Adefolakunmi Adenugba, Art Advisor and Development Manager, LGB 2013
Adefolakunmi Adenugba
La Grande Boissière, 2013
Art Advisor and Development Manager
USA
Find more about me:
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Instagram @iseda.co
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Linkedin: Adefolakunmi Adenugba
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My favourite Ecolint memories were my English and History courses. These classes were integral to where I am now.
Today, I am an art advisor at ISE-DA and a Development Manager in Arts and Culture at Orange Barrel Media. I’m based in Brooklyn, New York, first moving to the city in 2019.
I launched my own art advisory, ISE-DA, focused on the cultural stewardship of Black contemporary art. My primary goal with this advisory is to help Black professionals collect works by Black artists internationally and build culturally impactful art collections. The services of the advisory also extend into programming and serving as a consultant for art organizations that are focused on Black contemporary art.
My favourite Ecolint memories were my English and History courses. These classes were integral to where I am now. I understood more about different black histories globally. I also understood the value of arguing for other perspectives and how evidence can be manipulated to weave a certain narrative that benefits the status quo. It showed me the importance of unveiling untold histories and giving them life.
The vast curriculum at Ecolint kickstarted my development into a well-rounded student. The Ecolint community socially eased me into understanding how to build strong community bonds because I was used to relating to others from different backgrounds. With Ecolint’s international student body, it was crucial to develop these skills, as I was immersed in an intellectually strong international environment. Ecolint allowed me to cultivate a strong cultural worldview, a global perspective, and a better understanding of nuanced situations from an early age. These experiences shaped my interest in building an international and interconnected career and life community.
Ecolint allowed me to cultivate a strong cultural worldview, a global perspective, and a better understanding of nuanced situations from an early age. These experiences shaped my interest in building an international and interconnected career and life community.
If I had to do it all over again, I would focus more on developing stronger language skills. This is an area where I am limited and in my profession, I recognize how valuable it is to understand another language fluently. Strong language skills can also open up a new way of thinking for a professional.
My words of wisdom to current students: Your environment can shape your actions. It’s important to surround yourself with the right community of people, with shared values, and to always strive to be in an environment that can challenge you. I would also encourage students to trust themselves and not focus too much on what others are doing. By noticing how it may differ from your pursuits and interests, it is easy to feel discouraged. I have recognized that our individual experiences and strengths can easily shape a successful life personally and professionally by leaning into what makes you unique.
I want my legacy to be that I am an expert, accomplished entrepreneur, and art historian. I want to be remembered for building support for Black cultural production by forming notable art collections, cultivating new Black collectors, and encouraging investment into Black artistry. I also want my legacy to include being someone who proficiently shaped a fulfilling personal and professional life that involved significant travel, a deep love for her community, and who thoroughly enjoyed her life.