Supporting and investing in art: A global conversation
When you think of some of the most culturally diverse and renowned cities on Earth, they all have at least one thing in common: art. Our four speakers – gallerists, patrons, and collectors – take you on an insightful trip to New Delhi in India, Beirut in Lebanon, and Mercosul in Brazil. Hear their conversation about culture and community, raising awareness, fostering connection and dialog, and supporting and investing in art.
About the panelists:
Patricia Druck (Questrom ’00) is an Italian-Brazilian entrepreneur, innovator, art collector, and philanthropist. Patricia is the founder and CEO of DIA Investments: Development, Innovation, Art, an international investment firm focused on exclusive real estate developments and art. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Biennial of Mercosul, Brazil, and was honored by Art Basel Miami with the Women in the Arts award. Patricia has served on the Latin American Advisory Council at the Tate, Centre Pompidou, Sao Paulo Museum of Art, and is a member of the Latin America and Caribbean Fund at MoMA. Patricia holds degrees in Journalism and Public Relations, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Boston University, a Masters of Communication from PUCRS, Brazil, and an Executive MBA from National University of Singapore. Patricia is an alumna of Harvard Business School and INSEAD, and is currently a candidate for a Masters of Art, Law and Business at Christie’s Education. She lives in New York with her twin daughters.
Aparajita Jain is director and co-owner of Nature Morte Gallery in New Delhi, India. In 2005 she founded Seven Art, a niche gallery set up to support and showcase young artists with cutting edge practices from India, on the international stage. In 2012 she bought a controlling interest in Nature Morte, India’s leading contemporary art gallery. Aparajita also started Saat Saath Arts, a non-profit organization designed to raise awareness of art in India. Its first project, ARTTIGER, brought together 56 of India’s leading business houses to contribute to the cause of the endangered Tiger in India, and facilitated the donation of public artworks by renowned Indian artists to spaces across the country. In December 2017, SSA opened India’s first international sculpture park at Nahargarh Fort along with the Government of Rajasthan. Jain was formerly on the board of Tate’s South Asian Acquisition Committee. Jain was listed as one of the 50 icons of Indian Art by Platform and was featured in and played an active role in the Vogue Women Empowerment Endeavour. She is on the board of the Delhi Chapter of YPO and a founding member of the Harvard South Asia Institute Arts program. She is also on an advisory panel for ICCR. Her husband, Gaurav K. Jain, graduated from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business in 1997.
Maria Sukkar (Parent CAS’23). Born and raised in Lebanon, Maria relocated to London with her husband Malek and three children in 2003. Their art collection named ISelf looks at identity with particular reference to the human condition. ISelf was shown at the Whitechapel Gallery in 2017 and 2018 and received over 350,000 visitors. Maria is a member of the International Council at Tate. She co-chairs their Middle Eastern Acquisitions Committee (MENAAC) and sits on their Photography Acquisitions Committee (PAC). Maria is a trustee of the ICA and is a member of the CaMMEA group of the British Museum and is a Strategic Advisor of the Delfina Foundation. She also sits on the Commissioning Committee at the Hayward Gallery. She supports the Showroom, the Chisenhale, the Camden Art Centre, the South London Gallery and the Design Museum. Whilst in Lebanon Maria supported the Beirut Art Centre and the Homeworks Space. She sits on the Solomon Guggenheim Directors Circle and on the New Museum International Leadership Council in New York. Maria is on the photo London Founders Committee as well as their Advisory Board and is a nominator of the Prix Pictet photography prize. She also sits on the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies Advisory Board. Maria is a trustee of the St Jude’s Cancer Centre for Children (Beirut-London) and a vice-chair of the Chain of Hope (London). Ms. Sukkar is married to Malek Sukkar, a University Trustee and member of the International Advisory Board. Mr. Sukkar earned a BS in manufacturing engineering from ENG in 1992.
Parul Vadehra (COM’03) graduated from Boston University’s College of Communication in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, majoring in Public Relations and specializing in Women’s Studies, and went on to work at prestigious public relations and communication firms in Boston and New Delhi. In 2007, she joined Vadehra Art Gallery, one of the oldest and most well-respected art galleries in India representing a roster of artists spanning over four generations. As co-director, she is involved in the management and programming of the gallery’s spaces in New Delhi and developing and and enhancing its virtual presence. She is also a Trustee of the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA), a non-profit that that aims to broaden the audience for contemporary Indian art, enhance opportunities for artists, and establish a continuous dialogue between the arts and the public through education and active participation in public art projects and funding. As trustee, her role includes facilitating collaborations for the foundation with institutions as well as developing patrons to support the programming in India. Through her work at Vadehra Art Gallery and FICA, Parul has been a patron and supported various contemporary art projects in India and abroad including Indian art exhibitions at the Asia Society, Serpentine Gallery and Guggenheim Museum. She lives in New Delhi, India.