Art Café: Crossing Borders – Building an International Art Career

Thursday 18th June, 14:00 GMT | Online | Free

Making it as an artist in your home country is one thing. Building a career that crosses borders, reaches international collectors, and opens doors in new markets is something else entirely and for many artists, it feels out of reach.

This Art Café session is dedicated to changing that. In an open, informal conversation, four speakers who have navigated the international art world from very different perspectives will share what it actually takes to build a practice and a presence beyond your own borders.

Whether you are an artist looking to exhibit internationally, seeking representation abroad, or simply wondering how to make your work visible to a global audience, this session will give you real insight, honest advice, and practical ideas to take away.

The conversation will explore topics such as:

• How to identify the right international markets for your work
• What it takes to build meaningful relationships with galleries, collectors, and curators abroad
• How to present yourself and your practice to international audiences
• The role of online presence and social media in crossing geographical boundaries
• How to navigate cultural differences in the art market
• What artists wish they had known earlier about building an international career

This session is free and open to all. Come ready to listen, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

Speakers

Shirley-Ann O’Neill is a Director of the Visual Artists Association and a core figure in VAA’s mentorship and artist development programmes. With extensive experience supporting artists at all stages of their careers, she works closely with artists to help them grow their practice, build visibility, and navigate the professional art world with confidence. Shirley-Ann brings a strategic, artist-centred perspective to everything she does and has a deep understanding of what it takes to build a sustainable and internationally recognised career.

Tamara Andjus is a Swiss-based artist known for her vibrant abstract figurative paintings, characterised by dynamic brushwork, layered compositions, and emotionally charged colour. Originally trained in law, she followed her lifelong passion for painting and has since exhibited across New York, Paris, London, Dubai, Barcelona, Rome, and Zurich. Represented by Fame Gallery in Zurich and Gallery Steiner in Vienna, she has built a genuinely international career while also curating exhibitions for other artists in Switzerland and engaging in humanitarian and community projects. Her work is held in private collections worldwide.

Sofía Ruiz is a Costa Rican artist whose paintings blend realism, texture, and surrealist imagery to explore themes of memory, identity, and otherness. Trained in painting and printmaking at the University of Costa Rica, she has participated in residencies in Argentina, Cuba, South Korea, and the United States, and has exhibited in over 35 shows across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America – including at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Museum of Costa Rican Art, and the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona. A multiple award-winner with a practice rooted in deeply personal experience, she is one of the most internationally active Latin American artists working today.

Laura O’Hare is a co-founder and Director of the Visual Artists Association, with over a decade of experience in the fine arts sector. She leads the artistic and business development of VAA and serves as Director of the Visual Art Open Prize, the Professional Artist Award, and the International Exhibition and Scholarship Prize. With an extensive network spanning arts organisations, galleries, collectors, and commercial partners, and a background as a solicitor specialising in Employment Law, Laura brings a rare combination of creative and professional expertise to supporting artists at every stage of their careers.

Art Café webinars are free and open for all to attend. If you would like access to the full VAA Events calendar and everything the Visual Artists Association has to offer, you can become a member today here: https://visual-artists.org/join/ 

For any questions, feel free to contact us at events@visual-artists.org