Arica Hilton and Sven Asmus, partners of Hilton-Asmus Contemporary.
Arica Hilton announced she is stepping down from her role as curator and president at Hilton-Asmus Contemporary to concentrate full-time on her work as a writer and artist.
This news comes on the heels of a few notable successes for Hilton: a recent solo exhibition in Belgium, an upcoming show in China and a forthcoming book. As Hilton focuses on her personal career, her partner, Sven Asmus, will take the lead at Hilton-Asmus Contemporary and Hilton-Asmus Foto, their affiliate online store devoted to photography.
These personal and professional changes come at a good time for Hilton and for the gallery, which focuses on modern and contemporary artwork of all media. Hilton’s international exhibition prospects are growing. The gallery Qu Art, Hilton’s international representative in Brussels, plans to show her work in the Middle East and Europe, among other regions, she says. And since, according to Hilton, the gallery has “a solid and supportive collector base,” Hilton will devote more time to her art practice and a forthcoming book, “Spirit of Ecstasy—The True Meaning of Wealth!,” expected to debut this spring.
Despite the flurry of changes for Hilton, many of the gallery operations will stay the same. Asmus, who has a background in the luxury car market and a passion for art, will be president of Hilton-Asmus Contemporary, but will continue doing “whatever needs to be done to mount a great exhibit, work with collectors, reach out to collectors and work with artists to help develop their careers,” as Hilton puts it. That said, the gallery will be in good hands: Asmus has worked side-by-side with Hilton for several years, and Hilton acknowledges her partner’s ability to build and sustain the gallery’s relationships.
Hilton speaks with enthusiasm regarding the gallery’s 2016 exhibitions and events; notably, visitors can expect shows focusing on the human condition. Indeed, Hilton’s role with the gallery will be a gradual change. She will continue to advise and curate the exhibitions, and since her studio is in the back of Hilton-Asmus Contemporary, Hilton will remain close by. (Amy Haddad)
Elliot Josephine Leila Reichert is a curator, critic and editor. She is the inaugural Curator of Contemporary Art at the Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University. She was formerly Curatorial Fellow at the Chicago Artists Coalition, Art Editor of Newcity and Assistant Curator at the Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University.
The American Experiment: A Review of Is It A Good Time? at Mana Contemporary There is variety in the work indeed, and yet in so many of the pieces there are suggestions of duality. It makes sense—all the artists whose work is featured are currently living in America and experiencing it through the lens of a different culture.
