Kaarthiga- THE FACE BEHIND KALAI GALLERY
Could you tell us a bit about your background—where you’re from and where you’re living today?
I am originally from Singapore and I moved to London at 19 for my career in Law. I studied Engineering in Singapore but had a strong passion for Law that resulted in me uprooting my life in Singapore to move to London. I am an incredibly spiritual person, and I felt a calling towards London I could not explain.
What do you love most about working in the art world here?
I enjoy the wideness of it. London, alongside New York, is one of the art capitals of the world. There is always an event, fair, exhibition, lunch, tour, etc., and people from all over the world are constantly flying to London for them, meaning there is more access to more people. This is something I did not get to experience as much in Singapore. Additionally, the more people I meet, the more I learn, and I see myself changing and growing at an accelerated rate because of this. I am new to the art world, as my background is in law, so being in the art world over the last three and a half years has felt like a rebirth of some kind—my ability to recognise techniques, strokes from specific artistic styles, collectors, etc. I feel like a completely different person than before entering the art world, which makes me believe even more that this was what was pulling me to London 12 years ago, when I first had the idea to move here.
How did you first become interested in art law?
As mentioned, my background is in law, but I have always had a creative side. I grew up with a father in finance and a mother who is a classical dancer, which meant I was constantly experiencing these two sides of myself, corporate and creative, fighting each other. Sometime in 2021, on my 23rd birthday, I woke up and realised that I could have both. I could be a lawyer while specialising in creative fields. So during my final year of my LLB, I applied for a master’s in art law. My long term goal is to work in art, fashion, and music, as the cases, contracts, and some of the principles are very similar, such as intellectual property and artist royalties. In 2022, I began my master’s, and during that time I also secured a job at an auction house. I felt like I was delving headfirst into the art world, learning about art and the art
What led you to into becoming a gallery director? Was this a role you always envisioned for yourself, or did it develop organically over time?
Other than creating a space for art, fashion, and music to exist together, another inspiration for Kalai Gallery was the fact that the art world is very exclusive. I noticed how difficult it was for me as someone without a background in art history or someone who did not grow up in the art world. This made me want to create a space that provides opportunities for those who want to get into the art world, not just for artists, but for any art professionals, from web designers to PR assistants, photographers, and graphic designers. I am very honoured to say that within the first year and a half of Kalai Gallery, we have reached many of these goals by providing opportunities for many young creatives.
In regard to being a gallery director, I initially assumed the role of CEO, but as the gallery progressed and as the owner of the business, I took on multiple roles needed within the gallery. As a result, the term gallery director better reflects what I do on a daily basis, from drafting contracts to creating pitch decks and handling other miscellaneous tasks. I did not exactly envision this, but I always knew I would have a business. When I was a teenager, I used to buy and sell clothes on Carousell, a consumer to consumer marketplace app in Singapore. I always knew I would own a business because I enjoy the challenges, chaos, and fast paced nature of owning one. Another reason that motivated me to start Kalai Gallery was that I knew I had the ideas, as well as the business and legal understanding, to create a business like this on my own. It also occurred to me that not having an art history background, and having a legal background instead, actually gave me an advantage in starting Kalai Gallery.
What projects are you currently working?
Are there any upcoming exhibitions or collaborations you’re especially proud of? I am currently working on a few international projects, especially focusing on my Asian roots. Kalai Gallery, the word Kalai means art in Tamil, my second language, and culture is a big part of Kalai Gallery. I am working on a few projects for London Fashion Week, Women’s History Month, and the World Cup. A collaboration I am especially proud of is the one with The Hoxton. It has been a lucrative exhibition, and we recently held a second exhibition there featuring my other artist, Adeseke. The fact that the team at The Hoxton believe in what I am doing and see the impact we have been able to create within just one year of the gallery means a great deal to me. Having partnerships with big brands that support and believe in us has been one of the most important aspects of our business.
Another collaboration I am proud of is the Aspinal of London event we hosted last year. This event had a very quick turnaround due to cancellations with another partner beforehand, so the fact that it turned out to be such a strong event was very important. It was also important to me to host something for Women’s History Month, as the year prior, 2024, was when Kalai Gallery was initially conceptualised.
What directions or themes are you interested in exploring next?
Looking forward, I want to focus on more international projects and exhibitions. We also want to make art more accessible, so this year we will be focusing on creating prints and multiples, which means we will be able to sell them at a lower price than original one of one paintings. For me personally, my entry into collecting art began with purchasing prints, so I hope many young collectors who are looking to start their collection will feel inspired to purchase them. Later this year, I will also be starting a full time job at a law firm, which is why I plan to build and work on as many projects as possible in the meantime, so that Kalai Gallery can become mostly sustainable on its own.
As much as I enjoy both the arts and law, I also believe in this quote from the movie The Persian Version, “Remember to live your life amongst all those ambitions.” I think it is important to hustle and pursue goals, but it is equally important to me that I take some time this year to travel before I start my job at the law firm. I believe that when I take time to rest and live life, I am ironically most inspired by everything and everyone I meet, which allows me to return with more ideas and build even more.
For more of Kaarthiga follow her Instagram @kaarthiga
and to see what she gets up with KALAI GALLERY @kalaigallery