saam niami and gabrielle richardson

interview

by OLIVIER ZAHM and ANNABELLE WEATHERLU

portrait by JACK PIERSON

The New York art scene is waking up. A post-pandemic wave of artists has chosen to remain in New York and Brooklyn. Moving beyond the previous generation’s identity politics, they use art to expand consciousness rather than conform to political correctness. 

This young curatorial duo is helping define the city’s new artistic ethic.

 

ANNABELLE WEATHERLY — I want to start with how you guys met.

GABRIELLE RICHARDSON — Saam and I met through a mutual friend. When I met Saam, I already knew his work and was a fan of his writing, and he knew of my mutual aid work. We started going to art shows together, and we formed our friendship around art. 

OLIVIER ZAHM — It’s quite rare to have a duo of curators. Curators are usually individualistic, and it’s…