Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvena Despagne.
Hi Yvena, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2015, after five years of an unhappy marriage, I had to make a difficult decision and filed for divorce. I have had depression since I was a child, so I can tell when I am entering a depressive state. I needed to find a positive outlet to help me control my thoughts and emotions. One day while unconsciously streaming through YouTube videos, I came across an art tutorial. Suddenly catching my attention, I watched as a woman would paint an abstract landscape. It was a night scene by the lake under a dark starry sky. I became calm and it was the first time I immersed myself into something and was able to not think about my troubles. It was a healthy distraction and I felt that art was a great option for me. The next morning I went to an art store to buy my first set of supplies and I started teaching myself how to paint. Art was only supposed to be a hobby, but overtime it became the one thing I loved doing the most. I continued to learn all I could about art. I was researching about different styles, techniques and studying different artists from across the world.
My friends and family encouraged me to start an Instagram page to share my artwork. Soon after, I was contacted by the founder of Haitians Who Blog to show my work at an event in Florida. The reactions from the guests motivated me to return home, quit my job in the medical field and continue submitting to more art shows. I was being accepted to every show I applied to. After a year of creating, I submitted to Sk.Artspace Gallery, a new place opening in East New York, Brooklyn. I met the owners and they were so moved by my story that they decided to hire me to work with them. I was excited to know that I would be curating my first exhibition with the gallery, but I was also very nervous. Just as I had to teach myself how to paint, I also had to teach myself how to become a curator. I had to fill two large rooms and a full lower level with artwork. I already had my eyes on a few artists that I wanted to work with from Instagram and the same artists were sending me work from out of state and from Haiti. I felt so humbled these artists believed in me so much and trusted me to represent their work for them. My first exhibition was a success and I had been hooked ever since. I curated three more shows for Sk.Artspace, before moving on to becoming an Independent Curator.
I started working with commercial spaces including Drip Beverage and Lounge Cafe, Lakou Cafe, Grandchamps Restaurant and Zanmi in Brooklyn, NY. People started to recognize my work and soon, I was being invited to curate at other galleries and non-profit organizations like Project Saint Anne and Mi Daakye (raising money to help communities and school children in Haiti and Ghana). I also work directly with artists and help guide them with their own individual careers. The highlight of my career was when I was hired to curate the art for the television series “Flatbush Misdemeanors” on SHOWTIME. Currently, I am an Associate Curator for Established Gallery in Park Slope and for Arts Gowanus, a non-profit organization in Gowanus, Brooklyn organizing art events and giving artists opportunities to share their work with the public. My very first project with Arts Gowanus was curating a 1.5 mile Art Walk with over 150 artists in the storefronts of over 60 small businesses and vacant buildings on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. It was one of my biggest projects and an amazing experience. I felt that all the previous training I had done, with learning how to curate and working with individual commercial spaces, really prepared me for the large task I had with the Atlantic Ave Art Walk.
I continue to practice my own art and have been making time for myself as an artist, but I honestly enjoy curating the most and still have goals of someday curating independently in Museums and galleries internationally.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Being an artist has to be one of the hardest careers to achieve and maintain. Yet it is the one career that I know I was meant to pursue. To be in the arts, you have to have tough skin and know how to take productive criticism, as it will only motivate you to be a better artist. There are triumphant days and there are days where I may feel defeated, but I am grateful to have a support system and a great number of artist friends to help me get through the tougher moments.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Associate Art Curator at the Established Gallery and work independently curating art exhibitions throughout New York City. I am also the founder and Creative Director of Art x Ayiti, a platform dedicated to highlighting and uplifting Contemporary Artists of Haitian descent and the Diaspora.
I am most proud to be a representation of not only black female curators but also as a decent of Haiti doing my part in giving contemporary Haitian artists a presence in the art market.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is being part of the school band in Junior High School. Going to school was always exciting because I got to learn and play with my friends.
Contact Info:
- Email: info.yvenadespagneart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @yvenadespagneart
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Steven Baboun @stevenbaboun Additional Photos: Richard Rameau @dnrphotony
