the art market, I look forward to sharing what I've learned while helping you define your own path. For me, mentorship is rooted in thoughtful conversation, honest guidance, curiosity, and a genuine investment in the long-term success of others.

Areas I Can Support:

• Building a career in the contemporary art world

• Curatorial practice and exhibition development

• Gallery management and entrepreneurship

• Understanding the business of art and the contemporary art market

• Working with artists, collectors, galleries, and institutions

• Careers in museums and nonprofit arts organizations

• Public art, performance, and time-based media

• Project management and fundraising in the arts

• Professional networking and relationship building

• Artist management / guiding artist as they navigate working with galleries 

• Career transitions and long-term professional planning

• Mentorship for emerging artists, curators, writers, and arts professionals

I believe that contemporary art has the power to challenge assumptions, create meaningful dialogue, and deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. I'm most inspired by artists whose work asks difficult questions and encourages us to see the world from new perspectives.

CATEGORIES OF EXPERTISE:

Finding & Developing Experimental Artist-Run Programs

Focus on Performance and Time-Based Artists

Creating Alternative Exhibition Opportunities

Working One-on-One with a Curator

Mitra.Khorasheh@SignsAndSymbols.art