Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Pulido.
Hi Angelica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of the backstory of SeeMe with our readers?
See|Me was born to empower living artists to be discovered, gain feedback, and access economic opportunity. Having its first appearance in 2012 in New York City, See|Me hosted huge Open Call exhibitions in New York, Miami, Washington, and Paris, among more, bringing together thousands of artists worldwide. In 2018, with the change of management and with more than 500 artists engaged from different parts of the world, See|Me changed its business model to provide more opportunities for artists, listening to the needs artists had at the moment while understanding the power and responsibility that comes with leading a vast community. See|Me focused on living artists opening dimensions to support and contribute to valuable careers and open the market to thousands; initiatives such as the Online Gallery and Memberships were implemented, understanding that investing in living artists creates economic growth in our communities and plants the foundation of a subsequent era of growth in the Art World.
The team building through the change was vital, so embracing the challenges See|Me brought together a group of professionals that vibrated with the mission and that could bring specialized knowledge to each of the new offers with empathy and respect to the profession;
For curation, e-commerce and sales Nerissa Bardfeld was appointed as the gallery director. Her sensitivity aligned with her will to contribute from a creative perspective, made a balanced leadership between her role and our founder and CEO, Brendan Burns, whose role is focused in strategy, strength and opportunity. Moreover, with the importance of creating strong relations and finding opportunities in the realm of the art market, a Public Relations team came to reality to connect under the lead of María Paula Suárez.
I, Angelica, was appointed to lead a team of specialists that understood the magnitude and importance of building a career for the artists, taking as a responsibility the Memberships and Communications team. Four pillars that complemented with solid marketing, content development, and an editorial section, along with a strong business model, make what See|Me is today.
See|Me nowadays is the home of a vibrant and diverse community of artists from around the globe. Our mission is based on a simple but powerful message: We want to level art discovery, bringing a unique offer that incentivizes the joy of collecting art and supports living artists in the exercise. See|Me hosts exhibitions and Open Calls for artists, participates and partners with art fairs, sells the art of emerging and mid-career artists, and has open markets in the USA, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. At the same time has fostered strong relations with brands and businesses in the creative and tech industries and is involved in developing artists’ careers, ensuring that artists’ voices and aspirations are heard and celebrated.
See|Me believes in embracing different paths, recognizing that artists should have the power to navigate the art world on their terms, and acknowledging the demands of today’s world; we are building what we consider our next stage, an online platform, and digital ecosystem that will bring together artists, collectors, art lovers, and art professionals. Next to a team of developers, art & tech advisers, and investors, our CEO Brendan Burns envisions what could become a gamer changer for the art market. On this platform, anyone can encounter unique art pieces, discover and connect with artists in any part of the world, and support the growth of their careers—a space to create new connections, buy art, and build community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges SeeMe has faced along the way?
As we grow as a company and community, many have been the obstacles and challenges; all of them have become lessons to understand the fundamentals of caring and they are the engine to continue working towards our mission more consciously. We are characterized by our hability to navigate these challenges through an assertive lens, quoting our gallery director, Nerissa Bardfeld: “One of the things that I find most interesting and exciting about SeeMe’s mission and model is that our commitment to meet the needs of two distinct audiences, artists and collectors, has fostered innovation. The team and I thrive on developing creative and persistent solutions for emerging artists and new art collectors to discover each other and connect and grow – via new tech, exhibitions, events, and partnerships that open new avenues and access for each cohort. Feedback tells us we’re on the right path – but there’s always more to do. The concept, as I see it, is to create a win-win ecosystem for both artists and collectors that is greater than the sum of the parts, essentially, 1+1 = 3.”
It has been quite a journey, and the challenge of opening paths in the art market that has traditionally been closed and underexplored despite technological changes and globalization has become one of our missions. Building name credibility when bringing new ways of operating is not only an opportunity but also a path to more growth and innovation. Teaching different communities that art can be affordable and accessible, not only for a few, has been challenging but satisfactory. Building of the concept of The New Art Collector has given us the opportunity to engage more people with art and the stories of artists within our community; it is a pleasure to see how our efforts creating events, exhibitions, and content that relates to all types public has opened the door for many newcomers to become art collectors and supporters of the arts.
Moreover, building an artist community is always a challenge, and we are always under construction, something that we genuinely enjoy but keeps us constantly reinventing ourselves and demanding a lot of effort from our team. As we grow in numbers and our community diversifies, there is a lot of responsibility and learning, keeping track of the development of each artist and looking for resources and mediums that can thrive and find opportunities aligned with their unique visions. The relationships we have fostered and the discoveries of talent are rewarding; we celebrate and measure our success in the growth and glow of each person that has been part of our community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My name is Angélica Pulido, and I am one of the members of the See|Me team. I am the Art Director, Marketing, and Artists Memberships lead. As a creative strategist and leader, I strive daily to transform See|Me into an inspiring and powerful brand. On that same note, as the Artists Membership Lead, I oversee the membership process for artists, working closely with the team and collaborating to create the most compelling value proposition for our artists. I am involved in exhibitions and content creation, constantly seeking new resources to support artists’ career journeys.
Aside from my work at See|Me, I have experience as an art curator, having worked with artists in Colombia and the USA for several years. I actively engage in art research and project management, collaborating with non-profit institutions, galleries, art spaces, and museums. I am also dedicated to my artistic practice, working with mediums such as illustration, painting, and sculpture. Throughout my career, I have served as a graphic and editorial designer, and in the early stages, I taught art to children.
I hold a degree in Visual Arts from Javeriana University in Bogotá, Colombia, and a Master’s degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art – New York, specializing in business management and curatorial projects. I am certified as a graphic and editorial designer and am expanding my knowledge in UX and Online Marketing. As an insider in the art world, I am an artist who aims to revolutionize the art market, making it accessible and inclusive for everyone.
How do you think about happiness?
My happiness revolves around enjoying the arts in their many shapes and creating meaningful and kind relationships with people, animals, and all living beings. I enjoy a good concert, be it a classical, ethnic, or electro-music rave; I have an extensive spectrum of enjoyment through music. I love learning and listening to stories; that may be why I love working with artists, visiting their studios, and listening to their creative process. Theater, films, art, fashion, and books of all kinds; I love to be amazed by the brilliance of others. I feel the happiest while enjoying the simple pleasures of being alive, nature, breathing and meditating, creating art, spending time with my friends, parents, siblings, and dog, and reconnecting with what is essential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.see.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemecommunity/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeeMe/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/see-me
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fseeme%3Flang%3Den
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seeme1005
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@seemecommunity
Image Credits
Sebastian Prieto
