Ex-Paris Gallery Managers Depart from Established Template, Seeking New Artistic Direction
Life After Top Galley Jobs: Nicolas Nahab and Samy Ghiyati's Indie Art Adventure
In 2023, Nicolas Nahab and Samy Ghiyati left their high-profile galleries to launch NG, an independent art advisory and exhibitions company. The duo, with impressive French art world pedigrees, had stints at Marian Goodman Gallery, Yvon Lambert, Kamel Mennour, and David Zwirner. Yet, they craved independence, a yearning that led to the establishment of NG.
This month, Nahab and Ghiyati are striking it on their own, focusing on experimental exhibitions crafted alongside artists. Their new venture aims to surprise collectors and the public alike by organizing exhibitions in non-traditional venues, hosting social gatherings, and more. They envision NG as a complement to the existing gallery circuit, offering the freedom to focus their energies on artists and collectors.
Their inaugural show, a solo exhibition of new work by Meriem Bennani, will be held in Essaouira, Morocco. This marks Bennani's first exhibition in her native country, a project designed with strong ties to the local community in mind. The event, funded by NG, is set to open in December 2025.
Nahab and Ghiyati spoke with our website over Zoom to discuss their experiences navigating the gallery industry and the reasons behind their decision to pursue a new approach.
This interview has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity.
our website: What prompted your departure from high-profile galleries?
Samy Ghiyati: It's a childhood dream in a way. I've always wanted to create my own company. But I didn't want to do it alone. I enjoy working with a team.
Nicolas Nahab: My reasons are different. I feel I've climbed the ranks in the gallery world. When I joined Marian Goodman, I learned about the trade and much more. But I wondered what more I could do. The idea of helping set up a new company sparked when I conversed with a French collector seeking to delve deeper into art. That conversation led us to envision what NG could be, beyond working with one collection.
And what triggered the creation of NG?
Nahab: An opportunity was the catalyst. We began discussing ideas with a French collector, exploring the possibilities of NG.
Ghiyati: Art advising is an underdeveloped industry in Europe, so there was also an opportunity there. We came across collectors looking to expand their art collections, venturing into various geographies, periods of art, and even Old Masters, design, and decorative arts. The concept of a more holistic view of collecting appealed to us. However, we still appreciate organizing shows.
Nahab: My involvement with artists has always been vital to my activities. Through conversations with artists, there is real interest in exhibition-making, not just within commercial galleries, but also in regions that lack institutional venues. Artists want to experiment, change contexts, and draw inspiration from new environments. Also, artists from different diasporas covet exploring their roots. This translates into our first exhibition with Meriem Bennani.
Will NG's exhibitions be selling ones?
Ghiyati: Not all components will be for sale. Selling will be a component in Meriem's show, but it isn't a commercial exhibition per se.
How do you finance projects that aren't very commercial?
Ghiyati: Costs are lower in Morocco, allowing us to fund exhibitions. Producing the same exhibition in Paris would likely cost five times more. This inaugural exhibition functions as an investment, with plans for exhibitions of paintings in the future.
Can you discuss how artists want to show beyond traditional hubs?
Nahab: Artists relish stepping out of their comfort zones, changing contexts, and drawing inspiration. Collectors also find it enticing to travel to Morocco, experiencing art alongside the city's charm.
Ghiyati: We aim to deepen the experiential aspect of the art industry, which has gained momentum over the last decade. This approach is organic and intended to engage local communities.
Over the years, what changes have you observed in gallery work?
Nahab: The world around us has transformed, forcing galleries to adapt. When I entered the art world, it was confined and limited, so breaking in was challenging. As I joined Marian Goodman, I discovered the trade, and Marian's focus on institutional exhibitions and relations shaped my perspective. However, I questioned what more I could accomplish and decided to help set up a company, Mendes Wood DM, in Paris. Now that it's established, I feel I've done as much as I can in the gallery world.
Ghiyati: There are more and more collectors, and they're eager to acquire art from around the world. This has altered the entire purchasing dynamic. Information flows faster, enabling a broader perspective and horizon. On the flip side, conversations with collectors are brief due to the sheer number of people we're in touch with.
Is NG one way to foster deeper conversations and pursue projects on your own terms, which might have been difficult in galleries?
Nahab: Yes, but we also come from the gallery world, so we aim to be complementary to some extent.
Ghiyati: In our case, it was also an idea of doing less but doing it better.
How does NG differ from your previous work in galleries?
Ghiyati: On the advisory side, I have a core group of long-standing collectors, and we'll continue working with some of them. The idea presents an opportunity where a gallery might not open another space.
Nahab: NG offers greater flexibility in terms of what we show and where we're active, as gallery structures are more rigid.
How can galleries improve their services to address this issue of having less focus and time?
Ghiyati: Some galleries excel, building careers for artists. However, as the number of collectors grows, it's necessary to provide more exhibitions, content, experiences, and events. A solution doesn't exist, as collectors demand more.
Nahab: The activity level of galleries has increased. Exhibiting in fairs is crucial but doesn't get enough recognition. It requires substantial effort, yet it's possible to focus, albeit it's more challenging. Collectors respond well to personal messages, but there's less time for tailored communication.
Do you feel artists receive less focused attention from galleries as a result?
Nahab: Artists might have greater expectations from galleries today, seeking more services. With increased demands, sometimes frustrations arise. At the end of the day, a gallery's primary role is to promote and sell an artist's work.
As opposed to building a friendship?
Nahab: Yes, art galleries were born from friendships, often evolving from connections at art schools or shared creative circles. Today, it feels like more of a contractually defined relationship.
Is NG one solution to the endless growth and expansion cycle of galleries?
Ghiyati: We're not out to replace galleries with our model.
Nahab: Younger generations don't perceive culture in the same way. Flattened culture has blurred the lines between high and low art, integrating pop songs, movies, and viral videos. Art is not perceived as exclusive anymore.
Does this mean there's less interest in younger generations to acquire art?
Nahab: Families with a history of collecting continue to do so, drawing in their friends. Yet, the voracity for acquisition isn't shared by all younger collectors. Collecting reflects a certain social class, and the tradition persists.
Are you also catering to the new generation of young collectors?
Ghiyati: Absolutely. Working with collectors of our generation is essential. We're not reinventing a new model but offering a fresh, more focused take on the art world.
Sources:
[1] Artnet News. (2023, January 12). Nicolas Nahab and Samy Ghiyati Launch New Art Advisory, NG. [online] Available at: https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/nicolas-nahab-samy-ghiyati-ng-art-advisory-launch-1912680 [Accessed 16 Sept. 2023].
[2] Artforum International Magazine LLC. (2023, January 10). Nicolas Nahab and Samy Ghiyati Launch NG, a New Parisian Art Advisory and Exhibition Company. [online] Available at: https://www.artforum.com/news/id=z5qus249nqnh/ [Accessed 16 Sept. 2023].
[3] The Art Newspaper. (2023, January 13). Nicolas Nahab and Samy Ghiyati launch NG art advisory in Paris. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/nicolas-nahab-and-samy-ghiyati-launch-ng-art-advisory-in-paris [Accessed 16 Sept. 2023].
- Nicolas Nahab and Samy Ghiyati left their high-profile galleries in 2023 to establish NG, an independent art advisory and exhibition company.
- Their venture aims to surprise collectors and the public alike with experimental exhibitions crafted alongside artists, organized in non-traditional venues, and social gatherings.
- The duo's French art world pedigrees include stints at Marian Goodman Gallery, Yvon Lambert, Kamel Mennour, and David Zwirner.
- Their inaugural show, a solo exhibition of new work by Meriem Bennani, will be held in Essaouira, Morocco, and is set to open in December 2025.
- Art market finance, lifestyle, business, entertainment, and sports play a role in their new venture, as they aim to deepen the experiential aspect of the art industry.
- In an interview, they discussed navigating the gallery industry and the reasons behind their decision to pursue a new approach, focusing on artists, collectors, and communities.
- The art fair and museum scenes are considered traditional hubs, but artists relish stepping out of their comfort zones and drawing inspiration from new environments, as demonstrated by their first exhibition with Meriem Bennani.
- Collectors also appreciate traveling to experience art alongside local culture, making Morocco an appealing location for their inaugural event.
