Toluwani Adejuyigbe is a visionary collector and patron dedicated to reshaping the contemporary art landscape. Inspired by formative museum visits, his journey into art curation ignited a commitment to diversifying representation within private collections. Toluwani curates a collection that champions diversity and artistic freedom, deliberately avoiding thematic constraints to embrace the voices of both emerging talents and established artists. Toluwani is an active supporter the arts by engaging with programs that nurture emerging talents. He is a patron of Whitechapel Gallery, Studio Voltaire, and a Ventures Committee member of Nottingham Contemporary. His vision extends to sharing his collection publicly, aiming to inspire future generations with the transformative power of art and foster deeper connections within the cultural community.

Stefan Benchoam is a visionary force in the contemporary art world, celebrated for his transformative impact on the global landscape. As the co-founder of Proyectos Ultravioleta, he has championed the voices of artists from Central America and beyond on an international stage. Proyectos Ultravioleta exhibits in prestigious fairs such as Frieze, Art Basel, ARCO, and more. Benchoam's unwavering dedication to fostering dialogue and innovation has redefined artistic discourse, forging connections that transcend borders and challenging conventional boundaries of art and society. His visionary leadership continues to illuminate paths for artistic exploration, making him a beacon of inspiration for cultural pioneers worldwide.

Bianca Bernardo is a Brazilian curator, art director, and independent consultant whose interdisciplinary practice unfolds at the intersection of art, education, and cultural work. Grounded in the social and political contexts of the Global South, her work emphasizes collaborative processes and artistic-pedagogical experiences that foster human development and critical engagement. With over a decade of experience in cultural and educational institutions, Bernardo has developed sensitive and critical approaches to cultural mediation. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Director of Education at the Bispo do Rosário Museum of Contemporary Art, where she led programs focused on social inclusion and the recognition of peripheral and dissident knowledge systems. In 2018, she was appointed Pedagogical Curator of the 11th Mercosul Biennial in Porto Alegre, where she proposed an expanded pedagogy rooted in non-hegemonic learning and community-based practices. Her international experience includes working with the Educational Department of the National Museum of Cultures in Mexico City (2017), and participating in an artistic residency at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago (USA), where she deepened her research into pedagogical methodologies in contemporary art. These engagements have reinforced her commitment to building transnational networks of critical thought and fostering affective, decolonial, and ecologically engaged practices. Bernardo has also collaborated with the Goethe-Institut on curatorial projects exploring ecofeminisms in Latin America, investigating the intersections of gender, territory, ecology, and contemporary art. Her curatorial practice is guided by an ethics of listening, care, and social transformation, and by pedagogies that center ancestral, community-based, and insurgent forms of knowledge. More recently, she collaborated as Chief Curator and Liaison at A Gentil Carioca, a leading contemporary art gallery in Brazil, further deepening her engagement with the country’s vibrant art scene and strengthening connections with artists, institutions, and collectors.

Alice Black is a London based gallerist and art advisor. She is founder of ALICE BLACK (est. 2017), known for its cross-disciplinary programme and support for emerging practices. More recently, she co-founded Black+Cheneviere, a new-generation art advisory firm that seeks to redefine how collectors engage with art today. Alice serves on the Development Committee of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, mentors emerging talent through the Sarabande Foundation, founded by the late Alexander McQueen, and lectures at Goldsmiths, University of London, Christie's and Sotheby's Institute of Art. In 2020, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Art & Culture.

Selim Bouafsoun is a distinguished collector and philanthropist, celebrated for his contributions to contemporary art and dedication to supporting underrepresented voices. Based between London and Dubai, Bouafsoun’s collection reflects a deep appreciation for abstraction, geometry, and socially engaged art, including works by Alia Ahmad, Anthony Akinbola, Nidhal Chamekh, Nour Malas, Elias Sime, Johanna Unzueta, Issy Wood, and Rirkrit Tiravanija. A passionate patron, Bouafsoun supports leading institutions including Delfina Foundation, Gasworks, and Chisenhale Gallery. He co-founded Nafas Tunis, raising vital pandemic relief funds through art, and is establishing a North Africa residency to empower artists from Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco. Bouafsoun’s commitment to themes of power, race, gender, and colonialism highlights his role in fostering meaningful dialogue and supporting artistic exploration within the contemporary art community and beyond.

Cami Charask is an Argentine cultural strategist based in London, specialising in fostering cross-cultural connections. She is currently working at Proyectos Ultravioleta Gallery. From 2020 to 2024, Charask led the museum–artist liaison team for Marta Minujín’s major institutional exhibitions, including ‘Intensity Life’ at Copenhagen Contemporary (2024), ‘Arte, Arte, Arte!’ at the Jewish Museum in New York (2023), ‘Marta Minujín: Ao Vivo’ at the Pinacoteca de São Paulo (2023), and Minujín’s ‘Big Ben Lying Down with Political Books’ at the Manchester International Festival (2021). In 2020, Charask earned a Master’s in Cultural Industries from Goldsmiths, University of London, where her thesis on Marta Minujín and Hudinilson Jr. was mentored by Marina Vishmidt. In 2021, Charask designed and directed the Puentes Programme — a public-private initiative designed to strengthen connections between the visual arts scenes in Argentina and the United Kingdom. Between 2021 and 2024, the programme coordinated an annual curatorial residency at Delfina Foundation, supported by the Anglo-Argentine Society and the Argentine Embassy. Prior to this, from 2016 to 2019 in Buenos Aires, she served as the first executive director of MERIDIANO, the Argentine Chamber of Contemporary Art Galleries gathering more than 60 galleries around the country to promote Argentine art globally. Between 2014 and 2016, she was the first coordinator of SODAA, the Contemporary Art Export Consortium, a collaborative initiative between Fundación ICBC, the Argentine Investment and Trade Promotion Agency, and commercial contemporary art galleries.

Tatiana Cheneviere is the founder of Pipeline (est. 2022). Previously she worked for nearly a decade at Gagosian. Pipeline’s core concern is meaningful engagement with artists. This can be experienced through the gallery’s two-room exhibition format—introducing each exhibition with a single, preview work - and Patron Program whereby exhibiting artists are matched with a supporting patron. She is a champion of cross-regional collaboration, working with artists and institutions beyond the capital. More recently, Cheneviere, co-founded Black+Cheneviere, a new-generation art advisory firm focused on collection building and patronage equally.

Laura González is an art historian and cultural strategy advisor based in London, originally from Puerto Rico. In 2011 she co-founded the Latin American Art Department at Phillips New York, where she was the department head as well as a specialist in the Contemporary Art team. Since 2015, Laura advises private collectors on modern and contemporary art acquisitions, curatorial strategies, and institutional relationships. She consults for international art galleries and non-profits on projects related to strategic transitions, communications, internal operations, and development, with the aim of building resilient, ethical networks of artistic opportunity and patronage. Along with Ana Sokoloff, Laura is the co-founder of the artist-made design platform The Must, a sustainable e-commerce venture launched in the fall of 2023 that blurs the boundary between fine art and design. Named after a museum store, the platform collaborates with over 20 multi-disciplinary artists and non-profit institutions across over a dozen countries, and has organized pop-up events in London and Paris. Laura has curated exhibitions and written texts for a number of artists and galleries, and has written reviews and critical pieces for art publications such as the Art History Journal. She serves on the Development Committee of the South London Gallery, and has degrees in art history from Yale University (BA) and The Courtauld Institute (MA).

Robert Leckie is Director of Gasworks, a leading non-profit arts organisation based in south London. He was previously Director of Spike Island in Bristol from 2018 to 2024 and Curator at Gasworks from 2011 to 2018. Over the past decade, Robert has (co-)curated major solo and survey exhibitions by artists including Pacita Abad, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Peggy Ahwesh, Monira Al Qadiri, Sidsel Meineche Hansen, Candice Lin, Rosemary Mayer, Donald Rodney, and Tanoa Sasraku. Robert is co-editor of Sidsel Meineche Hansen: SECOND SEX WAR (Paraguay Press, 2019), Peggy Ahwesh:Vision Machines (Mousse Publishing, 2021), Candice Lin: Pigs and Poison (Mousse Publishing, 2023), Rosemary Mayer: Ways of Attaching (König, 2023), and Donald Rodney: A Reader (Whitechapel Gallery, 2025). Robert was a jury member for the 2022 Turner Prize and is currently curating a major touring exhibition on Guyanese artist Donald Locke, which opens at Spike Island in May this year before touring to Ikon in Birmingham and Camden Arts Centre in London during 2025-26.

Flavia Nespatti is a Brazilian-born curator and collector who has lived across Latin America. With a background in marketing and banking, she later returned to academia after early studies in the United States, completing Art History studies at The Courtauld Institute of Art with a focus on countercultural movements in Latin America and Eastern Europe. In 2023, she co-founded Anteroom, a nomadic exhibition platform that stages projects in intimate and unconventional spaces, creating close encounters between artists and audiences. Her upcoming project, ANTESALA, is an exhibition space and curatorial platform dedicated to Latin American contemporary art. Headquartered in a founder-owned industrial building in central London, ANTESALA is conceived as a place for exhibition-making, cultural exchange, and collection development. It will programme exhibitions and events in collaboration with commercial galleries, artists, and philanthropic organisations, strengthening dialogue between London and Latin America. Alongside her curatorial work, Nespatti supports arts institutions and residency programmes including Nottingham Contemporary, the Barbican, Delfina Foundation, and Gasworks, reflecting a long-term commitment to artistic research, education, and patronage.

Salma Tuqan is a transformative leader in contemporary art, revered for her exceptional contributions to cultural innovation and her dedication to amplifying diverse voices. As Director of Nottingham Contemporary, she spearheads one of the UK’s most forward-thinking art institutions, renowned for its bold exhibitions and ability to engage audiences across boundaries. At Delfina Foundation, Tuqan played a pivotal role in advancing international residencies and groundbreaking partnerships. Her tenure at the Victoria and Albert Museum saw her curating the first permanent collection of contemporary Middle Eastern art, co-developing the prestigious Jameel Prize, and launching the Culture in Crisis program, which set new standards in heritage preservation. From her early work at Art Dubai to her leadership at Contemparabia, Tuqan has consistently championed underrepresented voices and fostered global artistic exchange. Her dynamic vision continues to redefine cultural landscapes, making her a driving force in shaping the future of contemporary art.

Angelina Volk is the co-founder and owner of Emalin, a contemporary art gallery in London. Volk was born in Munich, Germany, and studied Art History at the University of St Andrews followed by a postgraduate degree in Art History at UCL. In 2025, she has joined the selection committee of Art Basel Paris. Alongside her involvement with many of the London-based institutions, Volk has a longstanding relationship with London's Chisenhale Gallery where she sits on the Board of Trustees.

Shoag Aladsani is a mental health practitioner currently working as an Assistant Psychologist within a complex trauma service at the NHS Central and North West London Foundation Trust. Shoag is particularly interested in how our actions, interactions and environments can function as informal interventions to support mental health, wellbeing, and daily functioning. Prior to her current role, Shoag contributed to the development of a mental health app and worked on projects exploring the role of cultural spaces in promoting psychological wellbeing. Her work reflects a commitment to accessible, creative, and culturally informed approaches to mental health care.

Melodie Argi is a passionate collector with a focus on artists of her generation, spanning emerging talents to blue-chip names, with a strong emphasis on female artists. As The Cultivist's Senior Member Liaison for Europe and Asia, Melodie brings a wealth of knowledge across several facets of the art world. She has worked in diverse fields, including auction houses, private advisories, and galleries. Originally from Switzerland, she spent much of her life there before moving to Tel Aviv to pursue a bachelor's degree in political communications at Reichman University. After graduating, Melodie began her art world career at Christie’s in Geneva, followed by a move to London to complete a master’s degree in contemporary art at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Now based in London, Melodie expertly combines her professional experience and personal passion for collecting to connect The Cultivist’s members with transformative art experiences across Europe and Asia.

Elena Rueda Ruiz de Austri is a London-based art professional. She currently works at Pace Gallery supporting artists, collectors, and institutions through exhibitions, art fairs, and institutional projects. Alongside her gallery work, she curates independent projects that foster dialogue and collaboration between artists, curators, and audiences. Elena holds a master’s degree in contemporary art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and combines her academic background with hands-on experience in sales and artist support. She is particularly focused on helping artists develop their practice, facilitating acquisitions, and contributing to meaningful projects and collaborations across the art world.

Bella Blake is the director of THE TAGLI alongside Dimitrios Tsivrikos. A London based gallery promoting and exhibiting artwork from emerging and established artists from the UK and internationally. With a background in spatial design and a BA of Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts; She knows how constructive and fruitful conversations about art and artistic practice can be. Bella co-founded Collective Gallery, a gallery pop-up space providing opportunity for experimentation, inclusivity and physicality. She has a particular interest in enhancing artistic practice through strategy and curation. Guiding emerging artists as they enter the art market, whilst challenging preconceived notions of art and the gallery in the market context. She is excited by the prospect of facilitating meaningful, transparent and direct connections between artists and clients.

Cassandra Bowes is a leader in digital strategy for the arts, known for her innovative approach to connecting art institutions with global audiences. In 2022, she founded The Social Art Agency, the first social media agency dedicated exclusively to arts and culture organisations. Bowes specialises in growth, engagement, and content strategies tailored to the unique needs of the art world. Under her guidance, The Social Art Agency has partnered with renowned art fairs, museums, galleries, and cultural institutions to transform their digital presence. Bowes’ data-driven and creative strategies empower clients to build meaningful connections through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, embracing a digital-first approach to audience engagement. Through her work, Cassandra Bowes has reshaped the way art and culture intersect with the digital sphere. Her vision continues to influence the future of art communication in the digital age.

Clare Gomez is Director at Workplace, London and Newcastle which is an art gallery specialising in contemporary art, representing international and British artists and is committed to championing an increasingly diverse representation of artists through its programme of exhibitions, events and art fair participation. Her role at Workplace covers curating, programming, artist liaison, sales and strategy. Since 2021, she has also been Assistant Director at Workplace Foundation, Newcastle, set up in 2017 as a registered charity, to engage meaningfully with the surrounding community and the gallery to support emerging and under-represented artists. It is focused on supporting equality and diversity, environmental sustainability, and arts education. Based in Newcastle and London, Gomez brings a wealth of knowledge to her roles having worked in a variety arts organisations from institutional galleries, charities to artist led spaces; including The Hepworth, Wakefield, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, The NewBridge Project, and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. She studied Fine Art at Newcastle University and Bergen Academy of Art and Design in Norway.

Tosia Leniarska is a writer, curator and researcher born in Poland and based in London. She holds a BA in Philosophy and History of Art from University College London and has undertaken postgraduate research with the Centre for Research Architecture at Goldsmiths, University of London. Leniarska is currently the Assistant Director at Emalin, a contemporary art gallery in London, where she has contributed to a wide range of exhibitions and projects. In 2023, she curated the group exhibition ‘World as Diagram, Work as Dance’, with works by Lawrence Abu Hamdan, E Barker, Simon Denny, Ana Viktoria Dzinic, Win McCarthy, Gretchen Lawrence, Carolyn Lazard, Coumba Samba, and Diamond Stingily. In 2024, she conceived the video exhibition project ‘One for sorrow, two for joy’ with Lauren Auder at Emalin, which involved 50 contributing artists, curators, musicians and anonymous individuals. Since 2020, Leniarska also played a key role in developing Kem School, an alternative institutional artist residency in Warsaw focused on critical practice and expanded choreography. She has delivered lectures, panel discussions and workshops held at Tate Modern, ICA London, Emalin, Eye To Pencil, and Kem School in Warsaw, alongside public events in collaboration with Ana Viktoria Dzinic, Nuts International and other artists. Leniarska has contributed writing to the artist book ‘Propaganda and Decoration’ by Ana Viktoria Dzinic and Richard Turley, and to publications such as Apartamento, Buffalo Zine, Studio Magazine, AnOther or i-D. Her new essay commissioned by the Serpentine is upcoming in the inaugural issue of The Serpentine Reader, launching February 2025. In London, you can currently see a permanent exhibition curated by her at La Camionera, the lesbian bar in Hackney.

Joshua Leon is an artist and writer. He received his PhD from the Royal College of Art, London, UK in 2023. In his writing and exhibition making Leon employs a theory of collapse within a broader examination of the lament as a critical space; exploring how archival remembrance, historical research, autobiography and memoir fall into each other. This approach examines the ways in which site, place and material bear witness, codify language and store personal and socio-historical memory. This methodical process is then imagined through presentations of poetic discourse, display, and knowledge production. Leon’s works manifest fluidly through a multitude of forms including writing, silence, music, stained glass, walks, reading, garments, documents and institutional intervention and alteration. His first publication The Process, published by Mousse and Chisenhale Gallery, winner of the Emerging Art Foundation art writing prize, is the outcome of two years of writing and documenting his own research processes between 2022-2024, as he prepared for his first solo institutional exhibition at Chisenhale Gallery. The publication comprises original writing by Leon alongside archival material. Tracing history, memory and self across time and site, the text traverses locations including a synagogue in Bordeaux, an American bar in Vienna, and a veneer factory in London’s East End to reflect on the experiences of the Jewish diaspora in Europe, and contemporary Jewish life.

Yisi Li is a London-based art professional, working at Carlos/Ishikawa. Yisi has cultivated a distinguished presence in the global art world, collaborating with galleries, artists, and key art-world stakeholders. Her diverse background spans living, working, and studying in China, Canada, Switzerland, the UK, and France, enriching her perspective on the international art landscape. With degrees in Economics and Art History, Li brings a unique and multifaceted approach to her advisory work. Having previously worked in contemporary galleries and private dealerships, Li now focuses on fostering synergy between artists, gallerists, institutions, collectors, and other market participants as an independent advisor, offering a distinct voice in the decision-making chain. Her extensive projects include art fair and exhibition consultancy, artist career planning, curatorial initiatives, publications, podcasts, and collection management, reflecting the breadth of her expertise. Li is also a dedicated supporter of cultural institutions such as the Contemporary Art Society and Delfina Foundation, underscoring her commitment to the broader art ecosystem.

Helena Lyristakis is the Development Manager at Gasworks, a leading non-profit arts organisation in south London. She oversees the organisation’s fundraising strategy, with a focus on individual giving and artist editions. Before joining Gasworks in 2022, Helena was Head of Programming at Cromwell Place, where she led key strategic partnerships, VIP engagement, and institutional relationships. She was part of the founding team from 2017, playing a pivotal role in shaping the membership of international galleries and dealers spanning antiquities to contemporary art. With over a decade of experience in both the non-profit and commercial art sectors, Helena has also worked within galleries and auction houses, including David Zwirner in London and Mossgreen Auctions in Melbourne. She holds a degree in History of Art and English Literature from the University of Melbourne.

Jessica Wan is a curator and writer working to create culturally hybrid spaces that platform transnational narratives. She has contributed to various publications and produced projects with institutions including iniva, Photofusion, Tate and the Sarabande Foundation. Jessica is currently a Fellow at the Research Centre for Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (TrAIN) and an Associate Lecturer at the Chelsea College of Arts, UAL.