About Amant
About
Amant Foundation is a non-profit arts organization fostering experimentation and dialogue through exhibitions, residencies, and public programs at its two locales: the New York City borough of Brooklyn and the Tuscan village of Chiusure in the heart of the Siena province.
As a process-oriented platform, Amant arrives at a moment when the relationship between institutions and wider developments within arts and culture is being revisited—and challenged. We pursue yearly thematics that emanate from a diversity of social and political contexts, supporting shared modes of production and decision-making. More than “disciplines” we focus on “practices”, offering artists the time and conditions to crucially engage with their work.
In New York, Amant provides a public forum that supports both established and under-recognized artists working across diverse creative fields. We are committed to participating in cultural partnerships with like-minded organizations in the US and abroad, while activating an ongoing conversation with our local community.
The Foundation also hosts two residency programs in New York and Siena that are at the center of our activities. By emphasizing this commitment to process, Amant remains responsive to the ever-changing dynamics between artists, institutions, and their audiences.
Team
Lonti Ebers, Founder and CEO
Lonti Ebers is a long-time art collector and supporter of contemporary art. She established Amant to create studios and exhibition spaces that would encourage artistic development and experimentation free of the financial burden and administrative confines that typically accompany art practice in New York. Lonti hired the renowned architectural firm SO-IL to design Amant’s innovative performance and art complex.
Lonti has served on the boards of several museums in both the US and abroad and is currently a trustee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), serves on the board of the Centre for Curatorial Studies at Bard College in Upstate New York, and sits on the European Committee of the Tate Gallery in London.
Ruth Estévez Gómez, Artistic Director
Ruth Estévez Gómez is a curator and stage designer. Her research work focuses on artistic practices that explore how the spoken and written language operates within the visual arts, contemporary culture and politics.
She is the co-curator of the 34th São Paulo Biennial, which opens in September 2021. From 2018 to 2020 she was senior curator-at-large at the Rose Art Museum in Waltham, and curator of Idiorhythmias, the performance program at MACBA in Barcelona. She was Redcat Gallery Director in Los Angeles and Chief Curator at the Carrillo Gil Museum in Mexico City, where she also founded LIGA, Space for architecture, a non for profit platform focused on spatial practices.
Juana Berrío, Curator of Public Programs and Residency Manager
Juana Berrío is a curator, writer, educator, and arts programmer. First trained as an artist, she has developed an approach that combines an analytical and cross-disciplinary perspective with an intuitive sensibility. She earned an MFA from the University of Minnesota and an MA from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard. She co-founded and directed Kiria Koula, a gallery and bookstore in San Francisco, worked at the Walker Art Center and the New Museum, and has curated exhibitions in various institutions nationally and internationally. Juana was born and raised in Colombia, and remains closely connected to and curious about her own roots.
Nick Pilato, Director of Operations
Nick Pilato‘s ethos and approach to work and life were forged in the cauldron of self-discipline, collaborative leadership, and intense curiosity. He has over seven years of operational experience in art institutions across New York, most recently as the Director of Operations at Greene Naftali Gallery. Nick holds a MFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Isabella Nimmo, Curatorial and Production Coordinator
Isabella Nimmo is an organizer of artistic projects. Prior to Amant, she was Assistant Curator of Public Programs at the Tate in London and Producer of IdeasCity at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. She holds degrees from the London School of Economics and New York University. A social historian in another life, Isabella is especially interested in works that incorporate historiographical elements and allow for new ways of understanding and experiencing the past. A wandering Scot, she is currently based between Detroit and Brooklyn, New York.
Katia Porro, Associate Director Siena
Katia Porro is a curator, writer and translator with a Masters in Contemporary Art and Curation from Sorbonne Université, and M.A. in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies from Parsons Paris–The New School. She has curated exhibitions at the Fondation d’entreprise Ricard (Paris) and Gether Contemporary in Copenhagen, as well as other independent and off-site projects. In November 2020, she joined the team of the Amant Foundation as the Associate Director of their residency program in Siena, Italy.
Vivyan Zhang, Communications Coordinator
Vivyan Zhang is a designer with experience in copywriting, fashion and arts education. She holds a BFA in Integrated Design from Parsons School of Design where she developed a collaborative work ethic, and a passion for social practice and alternative fashion strategies. As a visual storyteller, she expresses her sentimentality through floral arranging, illustration and sharing meals. She is currently based between Detroit and New York.
Amant Foundation
315 Maujer St.
11206 Brooklyn, New York
contact@amant.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
media@culturalcounsel.com
For information about our residencies please contact:
residencies@amant.org
For general enquiries relating to our Siena residency please contact: siena@amant.org
Amant Siena Summer Internship
We are looking for an intern to assist the Associate Director of Amant Siena during the period of the residency from 12 June 2021 – 4 September 2021 in Chiusure, Italy.
The intern is asked to take on a range of tasks to aid in the overall success and efficiency of the residency program.
To apply, send a resume, cover letter, valid driver’s license (manual), current passport ID page, and two references in a single PDF document to katia@amant.org with “your first and last name followed by Amant Intern” in the subject line.
The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on April 12th, 2021.
- Provide general administrative support to Directors.
- Provide assistance to residents throughout.
- Assist in the organization of events held at Amant Siena.
- Assist in the organization of trips planned for residents.
- Ensure that the residents’ day to day needs are met.
- Ensure residents comply to the residency contract at all time.
- In consultation with Associate Director, produce and edit content for the Amant Siena website page and social media accounts.
- English and Italian Language required, Spanish is a plus.
- Driver’s License (manual transmission).
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Art History, Fine Art, Cultural Studies or a related field.
- Candidates should possess excellent verbal communication skills, attention to detail, a strong independent work ethic, and comfort working with the public, including public speaking.
- Experience with Microsoft Office, One Drive and Adobe Software preferred.
- Past experience working with artists and researchers is a plus.
The Amant Siena Intern will receive a stipend of 2,700 euros for the entire duration of the residency period.
All travel expenses will be covered by Amant.
The Intern will be provided with a private studio apartment during the residency program.
Visitor Engagement Coordinator
Amant is looking for a Visitor Engagement Coordinator to develop and implement our front-of-house operations and visitor services, helping to ensure Amant is an open and welcoming space for all.
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and the contact details for two referees in a single PDF to employment@amant.org, with “your name and visitor engagement coordinator” in the subject line.
This position is part-time, with an immediate start date.
• Oversee daily gallery opening, closing, and operation procedures.
• Lead front-of-house and visitor communications.
• Help assess and grow Amant’s audience.
• Update the foundation’s mailing list, directories, and calendar.
• Assist with the coordination and staffing of public events, including book launches, receptions, and meetings.
• Oversee the daily operations, staffing and sales of the Amant Bookstore and cafe.
• Sort mail, scan, copy and file documents.
• Assist with event intake and other special projects.
• Assist with implementation of security and safety practices.
• Coordinating guided tours.
• Coordinating the printing of our brochures and other graphic materials.
• Coordinating any interpretation or accessibility concerns.
• Oversee, schedule, and keep engaged a team of part-time Visitor Services Representatives.
• 4 year college degree or Master’s degree preferred.
• 2 years’ experience working in a front-of-house or visitor services position in a museum, gallery or nonprofit setting.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a small team environment.
• Proficiency in Office 365 and Adobe software.
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish a plus.
Salary is commensurate with experience.
This position is part-time (Thursday to Sunday) with an immediate start date.
About this website
Website and identity: Linked by Air.
The fleuron is a variable mark drawn using a polar equation. It is inspired by the flora in Amant’s courtyards, which change naturally with the season and as the institution grows.