`

Margot Ross
Curator, Gallerist

A curator, gallerist, producer, and art management consultant with nearly two decades of experience, Margot Ross is based in Los Angeles. She works internationally with galleries, contemporary art spaces, museums, and governmental organizations. Working with artists in a multitude of disciplines, Margot has overseen a diverse array of projects - art exhibitions, video installations, events, and book projects focusing on contemporary art. She studied art and international relations in Vancouver, London, Paris, Belgium, and Moscow, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Westminster in Paris.

Growing up in Canada, what drew you or inspired your love of art?
I was raised in Deep Cove in North Vancouver and grew up surrounded by artists in my family. Also, my grandfather was an art collector. I worked at a local art gallery in high school and then studied abroad in Belgium and Paris, where I worked and received my Master’s degree. All of these experiences deepened my love of art and led me to be Director of an art gallery in Montreal and then in LA.

Being so involved in the art world, are you an artist yourself
I’ve always been into photography. Now I just take pictures with my iPhone, but I miss working in the darkroom and would like to start using a proper camera again!

What brought you to LA?
I came to LA initially to work with a French artist and ended up consulting on a gallery project. I flew back and forth from Montreal for two years before making the move to LA. 

Any upcoming events or shows you’d like to tell us about?
I just opened an exhibition during Frieze week entitled Northern Exposure, featuring eight Canadian Galleries and 25 artists. Northern Exposure is the inaugural Visual Arts program focused on contemporary Canadian artists and galleries launched by the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles, as part of the Canadian Creative Accelerator (CCA). The galleries were selected by a jury of art professionals in Canada and the US. I worked on the project with LA-based writer and curator Michael Slenske. 
The exhibition is incredible and I definitely recommend people go check it out. The exhibition runs through March 21, 2024 at Praz-Delavallade, located at 6150 Wilshire Boulevard, near LACMA.

What is the art scene in LA like these days?
It is growing! Los Angeles is known primarily for the entertainment industry, however the city now boasts an expanding art market. In the past year, over 10 major gallery spaces have opened in LA while local galleries have been expanding (many opening second locations to cover the East and Westside). Many leading galleries from New York and Europe have expanded in LA including Hauser & Wirth, Galerie Perrotin, James Fuentes Gallery, Half Gallery, Lisson, Pace Gallery, Shrine and Sargent’s Daughter, making Los Angeles a new epicenter of the art world. 

Who is your favourite artist right now?
I discovered so many artists working on the Northern Exposure exhibition but I was particularly drawn to a massive tapestry from the 1970s entitled, Life on the Land that was handmade by Elizabeth Angrnaqquaq Quiayuq, an Inuk textile artist. I love the painterly quality of her work. The hand-embroidered felt tapestries depict double-headed birds and flying figures with human heads that represent transformations, where shaman spirits can shapeshift into animal bodies and vice versa.

Any advice you can give Canadian artists trying to break into the US market?
This is a difficult question to answer. A lot of Canadian artists break into US markets through their Canadian galleries, or by moving to the US or going to school in the US. I think it depends on the individual artist and the medium they work in.