Kristen Becker and Corrina Peipon are both independent arts strategists with over 20 years of experience in artists’ studios, museums, and commercial galleries. They met virtually on April 8, to share their insider knowledge on how artists can best approach relationships with curators and gallery owners.

During this candid conversation, Becker and Peipon addressed general background on how and why individuals typically enter into commercial and non-profit arts roles, the shifting expectations associated with these positions, and how these changes translate directly to the artist experience. They  shared tangible details on how to enter into and develop these unique and nuanced conversations, from a cold call email to an exhibition opportunity. This event was free and open the public.

Kristen Becker is the Founder of KB Art Strategies, a consultancy providing concrete support to a global network of artists, galleries, non-profits, and arts organizations looking to expand the visibility of their projects and connect with their community. Prior to starting her own business, Kristen spent over 5 years at Marianne Boesky Gallery as the Director of Museum Engagement, a role she created that focused on long-term cultivation and strategic development. She spent seven years as Director at Luhring Augustine and has worked at L&M Arts, SLP Art Culture Commerce, and Gorney Bravin + Lee. 

Becker served as Director of Cultural Partnerships for the 2020 nonpartisan Plan Your Vote campaign and from 2016-2019 was a member of the Steering Committee of the Professional Organization for Women in the Arts. In 2018, she spearheaded the POWarts Salary Survey, the first comprehensive salary survey focused exclusively on the visual arts spanning both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Kristen received her master’s degree in Museum Studies from George Washington University in Washington, DC and she holds a BA in Anthropology from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Corrina Peipon is an independent art worker with a plural practice that encompasses artmaking, business, curatorial work, teaching, and writing. She founded her consulting practice in 2018 as a platform for helping creative people navigate the opportunities and challenges they face in their careers, teaching art students, and advocating for the empowerment of artists and art workers. Prior to founding her consulting practice, Corrina worked as studio manager for Los Angeles-based sculptor Liz Larner; held curatorial posts at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Hammer Museum; and served as director at Honor Fraser Gallery and The Pit: Exhibitions & Editions. Her artwork has been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe, and her writing has appeared in publications ranging from artist-issued chapbooks to scholarly museum catalogues. Corrina holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master of Fine Art from ArtCenter College of Design.