Eva Chimento has worked in the Los Angeles arts scene for over two decades. She is the Director of Sales and Gallery Operations at Band of Vices, an art and culture company committed to providing a platform to often-overlooked creative communities. Chimento closed her gallery Chimento Contemporary in Los Angeles in 2020. The gallery focused on mid-career LA-based artists with a few emerging and international artists and participated in 17 art fairs and produced over 45 exhibitions. She began her career in museum administration in the early 1990s and worked for numerous galleries such as ACME, Koplin Gallery, and Patricia Correia Gallery.
What was the most important thing you learned at your first job in the Arts?
Stay calm and focus on the task in front of you.
Where are you from and what is the arts community like there? How has your upbringing shaped what you do in the arts today?
I grew up between both coasts (New Jersey, New York, and Los Angeles, California), both of my parents were involved in the arts my father is an actor/writer and my mother was a painter. I was exposed at early age to all facets of the arts this taught me to take my time and look at the world around me in a different way. Los Angeles gave me the experience I needed to explore many different art world roads and New York taught me that it is a lifestyle choice to be involved and work in the arts.
You’ve worn many hats in your career, what is your greatest professional accomplishment?
There are many parts I consider my greatest accomplishment including being able to continue to contribute to the arts after 30 plus years in this business. What I consider to be my most recent
Accomplishment is owning my own gallery. This was an incredible learning experience and taught me that I can run a business and still be creative that allowed the artists with whom I worked with to continue to explore and grow.
Tell us more about your role at Band of Vices. What is one thing you do every day as the Director of Sales and Gallery Operations that contributes to the organization’s success?
I am the current director of sales and operation at Band of Vices and art and culture collective. The one thing that I consider that contributes to our success is communication, this a vital part of any business but especially here. For me listening first is extremely important than comes hearing what was said.
What is the best piece of advice you can give about working in the art world?
“Art is not for the faint of heart”, it takes just as much energy to sell a work for $500.00 as it does $50k. Take your time, do not rush the process and listen as much as possible.
What do you think defines a good employee? And what defines a good supervisor?
A good employee is one who communicates well, a great employee is one who can hear the communication. A great supervisor will teach in a way that the employee can hear clear communication (I see a reoccurring theme here).
What are you most excited for this year at your organization or in the LA art scene as a whole?
I am very excited to be able to contribute and bring the artists from Band of Vices to art fairs this year, it will be the first time we will be participating. I am looking forward to the new galleries coming to Los Angeles from New York.
How do you think the art world can become more transparent?
I think we are doing better since the pandemic started, I have felt and seen more communication with dealers, galleries and collectors.
What is the best exhibition you have seen recently?
Samara Golden “Guts” at Night Gallery in Los Angeles (runs through March 26, 2022)
If you could own work by 5 different artists, who would be in your collection?
Genevieve Gaignard, Vincent Valdez, Radcliffe Bailey, Katharina Grosse, and Robert Peterson
