We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Davidson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally when I was around 11 years old. Growing up on Long Island, New York, one of my favorite things to do was visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. Although my family was not artistic, my mother supported my interests and was happy to spend a day in the city going to the museum and indulging my art addiction. I remember using y allowance money to buy posters of all of the Edgar Degas works until I had a pretty good collection of ballerinas and horsemen on my bedroom walls! I held on to those posters throughout college and I think one of them even made it to grad school with me.

In the face of my dream of working in the arts, as a “curator at the MET” , as I would tell all of those who asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I also had a dream of becoming a veterinarian. Since this was a path that I was able to learn more about and seemed more tangible at the time, that is what I pursued academically. I balanced all of the scientific coursework in college with art history courses. I have been a veterinarian for 23 years and now have the unique fortune of following both of my passions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the Founder and Principle Curator for Museum Nectar Art Consultancy, a curatorial and art advisory firm that I started in 2020. Although the pandemic proved to be a challenging and traumatic time for many, it was also a unique time that allowed for introspection and realignment. It allowed me to really consider my options in how to shift my career focus and finally fulfill my dream of becoming a curator and art advisor. As an avid collector of African Diasporic art for over 20 years, I have had several friends and family members ask for my advice in building their own collections and with strong mentorship from friends who are fellow curators and art industry professionals, I decided to enroll in the Johns Hopkins University Museum Studies Masters Degree program. Along with that I was presented with opportunities that allowed me to flex my curatorial muscles and learned the ropes in a very hands on manner. Interestingly, none of it was foreign to me. In fact, I felt so comfortable in the curatorial space and transitioned into the work quite naturally.

My focus is primarily on African American art and artists of the African Diaspora and creating conversations about our world through their eyes. In today’s political and social climate, there is always a topic or issue to delve into and bring work forth to illustrate. Working with early and mid career artists, I enjoy the curatorial process, developing a narrative to which the art speaks to, assisting them with finding their voices. I am most proud of my ability to support these artists in a way that brings their work to light, whether that be through exhibitions, in personal, or corporate collections. Much of my work is about building network and utilizing that network to move the needle toward inclusivity and broadened perspectives. On the art advisory side of the house, I most enjoy assisting clients on a one on one basis with finding those works that speak to them, works that they are joyful to live and work around.

Museum Nectar is personal. It is lux. It is moving the culture forward.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Buy art! Tap in to your local art scene, visit a local gallery, attend an arts festival and support original artwork. I think there is a certain amount of fear or lack of understanding that society has about art. Some believe that it is too lofty or expensive for them to understand or afford, but the reality is that they can support artists at ever level. Most (including myself!) may not be able to afford a work by a blue chip artist, but you can seek out events at local art schools and open studio events. Funneling resources into the creative ecosystem is the best way to support it and fun can be had while doing it! With the help of social media, there is a lot of art that is visible and attainable now, but if you get overwhelmed, then people like me can help.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by my love of my culture and community. The art that I choose to focus on in my work is an outgrowth of rich layers of experience, portraits of our resilience and ability to find peace in the face of adversity; it is focused on the joy of humanity, and everything in between. My mission is to ensure that voices that may have been overlooked are heard and that diverse artists are truly seen for their incredible talent and perspective.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @musuem_nectar
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Main Portrait: Bria Edwards Picture of woman looking up at pictures: SELF Group picture (The World in My Mind): Jarvis Dubois Picture of me with Imar Hutchins and Haile Germina (older man): unknown Group picture of me with women in red and white: Joelle Murchison