We recently had the privilege of interviewing Katerina Kashtan, an Art Catalyst, working as a bridge toward the traditional and innovative aspects of the world of art. She is co-founder of Authentic Boutique LLC. also an Advisory Committee Member at NFTrends and partner at Hedonist Gallery in Dubai.
With her interdisciplinary education and multicultural upbringing, Katerina has developed a truly global outlook, rooted in a deep appreciation for both tradition and innovation. Her holistic approach combines a comprehensive understanding of both the market’s history and current trends, enabling her to help clients navigate the dynamic landscape of the art world. In this interview, Katerina Kashtan shares her career trajectory and her upcoming projects in this field.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Can you share the story of how you started your professional career, including any significant influences or turning points?”
Katerina shared, “Art is not a thing, it is a way – I‘ve always known I will work in Arts, as it has always been my true passion. I’ve always studied art. Although my true passion has always been art, my career began in Marketing, where I rapidly ascended from a junior designer role at a marketing agency – crafting bespoke invitations for high-profile events – to becoming the Marlboro brand manager at Philip Morris Sales and Marketing in Russia. This journey proved to be an invaluable training ground, equipping me with essential skills such as effective communication, team building, leadership, process management, and strategic planning. However, when the Russian market closed to tobacco advertising, I seized the opportunity to pivot and pursue my lifelong passion for art. I haven’t looked back since, and it’s a decision I’ve never regretted.
Today, I am the co-founder of a boutique art company, Authentic Boutique together with some of the most iconic Emirate women and greatest influencers in GCC, Mrs. Hikmat Al Kaitoob, partner at Hedonist Gallery in Dubai, and on the advisory board of several tech and global cultural projects such as NFtrends and Marco Polo 700. My artistic journey has spanned over a decade, with each year bringing new twists and exciting developments. I’m passionate about continuous growth and embracing the unknown, always seeking fresh perspectives and challenges to push my creativity further.”
She added, “Notable influences on my artistic journey include key individuals and periods that have shaped me into the artist I am today. Victoria Golembiovskaya, a close friend and partner, played a pivotal role in introducing me to the art world after my corporate career. I have joined her in the House Of The Nobleman – where we have successfully done some of the most exciting exhibitions around the world. Currently, Victoria is leading the C1760 gallery in New York and we keep partnering relationships and friendship beyond all.
Another person is Stefano Rabolli Pansera former director of some of the best world galleries ‘Hauser & Wirth’ London and currently director and curator of Bangkok Kuzthalle, Stefano had a significant influence on my career and together we have done exclusive art weekends for small groups of collectors in the St.Moritz brunch of the gallery and around Engadine region in Switzerland, which is unforgettable.
Last but not least, Bigna Pfenninger, owner of a renowned Zurich art advisory, has been a vital partner in navigating complex deals for private and corporate clients, as well as developing innovative art tech solutions and educational programs for European universities. Our collaborative efforts have expanded to the Middle East, and despite our occasional intense debates, we consistently find common ground and joint solutions.”
Reconnecting With Self
To learn Katerina Kashtan’s duties in her present role, we asked, “What are the most important duties you perform in your current job, and how do they contribute to your overall goals?”
She replied, “The job in my field requires a variety of soft skills and patience, involving extensive communication with diverse individuals ranging from museum experts to top CEOs. This demands adeptness in understanding different personalities and resources for effective communication.
It is also very important to be on a permanent self educationaL and self development path. Art history is the subject one can learn for the life time. And if you aim to bring something exciting and new to the field one should be fluent in both old and new: classical art and contemporary, museums structures and innovative curations and tools, conservative audiences and gen Z.”
Envisioning The Future
We further asked, “What future developments or innovations are you looking forward to in your industry, and how do you plan to leverage them?”
Katerina added, “My vision of the future of the art world has shifted significantly after I completed my MBA at Singularity University which was founded and led by cult person Peter Diamantis. This was truly a life-changing experience. The humanitarian sector is now closely linked with technological advancements. In the past, there was a divide between supporters and opponents of digitalization in areas like education and culture. However, the pandemic forced us into isolation, revealing the necessity of digitalization in all aspects of life. The global experience has shown that the humanitarian sector was unprepared for a complete transition to the digital space due to conservatism and inertia.
Culture, art in the broad sense of the word, and comprehensive interaction with it of both the younger generation and society as a whole develops emotional intelligence – multifaceted sensitivity to the world, adaptability to unforeseen situations, the ability to self-learn and develop as an individual in a rapidly changing world. Explore beauty through technology, break out of narrow perspectives, and expand consciousness. In other words, get out of the ‘soap bubble’ and the ‘two-dimensional flat state of life’ and expand the horizons of consciousness.
As a frequent speaker at conferences, I focus on digitizing cultural heritage and creating educational digital content. And of course, there are exciting projects that I’m working on.”
Adaptability Amidst Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of every professional path. We asked, “How do you tackle difficult challenges in your career, and what keeps you motivated during tough times?”
“The purpose of life is to find your gift, the meaning of life is to give it away – says Pablo Picasso. I am trying to see the difficulties as lessons or opportunities. I guess I am lucky to be loving what I am doing so deeply that never I had a thought to change the job or the industry. I am just moving on. Sometimes things don’t work right away, sometimes my ideas and projects are too early, I am just putting them aside for the right time and usually the right time is coming.” She shared.
Worth-Sharing Triumphs
Eager to learn more about the successful events in Katerina Kashtan’s career, we asked, “What is the most memorable achievement in your career so far, and what did it teach you?”
She responded, “In regards to the UAE, I guess I could mention two highlights. But first I’d like to say I consider myself very lucky to be a UAE resident and working in this country. Never anywhere else in the world have I felt so free and the opportunities so sky-limited. Professionalism, tolerance, and respect are the qualities that are important here, not your nationality, religion, or political views. The world is truly upside down today in my opinion and I feel lucky to not be influenced by it working in the UAE.
The recent opening of the Hedonist Gallery in Dubai is one of the highlights I’d like to mention. This is the first gallery in the UAE to present iconic Spanish modern artists Dali, Miro, and Picasso exclusively. Despite initial doubts about market readiness and collector availability, the successful introduction of unique art in the region has sparked growing interest. The focus now is on educating and expanding the market with a long-term approach.
And the presentation of the historical Mastaba project of Jean Claude Christo during Art Abu Dhabi in 2022. The ‘Mastaba’ is the project that Christo came up with back in the 80th together with HH Sheikh Zayed, the father of the UAE ‘Mastaba’ was also one of the last projects Christo intended to bring to life in his lifetime, but finally bequeathed to make it come true. I was presenting this project together with the oldest commercial gallery in the world ‘Colnaghi’ and I hope this project will come to life someday.”
Message To Beginners
Addressing the beginners in the relevant field, we asked, “What advice would you offer to newcomers in your industry, particularly those who aspire to follow in your footsteps?”
Katerina shared, “I would advise them to carve their path and not follow in others’ footsteps. Learn from others, but go your own way. Every journey is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. My motto is: ‘Fail 8 times, come back 9’ – a reminder to persevere and keep moving forward. Or, simply put: Just do it.”
Embracing Technological Advancements
To gain Katerina’s perspective on the role of AI and other technological advancements, we inquired, “How do you see AI and new technologies influencing the future of your field, and what role will they play in your organization’s strategy?”
She replied, “AI is poised to revolutionize art curation. One of art’s core purposes in our society is to provoke conversation. As AI video calling and personality engineering improve, visitors will soon be able to verbally engage with representations of the artists and virtual curators. This will allow them to interact with the intelligence behind Masterpieces, gaining intimate & personalized insights. This transformative capability will immerse visitors in ongoing, meaningful dialogues with the artwork and its underlying genius. Our arts and culture spaces, which already inspire profound thought, are now set to foster dynamic conversations and discourse in unprecedented ways.
New AI advancements will bring about this shift, enriching the cultural experience like never before. I am currently working on such a project with an amazing diverse international team and we are looking at entering the Abu Dhabi Market with this project. We are in the process of the development and the right setup for the launch of this project with an entity in Abu Dhabi however, I am unfortunately unable to say more or reveal the full concept and our partners at the moment.”
Plans We Asked Katerina Kashtan
Lastly, we asked, “What are your aspirations for the future in both your career and your business, and how do you plan to achieve them?”
“If you want to achieve your goal, you need to turn desire into strong intention. It is already yours if you have the intention. I focus on the result, envisioning my goal as already achieved. I don’t get bogged down in the details of how to get there. Instead, I keep my eyes fixed on the target and trust that the path will unfold. No matter how events unfold, I keep a firm course towards the goal.” Katerina concluded.
Follow Katerina Kashtan on Instagram.
Visit http://authentic-boutique.com/ and https://nftrends.ai/
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