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Photagraph: Amir Hazim
Sophie Mayuko Arni
Founder, Managing Director
Sophie Mayuko Arni is an art curator and editor based between Tokyo and Dubai. She is the curator of the "East-East: UAE meets Japan" exhibition series, which has been featured in The National, Dubai TV, Khaleej Times, Identity Magazine, Vogue Arabia, and Bijutsu Techo. With over 20 participating artists, the exhibition is currently at its fifth volume and has toured multiple cities in the UAE and Japan, including Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi Project Space, 2016), Dubai (CHI-KA Space at Alserkal Avenue, 2017-18), Tokyo (BLOCK HOUSE, HB.Nezu, 2020), and Atami (ATAMI ART GRANT at Hotel Acao Annex, 2022).
Originally Swiss-Japanese, Sophie was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and grew up between the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe. She graduated with a B.A. in Art & Art History from NYU Abu Dhabi and with an MPhil in Arts Studies and Curatorial Practices from Tokyo University of the Arts. Her previous experience in the arts includes working at Sotheby's in London and Christie's in New York, and consulting the CEO’s Office of Startbahn, Japan’s leading blockchain infrastructure for the art industry.
She founded Global Art Daily during her studies at NYU Abu Dhabi. The publication now counts over 100 artist interviews. Appearing on panel talks about Asian and Arab contemporary art, Sophie has also written for Arab News Japan, SOLE Magazine, NYLON Japan, and The Fiker Institute, a Dubai-based think tank.
In 2022, she was recognized by the UAE Embassy in Japan for her efforts to bridge the UAE and Japan artistic scenes as part of the 50th Anniversary of UAE-Japan Diplomatic Relations.
Press
Vamika Sinha, "Young Voices from Dubai", Canvas, Issue 99. July - August 2021. (mentioned p.190)
Anna Seaman, "NYU student launches art website from Abu Dhabi", The National, February 17th, 2016.
Contact
For press and speaking inquiries: sophie.arni@globalartdaily.com
For general inquiries: info@globalartdaily.com
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