The global licensing community is powered by an incredible group of professionals whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. Each week we’re profiling one of these professionals in this ongoing series developed in partnership with MyMediaBox.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find YOU)?
Artestar was my first foray into licensing. I come from a design background and had little knowledge of  what licensing was when I came across Artestar.  I was working at a design agency at the time and was exploring a way to integrate art and design with business. So, I met with the team at Artestar and learned about the Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat licensing programs and began as the Marketing and Sales Assistant.

What’s your biggest personal and professional accomplishment?
Having the opportunity to curate and coordinate a variety of different high profile collaborations including Robert Mapplethorpe / Raf Simons, Keith Haring / Coach, Basquiat / Off-White among many others. As an agent, the most rewarding experience is connecting brands and artists through a common theme or story and then being able to actualize it. It’s such a great feeling to be tasked by a client (an artist, estate or foundation in my case) and then to be able to work towards its materialization. For example, I sat down with The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation four years ago and they had three main goals. First to build out a full luxury program. Second, to create watches based on designs created by Robert in his life, reinterpreted and then recreated. And third, a fine jewelry line based again on designs Robert made during his lifetime. Four years later we’ve hit all three. Mapplethorpe / Raf Simons, Mapplethorpe / Shinola, and Mapplethorpe / Repossi.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
In recent years there’s been a huge trend towards mashups. It was amazing to finally see the Keith Haring x Mickey Mouse program come to life with Coach, Levi’s, Swatch, Stance…etc. The Brooklyn Nets NBA city edition x Basquiat and the WB x Basquiat project at Uniqlo was so widely well received. There is a real hunger for unique content and stories that go beyond just the artist or just the brand story.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
At the most basic level, thinking about how to grow. I’m grappling with what artist could be developed into the next global licensing program, beyond Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. What is the future of art licensing?

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? OR What is your favorite quote?
From Artestar President, David Stark, “every deal closes.” The idea that every good idea eventually comes to fruition. It’s hopeful and it’s true.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you)
Raf Simons x Robert Mapplethorpe. Not only because I coordinated it but also, it was one of the first deals I curated at the couture level. I had the opportunity to go to Italy and meet with Raf Simons and see the show in person which was a really spectacular experience. It’s also a shining moment in art licensing–a complete collection that was full homage to Robert Mapplethorpe. Also, with Raf being such an influential global designer, coupled with the Mapplethorpe Foundation never having done a collaboration at that scale, it really made a splash. The actual product was incredible too.

The last licensed product I bought was…
A vintage Mortal Kombat Jade T-shirt.

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