Jolaine Frizzell
Founder and Managing Director, Ivy Advisory
Before founding Ivy Advisory, Jolaine was Director at The Institute for Emerging Art, where she spearheaded initiatives supporting early-career artists in honing their craft across the UAE, the UK, and beyond. With a proven track record of developing strategic partnerships and executing creative projects, Jolaine has curated external exhibitions at prestigious venues such as The Brunei Gallery, Maraya Art Centre, Aisha Alabbar Gallery, among others.
With over 12 years of experience as a gallery director in Zurich, London, and Dubai, Jolaine is a seasoned expert in the commercial art sector. Holding an MA in Art History from the University of Western Ontario (2004) and a BFA in Photography (2001) and a BA in Art History (2000) from the University of Calgary, Jolaine identifies a critical gap in the local art ecosystem, particularly in bridging the divide between regional artists and gallery representation.
With Ivy Advisory, she aims to foster knowledge partnerships, marketing development, and creative networking within a bespoke learning environment to empower talented artists outside the traditional commercial gallery model.
Q&A
Q: Most important next step for the UAE creative industry as a whole.
Q: What other place in the world should the UAE be looking to for inspiration?
Q: Favourite event in the UAE cultural calendar.
Q: Is there one thing you would do differently if you could start your professional career again?
Q: Any tips for submitting an application or succeeding in an interview?
Q: Essential book to read / movie to watch / artist to follow today.
Q: What was your first ever job?
Q: Did you go to university, and if so what did you study?