NICHOLAS SMIRNOFF
Nicholas smirnoff is the Head of PR, Marketing and Events at Pace London. In the past, Nicolas has delivered strategic advice and delivered campaigns for cultural clients such as Art Dubai, the LUMA Foundation at les Rencontres d’Arles, the Sharjah Biennale, the Stella Art Foundation, and the Lyon Biennale. Nicolas previously worked for Christie’s Paris and was a regular contributor to the Art Newspaper, Flash Art, Vernissage magazine, and Art is Alive, covering the Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese news. He’s also worked for Digital Seed, a social media agency based in Barcelona developing online strategic communication and organizing events for both corporate and cultural clients. He graduated in Business in France, and speaks French, Spanish and Portuguese. He’s passionate about dance, cinema, architecture and fashion and lives in London.
If there was one piece of art you could feature in, which would it be and why?
It would have to be Champ de blé aux corbeaux by Vincent Van Gogh.
Who inspires you and why? An artist, a family member, someone current or historical?
David Bowie, David Lynch, Trent Reznor, Alexander McQueen, PJ Harvey, Antony Hegarty, Bjork, Marianne Faithfull, Angelin Preljocaj, Francis Bacon, Rick Owens, Berlinde de Bruyckere, James Turrell, Giuseppe Penone, Mondrian - there are too many to name! – all because of the intensity of their art, the dedication to their innovative visual languages and their integrity as artists.
What are your cultural aspirations? What do you still want to see, do and achieve?
A lot! I’d love to see Naoshima, Inhotim, or Dismaland. I look forward to seeing Hussein Chalayan’s first theatrical show at Sadler’s Wells presented next October. I’m currently working on an academic article which keeps me busy. The upcoming Alexander Calder exhibition at Tate Modern is really exciting...
What are your favourite cultural cities in the world and why?
London, Rio de Janeiro, Paris and Venice. These cities have the best cultural offers in the world.
What are you up to at the moment and where can we find it?
Preparing the Lee Ufan and Brent Wadden exhibitions at Pace London; getting ready for Frieze week and travelling to Andalusia in early October for leisure. Interviewing and meeting more choreographers for a personal project.