Robin Start Art Dealer, Advisor, & Curator
Robin Start first engaged in fine art research with a focus on 19th century Orientalism in 1990. During the course of the last 18 years, his work as a curator, art expert, advisor and dealer has broadened to include, alongside 19th century European and American Orientalism, British paintings and prints. He has undertaken advisory work on acquisitions ranging from Islamic art to Old Master paintings.
In the early 1990’s he undertook a complete cataloguing of the National Art Collection of Qatar, work that included advising on major Orientalist art acquisitions, conservation and framing. He has been consulted on negotiations for the acquisition of major works by principal international museums.
More recently Robin has been instrumental in the development of the International Modern and Contemporary Arab art market acting as an advisor to both private and institutional collectors. This work has taken him to nearly all Arab countries to deal directly with artists and collectors and engage and consult with museum curators. He continues to pursue relationships with museums and art dealers who are also engaged in activities within the field of Modern and Contemporary Arab art.
Since 1993, he has been particularly involved with Modern and Contemporary art from Saudi Arabia, beginning with his curating of a solo show in Jeddah for artist Maha Mufti and remains active in all aspects of discovering, cataloguing and exhibiting Saudi art in the broadest sense.
In 2011 he contributed as co-curator of Saudi Arabia’s pavilion for their inaugural participation at the 54th Venice Biennale.
The Park Gallery wishes our former employees farewell and good luck!
Vanessa Simone Troiano
As the former manager of The Park Gallery, Vanessa worked extensively on the gallery’s participation in Abu Dhabi Art 2011 and 2012. She was also integral to the establishment of The Park Gallery’s evening lecture series on recent acquisitions, and collaborated with institutions internationally to conduct research for the works of art presented during these talks.
Prior to joining The Park Gallery, Vanessa completed her MA with Distinction in the History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. She specializes in Modern and Contemporary art, and has produced significant written work on Conceptual Art. Vanessa also earned a BA degree in the History of Art and German Studies from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and spent her third year abroad at the University of Vienna. Upon graduation from Wellesley, Vanessa returned to Vienna as the recipient of an Austrian Government Teaching Assistantship administered by the Fulbright Commission.
Vanessa has collaborated with academics, gallerists and curators around the world. She worked at the Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery in New York and Galerie Suppan Contemporary in Vienna. She also interned with curator and cultural theorist Angelika Fitz, helping to produce Linz, Texas, a book and exhibition presented as part of the 2009 European Capital of Culture Program. In London, Vanessa presented talks at the Courtauld Gallery, and assisted Professor Sarah Wilson with research for her book Picasso/Marx.
Vanessa is now based in New York City, where she is pursuing her PhD in Art History as an Enhanced Chancellor Fellow at CUNY’s Graduate Center. She can be contacted through The Park Gallery by emailing art@theparkgallery.com.