Meet Qingyuan Deng of New York

Today we’d like to introduce you to Qingyuan Deng.

Qingyuan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to New York when I was 18 to attend Columbia University for my BA in art history. At Columbia, I interned at commercial contemporary art galleries but soon I realized I want to directly work with artists and writers. So I learned everything I needed to learn about the gallery world by these internships and a short-lived full-time gallery assistant job after graduation. Then I just started freelancing and going to every single gallery and museum opening, dinner, and after party I can go to. I met everyone, all the artist, curators, and writers I like, and have become friends with them. I published a lot of writing and then people started asking me to curate. I curated a group show called to save and to destroy at BANK NYC and Weng Xiaoyu asked me to curate the benefit auction for Art in General at YveYang. Now I want to slow down. I am going to CCS Bard for graduate school. But I also am starting an apartment gallery in the city haha.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say yes and no. I think in general I have been very lucky and people want to support my career. Struggles wise I would say sometimes people think I have too much self expression but I do not care. I guess also being young does not help.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a curator and writer. I specialize in time based media (video and performance art essentially) from North America, Europe, and Asia. I am known for advocating for emerging and mid-career artists and curating critically acclaimed and conceptually rigorous exhibitions and performances. I am most proud of my intellectually committed writing on artists. What sets me apart from others is that I can foster meaningful and profound relationships with artists.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Probably going to the power station of art in Shanghai.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Dionysus.in.modernity