We were lucky to catch up with Catherine Dolaher recently and have shared our conversation below.

Catherine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

One of the biggest trends that I am seeing in the art world is an increasing need for a more intentional, team-based approach to selling artwork. This is an especially clear shift coming out of COVID, where many artists could sell directly from their social media platform, with little to no marketing. An overall market downturn and art sales slowing means that many artists are turning to third parties again to help boost their income and share the load of marketing.

While I often speak with artists that are discouraged by slower sales when they release new collections of artwork, I think that the silver lining is a more communal, connected path to selling. Artists that have not considered partnering with a gallery or an art advisor should think about exploring this option, and they might find how rewarding it is to work with someone representing their practice!

This is what I love to do best – partner with artists to help them grow their businesses and sell more of their work! After all, more artwork sold means a small business supported and a new meaningful, beautiful interior space created. Artists need help more than ever, and that might mean that the art world becomes an even stronger and supportive ecosystem.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I founded CD Arts Management as a way to directly help artists after beginning my career in museums, galleries and private collections. As much as I loved planning exhibitions, research, and writing, I always felt that my passion was at the intersection of business and art. It wasn’t until I was presented with the opportunity to work in Riley Sheehey’s studio in 2020 that I considered the role of studio manager. I immediately fell in love with the position and it’s rewarding combination of small business, sales, marketing, strategy, and a creative environment. Riley also had a robust collaboration roster and it was a steep education in negotiating and contracts, a skill that I took with me in the years that followed.

In 2023 I started to take on other artist clients and founded CD Arts Management, an artist management business that helps artists grow sustainable studios through hands-on assistance. Since then, I have helped over 50 artists through strategy sessions, projects targeting the improvement of the structures of their studio, and consistent studio management. While every artist and their business is different, it is such a joy to bring proven tactics and strategies to so many businesses and come alongside the artist in the challenge of entrepreneurship. My goal is always to provide clarity to artists and to get them back in the studio as much as possible while I cover the operations.

As I continue to build my business, I am also pleased to offer digital products to guide artist to implement these strategies on their own and am popping-up as a gallery in the spring of 2025. The business is constantly evolving, and when I think about how far I’ve come from an Art History major at the University of Georgia to now, I am reminded that I have carved my own path every step of the way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up and all through my educational career, I never considered myself an entrepreneur or imagined that I would start my own business. However, I always felt that my interests pushed against the boundaries of a traditional role and I was constantly seeking experience in as much as I could – no job ever allowed me to wear enough hats! It wasn’t until I found myself dreaming of a job that I realized didn’t exist that I finally considered doing it for myself. I wanted to help as many artists as I could, yet I couldn’t find any company to work for where I could be in many different businesses at once. So I had to create that business!

I think that there is a stereotype about entrepreneurs that they grow up in full realization of that trait from an early age – think “lemonade stand!” I never had that leaning in my early life, so I had to unlearn this idea that I couldn’t start a business just because I had come into it later. I wanted to create something that didn’t yet exist that was unique, controlled by me and that could meet a clear set of needs, and that was enough for me to make the jump into entrepreneurship.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

When you are passionate and excited about the field you are contributing to, networking stops being work. Any opportunity to meet artists or art world professionals is one of my favorite ways to spend time, and often clients do come out of these interactions. I’ve found that the more effective strategy for growing clientele is to approach professional relationships with a genuine excitement to meet artists and to cheer them on in pursuing their practice, with no agenda for selling my services to them right away. If they need help, I am there and always ready to provide solutions. If they don’t, I am there anyways to attend their openings, share their work with friends, and have meaningful conversations in their studio or over coffee. I see this as a contribution to making our art community a bit stronger, which is directly tied to the health of my business.

It is incredibly energizing to join together as a community to promote the arts and to lift up artists, and I find that first prioritizing intentional relationships with artists might seem backwards to getting clients but I find that it often leads to friends in the short-term and clients in the long-term.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cdartsmanagement.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinedolaher/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-dolaher/
• Other: https://catherinedolaher.substack.com

Image Credits

Abby Grace Photography