Emily McElwreath is an independent curator, art advisor, educator, and cultural strategist with over 18 years of experience in the contemporary art world. She is the founder of McElwreath Art Advisory and the creator and host of The Art Career Podcast, a leading platform for transparent dialogue across the creative industry.

Emily has developed public programs, organized panels, and lectured at institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. As former Director of Communications and Education at The Brant Foundation, she led national educational initiatives and contributed to major exhibitions featuring artists such as Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, and Nate Lowman.

An independent curator and dealer, Emily fosters meaningful connections between artists, collectors, and institutions. She has curated exhibitions for galleries, nonprofit spaces, and art fairs, and is currently preparing Luminous Forms, opening at Ucross Foundation on Founders Day 2025.

She is also a frequent speaker and guest critic at institutions such as NYU (alongside Jerry Saltz), the Neuberger Museum (with Marilyn Minter and Jasmine Wahi), Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts, the Wassaic Project, and NARS Foundation.

Her expertise spans museum-quality collections, cultural programming, and strategic artist engagement, making her a trusted voice in the evolving landscape of contemporary art.

Collection Advising

McElwreath Art Advisory exists to cover and sell the work of the most influential creators and artists in the world.

We guide private collectors and corporations in acquiring a single work, building a collection, or refining one already assembled.

Through our work with The Art Career, our cultural media company, we have direct access to the most influential people in the creative canon — artists including Mickalene Thomas, Marilyn Minter and Laurie Simmons; the critics who shape reputation, among them Jerry Saltz and Roberta Smith; and the leaders of institutions from the Cleveland Museum of Art to the Yale School of Art. Emily was previously Director of Education and Communications at The Brant Foundation.

Those relationships are the practice's real asset. They mean we hear what is happening while it is still forming, and they open doors to work that is placed quietly rather than publicly offered.

We pair that with an MA in Contemporary Art Criticism, a Christie's Art Business Certification, and eighteen years of acquisitions, private sales and consignment strategy — so we can tell you both whether a work is good and whether it is worth the money.

Creative Direction and Fine Art Management

With a background in fine art, curation, and strategic partnerships, I operate at the intersection of culture, creativity, and commerce — developing opportunities that meaningfully grow and sustain an artist’s career.

I serve as Creative Director and Fine Art Manager for artists and multidisciplinary creatives, shaping their fine art identity and guiding opportunities across exhibitions, public projects, brand partnerships, and creative collaborations. My work spans creative direction, curatorial strategy, project development, and relationship management — ensuring that every opportunity aligns with and elevates an artist’s vision while growing their presence at the intersection of art, culture, and commerce.