We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Henkel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
At my core, I’m a connector. I bring people, ideas, and resources together across arts, advocacy, and philanthropy to create initiatives that uplift communities and empower others. From overseeing global arts projects and preserving cultural heritage to stewarding philanthropic strategies, I turn meaningful ideas into real-world impact.
I lead with purpose and heart. I mobilize cross-sector teams, build trust, and form partnerships grounded in shared values. My clients include corporations, municipalities, nonprofits, and private stakeholders, each with unique ventures I’ve helped bring to life. I have a knack for making initiatives successful, fueled by deep expertise and a passion to see everything I touch rise to its fullest potential.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I cultivated my expertise through my PhD dissertation, which took me across the globe to explore how cultural heritage could be celebrated through art. That research led to the launch of a groundbreaking venue in 2007, an arts space rooted in education, inclusion, and the power of storytelling through visual culture. In 2010, I founded Sin City Gallery, dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and curating provocative exhibitions and programming that challenge, ignite, and inspire.
As the gallery flourished, I launched ArtCulture PR in 2013 to support artists, institutions, and philanthropists through strategic branding, curation, and business development. I’ve served as an advisor, appraiser, curator, director of operations, and managing director. My work includes international exhibitions, specialized valuations, author support, art career development, fundraising, and values-aligned philanthropy.
I connect people and projects in ways that generate lasting value. I solve problems through clarity of vision, deep listening, and a commitment to excellence. It’s why people call me when they’re ready to create something visionary, purpose-driven, and built to endure, or when they need to get their initiatives back on track.
What sets me apart is my ability to navigate complex cultural, nonprofit, and business landscapes, often across continents, and form partnerships that lead to meaningful outcomes.
What I want people to know is this: I’m here to make others shine brightly. Whether I’m guiding a creative project, stewarding legacy gifts, or cultivating global partnerships, I bring both precision and heart. Each person and organization requires bespoke support, and I take the time to listen so I can execute effectively and efficiently. I’ve built my reputation on trust, follow-through, and the ability to help others succeed. And that’s still what drives me today.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Resilience has been a defining thread throughout my journey, both professionally and personally. One story that illustrates this is how I built, evolved, and ultimately reimagined my businesses—and how that journey led me to my current role at United Way of Southern Nevada.
When I launched Sin City Gallery, I curated monthly exhibitions and programming for nearly a decade. I also founded the international juried art festival 12 Inches of Sin, which welcomed artists from 27 countries. I transformed a commercial space into a 42,000-square-foot creative hub for the arts. It was bold and ambitious, but it required constant reinvention, resourcefulness, and grit.
Eventually, I stepped back from both the gallery and consulting work. While I continued to support long-standing artists and clients, I used the time to reflect, realign, and write. During that pause, I authored Creating Profits: Artists, Galleries, and Museums, a book rooted in 20+ years of arts administration that offers practical strategies for creative success. I also published a companion guide, Breaking Into the Art World on a Budget, to help emerging artists navigate their paths with clarity and confidence.
That moment of pause became a turning point. It gave me the perspective to redefine how I wanted to lead and what kind of impact I wanted to create. While I continue to support a small number of legacy clients and projects on a case-by-case basis, my primary focus today is on advancing philanthropic partnerships and community impact through my work at United Way of Southern Nevada.
I am incredibly honored to serve as Major Gifts Officer, focusing on the Alexis de Tocqueville Society. It is deeply fulfilling to steward the philanthropic vision of members to advance student success, workforce development, and community supports. Bringing everything I’ve built and learned into this role reflects the deepest kind of professional alignment. Advocating for those in need and collaborating with like-minded individuals to create transformative change continues to inspire me. When the sea rises, we all rise.
To me, resilience is not just about persistence. It is about knowing when to pause, reflect, and rise again with sharper clarity and deeper purpose.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I’ve built my reputation by consistently showing up with vision, integrity, and follow-through. Whether advising clients and stewarding their initiatives, launching art galleries or streamlining museums, or guiding major gifts on behalf of philanthropists, my goal has always been the same: to create enduring value, expand meaningful engagement, and generate strong return on investment. I want others to shine with brilliance and boldness.
I’m fearless about forging new paths. I lead with purpose and protect what matters most. That is why I am selective about the clients and projects I take on. Alignment matters. When vision, purpose, and mutual commitment align, meaningful progress naturally follows.
At the heart of my work is relationship building. I value the trust it takes to create something enduring and believe the best collaborations are the ones where everyone wins.
Today, I am more focused than ever on what truly matters. I do not just bring momentum. I help turn purpose into measurable change and relationships into legacies that endure.
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