Mariane Ibrahim
In Conversation with Melanie Gerlis

"Mariane Ibrahim, a specialist in African-American art, is in the process of moving her gallery from Seattle to Chicago, where she will join other specialists including Kavi Gupta and Rhona Hoffman. Her new space in the city’s West Town area is twice the size of her Seattle gallery and next door to Monique Meloche Gallery on North Paulina Street. Ibrahim describes the area as “a vibrant playground for galleries”, adding that “the point is to be among them.” Ibrahim describes herself as having been somewhat “isolated” for the past seven years in Seattle, though she has participated in big art fairs around the world. She considered a move to New York, but settled on Chicago, a city where the art market is “less aggressive,” she says, and whose African-American community and music scene also chime well with her programme. “Theaster Gates and Kerry James Marshall live here, there’s a strong art fair, incredible museums and important collectors. I won’t have to introduce my artists as much,” Ibrahim says. Her opening show is of about a dozen works by Ayana V Jackson, who questions the colonial gaze in the history of photography (works priced between $15,000 and $25,000). Take Me to the Water opens with the new gallery on September 20 to coincide with the Expo Chicago fair (September 19-22)."