Long gone are the days when the art world was a small club of insiders. Today’s globalized art community is constantly expanding. And as art continues to intersect with popular culture in new ways, people interested in collecting are finding new points of entry, whether through groups formed by forward-looking museums and other institutions or through connecting with influential individuals who are bridging the gaps between art and the wider world of creative culture. Join LA natives Ric and Tina Whitney from the ARTnews '50 Collectors to Watch' list for an illuminating discussion of new entry points.
Ric Whitney is a seasoned media executive whose experience has placed him at the forefront of media and entertainment’s tremendous digital growth. He has served in several capacities across media, entertainment, and technology companies firmly planted in the Hollywood (LA), Silicon Valley (Bay Area), and Madison Avenue (NYC) trifecta. Under his Ricky Media banner, Ric currently owns and operates three media & entertainment entities – Sound Sculpture (music publishing & distribution), Curation (talent management) and WEB (live event production). Ric completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California (USC) where he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Marshall School of Business and a Master of Arts (MA) from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He also holds a Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou). Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Ric has resided in Los Angeles, California since 2002. Nicknamed “Ricky Media” by friends and colleagues, Ric serves on the board of LAXART, is a loyal sports fan, music, television and film lover, news and pop culture junkie, and passionate contemporary art collector.
Tina Perry was named President of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network effective January 2019, spearheading all day-to-day operations and creative areas of OWN. Perry, who reports to OWN Chairman and CEO Oprah Winfrey, also oversees the network’s growing digital division, as well as “WATCH OWN,” the network’s TV Everywhere app, and a variety of online content on Oprah.com, the network’s award-winning website. She is also on the OWN Board of Directors and is a member of The Paley Center for Media’s Los Angeles Board of Governors.
Jordan “Watts” Watson, is the curator and creative mastermind behind LOVE WATTS, a digital media platform that celebrates the art of lifestyle. Since 2011, Watts has grown a following of 4M+ influential tastemakers, inspiring them daily by bringing attention to emerging artists from around the globe. A humble upbringing in Queens, New York provided Watts with little access to the fine art world, but equipped him with a keen ability to identify beauty in unconventional places. As his digital reach has expanded from curation to original content creation, LOVE WATTS continues to commit to offer a voice Watts has provided thousands of artists internationally exposure and opportunities through partnerships with fashion and media powerhouses such as Watson began helping artists sell their work. In line with his mission to provide opportunity and exposure to as many creatives as possible. Through collaborations with fashion and media powerhouses such as Vogue, Elle, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, and driven by his commitment to offer a platform to emerging artists, Watson has solidified his place as a trusted voice in the ever-changing digital art space.
Seats will be allocated at a first come first served basis for this event.