We recently had the chance to connect with Ana Curiel and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ana, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
A common misconception is that Casa AnKan is simply an online platform that places objects for sale. In reality, what we do is much more nuanced and intentional. We operate as a curatorial house, building narratives, creating context, and thoughtfully positioning each piece within a larger cultural and spatial conversation.
Because we work digitally and through temporary physical activations, there’s sometimes an assumption that we lack permanence. But that flexibility is exactly what allows us to move across borders, collaborate internationally, and meet collectors where curiosity already exists. We’re not focused on volume or trends; we’re focused on resonance. Every piece we present is there because it carries meaning, craftsmanship, and a point of view. Casa AnKan is less about selling objects and more about cultivating lasting relationships, between designers, spaces, and the people who live with their work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ana Curiel, Co-Founder and Operations Director of Casa AnKan, a collectible design gallery. My background sits at the intersection of operations, logistics, and creative strategy, which means I spend as much time behind the scenes making things possible as I do shaping how our work is experienced in the world.
Casa AnKan was born from a desire to create a more fluid, borderless way of engaging with collectible design. We don’t design the pieces ourselves, we curate them. Our role is to discover and support designers and artists from around the world, and to place their work in contexts where it can truly be seen, felt, and understood. We operate primarily online, complemented by physical activations, exhibitions, and pop-ups that allow the work to exist beyond the screen.
What makes Casa AnKan special is our emphasis on narrative and intention. Every piece we present is chosen not just for its aesthetic or craftsmanship, but for the story it carries and the dialogue it creates within a space. We’re currently focused on expanding our curatorial program through international exhibitions and temporary showrooms, continuing to build a platform that values depth, collaboration, and long-term relationships over speed or scale.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My grandparents and my parents taught me the most about work. I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurship, where effort, responsibility, and consistency were not concepts but daily practice. Work was never framed as something transactional or performative, it was about building, sustaining, and showing up, even when no one is watching.
That foundation deeply informs how I approach Casa AnKan. The way we curate, the care we put into relationships, and the long-term vision we hold all come from that inherited work ethic. For me, building Casa AnKan isn’t about quick wins or visibility alone; it’s about doing things properly, with integrity, patience, and respect for the people and processes behind each piece. That mindset, rooted in family and carried forward through the business, is at the core of everything I do.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Failure. Not in a dramatic way, but in the quiet moments, overthinking decisions, delaying action, wanting things to be fully resolved before moving forward.
Over time, especially through building Casa AnKan, I’ve learned that fear of failure doesn’t disappear, you just learn to work alongside it. Entrepreneurship has forced me to accept uncertainty, to make decisions without perfect conditions, and to trust that growth comes from movement, not perfection.
That shift has been fundamental, both personally and professionally.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Integrity, doing things the right way, even when it takes longer or is less visible. They’d say I care deeply about people, about building meaningful relationships, and about creating work that has substance rather than noise.
They’d also say I value consistency and intention. Whether it’s in my personal life or through Casa AnKan, I’m drawn to things that are thoughtful, well-crafted, and built to last. I’m not interested in shortcuts; I care about depth, trust, and leaving things better than I found them.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
They would miss the way I show up. The consistency, the responsiveness, and the calm problem-solving when things get complicated. They’d miss knowing that there is someone on the other side who genuinely cares, who will push until a solution is found, who pays attention to the smallest details, and who treats every situation with fairness and respect.
More than anything, they would miss the heart behind the work. The resilience, the work ethic, and the commitment to always do the right thing, even when it’s not the easiest path. That human layer, the trust and care woven into every interaction, is something I believe people feel, and something I never take lightly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.casaankan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casaankan/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casaankan/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5pRyY79fVIESXuLFgWSnwg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@casaankan
https://www.pinterest.com/casaankan/
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Emily Goswick
Photos of pieces/space: Adrian Colima
