Clemence Cazeau went from a partnership at Christie's to run a pioneering art gallery in the United Arab Emirates.
Tucked away in a corner of Dubai is 37xDubai, an art gallery unlike many others visitors might find in the UAE capital. Once inside 37xDubai, they will find traditional artworks, but also digital pieces: a screen that changes its design whenever someone stops to look at it, a “tree of life” sculpture that visitors can interact with using a code QR and a plotter machine art production exhibition.
37xDubai strives to bridge the gap between art and technology by creating a space where digital artists can showcase their work. That's exactly what drew Northeastern University graduate Clemence Cazeau to the gallery.
Cazeau began working in the art world at Northeastern. While pursuing a degree in communication and media studies, she did a co-op at Christie's Dubai.
“The fact that Northeastern had a lot of internships was extremely important, because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do,” said Cazeau, who grew up in France and Switzerland. “I was really, really confused when I was younger. Northeastern was perfect because I could choose pretty much different subjects.”
After completing her co-op and degree, Cazeau returned to Dubai where she worked for Leila Heller Gallery, which has a location in the UAE before making the jump to 37xDubai where she now serves as CEO.
Cazeau made the switch after meeting with Danilo Carlucci, the founder and CEO of Morningstar Venture, the venture capital fund that invested in 37xDubai.
“(Danilo) and I were having dinner in the financial center of Dubai and he was telling me that he had this vision to open a physical space because he missed the NFT trend and didn't know much about art,” Cazeau said. he said.
“He was more of a tech person and needed someone with an artistic background. I grew up in a family of art collectors and gallerists, so it was my thing. … I was tired of working in traditional art. I wanted something more dynamic and the technology industry inspired me.”
37xDubai officially opened in October, attracting visitors from all over the world, he said. Since its inception, the gallery has participated in ArtDubai this year and has hosted private events for different brands.
Unlike other galleries, Cazeau said 37xDubai is free to the public to allow everyone access to the space (although it does have a membership program). There are interactive installations there and exhibits that rotate in and out every two to three months. The vast majority are digital experiences, which Cazeau said is the gallery's goal.
“I like the idea of doing something a little more dynamic, something that connects web3 technology and art,” Cazeau said. “That duality is the trend today…We're very much into technology and artificial intelligence, so it makes sense that I would create something (like this). 37x is a bridge between art and technology and web3 is disrupting the art field.”
