Female Voices in Art: Marine Tanguy, Founder MTArt Agency

Marine Tanguy (b. 1989, La Rochelle, France) has been an advocate for artists from a young age. She managed her first gallery at age 21 and opened her first art gallery in Los Angeles at age 23. After seeing the restrictiveness of the traditional gallery model, Marine launched MTArt Agency in 2015. MTArt is the first talent agency for visual artists worldwide. B Corp certified, MTArt supports artists commercially through brand partnerships and commissions for public spaces, as well as collectors. Marine was awarded Forbes 2018 30 under 30 Europe: Art & Culture and UK entrepreneur of the year for the 2019 NatWest Everywoman Awards. She is a writer and keynote speaker on contemporary art and art investment. Her talks include two TEDx Talks on how to transform cities with art and how social media visuals affects our minds.

Could you tell us something about your role in the art world?

I am the founder of the first visual artist agency in the world, MTArt Agency. Every month, the agency reviews 200 portfolios of artists. Our selection committee selects artists with innovative techniques, inspiring content and strong visions. For the artists who sign with the agency, MTArt covers their studio costs, sells their works, implement cultural & commercial partnerships and offers press exposure.

I have two strong passions: finding new ways to support visual artists and making sure that their art get to inspire everyone. I published an academic paper on the need to integrate their artworks in cities and constantly look to challenge and further existing answers.

What did you enjoy about being a part of this project?

It was a real honour to be chosen amongst so many amazing women. Carla is a dear friend and someone I really respect. Most of my photography is either as part of the MTArt Agency branding, press articles within the story of MTArt or while speaking at conferences. I have been a dancer for ten years and I am actually very creative, it was lovely to step out of the business woman and power poses context.

Do you have a favourite artist?

I could never answer this! It’s my job. Of course, all my artists. Aside from the contemporary art world, I fell in love with the arts thanks to all things nineteenth century - be art, literature, ballet etc.

What is your earliest memory involving art?

I remember painting and drawing. Around the age of 7, very blurry and very tied to my mother.

Do you have any special thoughts about the position of women in the art world?

I think that my generation has better access to opportunities. Equally, when I was raising the first round of funding for MTArt Agency, I couldn’t find a single woman investor as so few exist at this stage so all my investors are currently male. We need to diversify who handles money in this industry as nothing can change if we don’t inject some diversity into our funding schemes.

What are you wearing, and is there a story behind it?

I am wearing the brands Zazi Vintage for the dress and Elizabeth Gage for the jewellery. Elizabeth Gage is the inspiring brand of a lady who has been empowering other women for her whole life with her jewellery, I have a feeling that Jeanne could do the same with Zazi Vintage.

What impact has the current health crisis on your daily practice?

We are incredibly fortunate that while we are all affected, our business was still able to strive thanks to online art sales, digital partnerships with brands, cultural partnerships and multiple public art initiatives. I haven’t had to furlough anyone or stop covering the studio costs of our artists monthly. Our highlights was seeing our artists on the iconic screens of Picadilly Circus thanks to the support of Ocean Screens inspiring the ones who had to keep working, partnering with Museum Week for our artists to start a series of dialogues with the most prestigious cultural institutions, seeing our art collectors so happy to receive new works to inspire them in their daily routine and receiving so many nice comments on our digital content. I feel more united than ever with our partners, clients and artists at MTArt Agency and I so proud of MTArt Agency.

Is it changing your views on Art?

It’s verifying that art isn’t just about the art world, it’s about inspiring people daily in the visual world. And MTArt Agency believes that our artists are the most inspiring visual thinkers. It goes back to my first two TED talks on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUC-1wItDWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnOv57ywMFs

Are you creating new initiatives and ways of working?

The biggest joy is to work very hard while watching my son growing up. I hope I can, in the near future, implement an office with an integrated nursery for its employees. It feels right on all levels : ).