Elinor Olisa is one of the co-founders of DegreeArt.com. Initially an internet based company representing artists who have just graduated from college, they have recently moved to a permanent space “Empire Gallery” on Vyner Street. During Frieze week they held the exhibition Beautiful Boys. Along with her partner, Isobel Beauchamp, they started their business from scratch.
What do you do all day?
Our work is so varied that no day is ever the same. We might be out visiting corporate clients in the city one day and then up a ladder hanging a show in the gallery the next.
What are you doing today?
Today we are sending a mail out of 1500 invitations for our next show Beautiful Boys which is a solo show of works by the Lorna May Wadsworth [opened 11th October]. This is a very important exhibition as it is during Frieze when international buyers and curators descend on London. I must also complete our accounts for the last financial year and get them off to the accountant, enter two new artist recruits to the website and then tonight invigilate a sound art performance by a recent graduate from Central Saint Martins.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Being our own boss is something we would not give up easily. It is also extremely rewarding seeing your ideas coming into fruition and knowing that it was down to your own work.
And the worst thing?
Only occasionally it has be the same one as what is the best – being your own boss as there is no one else to take the blame when things get tough and you can never go home and ‘switch off’!
How did you get into it?
Isobel and I both studied at arts based universities (London College of Fashion and Goldsmiths College) and we became aware of the vast numbers of artists graduating each year and not being able to be artists. We saw an opportunity to promote their work to the art buying public using the Internet. We were also quite certain that we wanted to.
Who’s been the biggest influence on you, career-wise?
Personally it has to be my Dad Ken Olisa who has always been an inspiration and seems to be able to help solve every problem I’ve ever had. He has encouraged our business from the beginning and his faith in us has been priceless.
What do you think makes you good at your job?
We are both extremely motivated and determined. We have learnt over the years what to put our efforts into and when to say no to things which has now allowed us to focus the business and our attentions on the projects that will see the biggest rewards for us and our artists. Isobel and I have managed to build a somewhat unique partnership that allows us to have the confidence to take chances and grow the business which would be so incredibly difficult were we to be doing this alone.
What’s been your biggest achievement in your career so far?
Still being in business after four and half years makes us very proud. This June we changed from being a predominantly Internet based company to having a physical home for the business when we moved to a gallery on Vyner Street in East London. Vyner Street is considered by many to be the new Cork Street and has proven to be a fantastic opportunity for both the business and our artists. Each week brings a new milestone for DegreeArt.com and sometimes we have to take time out to take stock of our achievements.
Any advice for anyone hoping to work in museums?
It would be to firstly apply for part time jobs within the industry even if it is working on the ticket desk. If you can afford to do unpaid work – apply for internships and make yourself invaluable to your employer and once you have proved your worth you are more likely to be offered paid employment. Start building up contacts and stay in touch with people that you meet who may later be able to let you know about available jobs as the art industry does seem to operate very much on a word of mouth system.
Where would you like to go from here, career-wise?
We hope to go International with DegreeArt.com, firmly establish the gallery side of the company and continue working with and promoting our ever growing stable of emerging talent. We have also just launched a new company GlimpseOnline Ltd which is set to become the premiere online art and design marketplace and is keeping us very busy.
If you could have a complete career change and do something else, what would you go for?
Again – I can only speak for myself but property developing is very attractive to me at the moment or perhaps dog breeding for a complete change! But even when we are having a really terrible day it would take something a whole lot worse to drag us away from what we are doing now!
