Name: Zoë Allen
Title: Art curator/founder of Artistic Statements
What I do: I curate large-scale, site-specific art installations for internal and external commercial spaces. Bridging the gap between clients with exciting buildings and artists with exciting ideas, I answer commercial objectives via engaging multidisciplinary art installations.
How I got into the property industry: By accident! In 2011, I’d just got back from 18 months backpacking the world and a creative recruiter approached me with a business development role at an art studio. They produced artworks for commercial offices at a time when the buzz around creative workspaces was huge (thanks to Google HQ’s slide!)
What made me stand out: See above. An understanding of space really helped. My parents renovated properties, my dad had a surveying business and my mum was an interior designer. So, maybe it’s in my blood. Add a crucial creative flair and a solid few years in sales roles and it was a winning formula.
My first proper job: Telesales. It was brutal but necessary. Many of the skills learnt during that time I benefit from today. It was really, really tough graduating during the recession but it built resilience and most of all tenacity.
My first big break: The job at the art studio provided me with a space to really prove myself. Coming from a telesales environment in big corporates into a 4 x strong start-up art business in a tiny studio in Shoreditch was a shock to the system. But I loved being out of the office, I loved the vision and I loved being part of growing a company. By the time I left seven years later, I was director of a 40-strong business and had a huge network of contacts and relationships both in the property and creative industry.
My inspiration(s): London constantly inspires me. It’s unpredictable, consistently evolving, colourful, progressive, world-leading. I’m lucky that for the last 12 years, each day has involved travelling to three to four locations a day for meetings and site visits. I get to see more of this amazing city than most people and I love it.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: People would expect me to say starting my own business, but it was the seven years before that really tested me. I was thrown so many challenges, gave blood, sweat and tears to the business and never gave up. It’s what’s given me all the experience and a little black book of contacts that I still utilise today.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Setting up my business. The writing was on the wall to do it, and I’ve always been fiercely independent. Four years on, I’m immensely proud of the projects I’ve delivered and excited by the future.
My biggest screw-up: I’ve walked out of a few jobs in my early twenties which at the time I would have classed as screw-up(s). That said, changing the trajectory of a career path that feels wrong is a very empowering decision and ultimately puts you back in the driving seat of your life.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That it’s dry. It’s hard to convince people otherwise when you see photos at MIPIM and a ‘sea of suits’, but the industry is incredibly exciting, constantly evolving and very, very fun.
My biggest bugbear about the industry: Diversity! This really, really needs urgent consideration and attention across the board. It’s a passion of mine and I try to lead by example. I know many women who refuse to attend property events for the lack of diversity – but you have to be a part of the change. Having a seat at the table is hugely important (even if you’re well aware it’s to make up the female numbers). You need to be present to correct the misinformed, call out the sexists/racists and be part of the new conversations and ultimately the future.
Where I’d like to be in five years‘ career-wise: I’d like to continue delivering large-scale art installations for public spaces to increase accessibility within the art world. Perhaps some international projects could be fun. And I’d like to help support the younger generation of emerging artists through mentoring. I’ve learnt so much from the sales/BD background – it’s a hugely valuable skill to pass on.
My main career goals right now: Hiring. Delivering the schemes is incredibly time consuming, so I’m looking for more project managers and some marketing personnel, so I can focus on the front-end creative strategy and art curation. So long as I’m pushing the business into new and exciting territory, I’m happy.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Princess Diana, Artemisia Gentileschi, Queen Elizabeth (RIP), Emmeline Pankhurst, Cleopatra, Dolly Parton, Amelia Earhart, Hedy Lamarr and Tina Turner (RIP). We’d put the world to rights, they’d tell their incredible stories and share wisdom. We’d get sloshed and end up dancing on the table.
What I do in my downtime: I love being outdoors. Cooking/baking – and then some kind of outdoor sport to burn off the excess of cooking/baking! I love running and anything that involves burning calories in mother nature.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Mmm… an artist or a patisserie chef, though I’d be the size of a house.
My advice for someone just starting out: Steve Jobs said it best: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” Basically, keep going, trust that the tough times lead you to better. The more resilience you build, the easier life gets.
My motto/mantra: The magic happens outside your comfort zone.
