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Clemence Cazeau went from a co-op at Christie’s to running a groundbreaking art gallery in the United Arab Emirates.
Tucked away in a corner of Dubai is 37xDubai, an art gallery unlike many others visitors might find in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Once inside 37xDubai, they’ll find traditional artwork, but digital pieces as well: a screen that changes its design every time someone stops to look at it, a “tree of life” sculpture that visitors can interact with using a QR code, and a generative art exhibit with a plotter machine.
37xDubai is trying to bridge the gap between art and technology by creating a space where digital artists can display their work. This is exactly what drew Northeastern University graduate Clemence Cazeau to the gallery.
Cazeau got her start in working in the art world at Northeastern. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies, she did a co-op at Christie’s Dubai.
“The fact (Northeastern) had a lot of internships was super important, because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” said Cazeau, who grew up in France and Switzerland. “I was really, really confused when I was younger. Northeastern was perfect because I could pick a little bit of very different subjects.”
After she finished her co-op and degree, Cazeau went back to Dubai where she worked for Leila Heller Gallery, which has a location in the UAE before making the jump to 37xDubai where she now serves as the CEO.
Cazeau made the shift after meeting with Danilo Carlucci, the founder and CEO of Morningstar Venture, the venture capitalist who invested in 37xDubai.
“(Danilo) and I were having dinner in the financial center of Dubai and he was telling me that he had this vision of opening a physical space because he missed out on the trend of NFT and didn’t know much about art,” Cazeau said.
“He was more of a tech guy and needed someone with an art background. I grew up in a family of art collectors and gallerists, so it was kind of my thing. … I was tired of working in traditional art. I wanted something more dynamic and the tech industry was very inspiring to me.”
37xDubai officially opened in October, drawing in guests from all over the globe, she said. Since launching, the gallery participated in ArtDubai this year and has hosted private events for different brands.
Unlike other galleries, Cazeau said 37xDubai is free to the public to allow everyone access to the space (though it does have a membership program). There are interactive installations there and exhibits that rotate in and out every two to three months. The vast majority are digital experiences, which Cazeau said is the aim of the gallery.
“I like the idea of doing something a bit more dynamic, something that links the technology of web3 and the art,” Cazeau said. “That duality is today’s trend …We’re very much into technology and artificial intelligence so it makes sense for me to create something (like this). 37x is a bridge between art and technology and web3 that is disruptive in the art sector.”