Jessica Arb Danial on the Art of Building Enduring Collections
people • ART ADVISORS
With over a decade of experience in trend forecasting and consumer intelligence, Jessica Arb Danial has built a career rooted in insight, strategy, and creative vision. Having worked in New York City for leading London-based research firms, she developed expertise in market trends and client strategy before shifting her focus to the art world.
Her leadership at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, cemented her role as a cultural force. As Board Chair, she oversaw a record-breaking $17 million capital campaign in 2017, became the museum’s youngest and first female President in 2019, and guided the $13 million deaccession of a Jackson Pollock piece to diversify the collection. Now President Emeritus, she continues to shape conversations on equity, curation, and legacy.
Today, as an independent art advisor, Jessica blends market acumen with curatorial instinct, helping clients and designers build collections that reflect values, taste, and vision. Based in New York City with clients nationwide, she brings an editorial eye and an advisor’s clarity to every collaboration.
Words: designeers
OCTOBER 2025
WEBSITE: jessicaarbdanial.com
INSTAGRAM: @jessicaarbdanial
DESIGNEERS
Jessica, you’ve had a fascinating career spanning trend forecasting, consumer intelligence, and your leadership at the Everson Museum of Art. What drew you into art advising, and how does that journey shape the way you collaborate with designers today?
Jessica Arb Danial
Every chapter has informed the next. Working in trend forecasting gave me an analytical understanding of cultural shifts and consumer behaviour. My time at the Everson Museum of Art helped me understand the power of collections and curatorial strategy. Moving into art advisory was a natural progression.
Many of my clients wanted to collect but didn’t know where to start. I realised there was an opportunity to combine market intelligence with a curatorial mindset, guiding people through the complex world of contemporary art and collecting with confidence and authenticity. That blend of insight and intuition shapes how I collaborate with interior designers today. Together, we ensure that every acquisition feels meaningful, contextual, and aligned with the overall vision of the space.
DESIGNEERS
Designers often call art their “secret weapon.” In your experience as an art advisor, what makes art so transformative in an interior?
Jessica Arb Danial
Art is the emotional centre of a space. You can have beautifully designed interiors, but without art, they often feel incomplete. The right artwork brings character, depth, and identity. It acts as a storytelling anchor, reflecting the client’s personality, heritage, and taste.
In my work as an art advisor, I view each piece as a narrative element. Whether it’s a bold contemporary painting or a sculptural installation, art introduces texture and meaning, transforming interiors into living collections rather than styled rooms.
DESIGNEERS
Can you share an example where the right artwork elevated a design in unexpected ways?
Jessica Arb Danial
One memorable project was a penthouse at the Four Seasons in Brickell, the tallest residential unit in the city. The interior design was serene and neutral, but the art needed to inject boldness, texture, and energy.
We replaced a traditional baby grand piano with a black steel sculpture by Carolyn Salas, which immediately shifted the visual rhythm of the room. We also introduced a series of hand-blown glass works by Ann Gardner, whose colours echoed Miami’s sunset palette. The client’s personal collection of rare artefacts, from fossils to meteors, became integral to the design. Together, the pieces created a bespoke art collection that told the client’s story while elevating the entire interior concept.
DESIGNEERS
How do you balance a client’s taste, the designer’s vision, and your curatorial instincts as an art advisor?
Jessica Arb Danial
It’s a collaboration built on trust. My role as an art advisor is to find the sweet spot between aesthetic harmony, personal meaning, and investment value.
With interior designers, I ensure that artworks complement architectural lines, material palettes, and lighting. With clients, I focus on emotional resonance and long-term relevance. The goal is to curate art collections that feel authentic to the individual but also enrich the spatial experience envisioned by the designer.
“Working within a museum setting taught me the importance of intentionality and long-term vision. Every acquisition should serve a purpose and contribute to a cohesive narrative.”
Jessica Arb Danial
DESIGNEERS
Where do you source artworks, and how do you approach discovery?
Jessica Arb Danial
My network includes galleries, art fairs, advisory contacts, and artist studios across the world. I regularly attend Art Basel, Frieze, and The Armory Show, which provide access to global trends and emerging talent.
But discovery often happens in quieter spaces too. Visiting artists in their studios allows me to understand their process and connect clients with work that carries depth and intention. That personal dialogue is what transforms collecting art from acquisition into experience.
DESIGNEERS
How has your museum experience influenced the way you curate private collections?
Jessica Arb Danial
Working within a museum setting taught me the importance of intentionality and long-term vision. Every acquisition should serve a purpose and contribute to a cohesive narrative.
For my private clients, I often suggest adopting a collection policy, a guiding framework that ensures each piece adds meaning. It could be as focused as collecting living artists or as broad as exploring themes of identity or materiality. This gives the collection direction and creates a stronger sense of identity and legacy.
DESIGNEERS
What advice would you offer to interior designers who want to engage more confidently with the art world?
Jessica Arb Danial
Start with curiosity, not intimidation. You don’t need to know every artist or movement; you just need to ask questions and explore.
One strong piece can transform a space, so think of art selection as a process of storytelling. Partner with a trusted art advisor or gallerist who can help align the art strategy with the design vision. The right collaborations always yield the most meaningful results.
DESIGNEERS
What trends are you observing in the intersection of art, design, and collecting?
Jessica Arb Danial
I’m fascinated by the rise of functional art and collectible design, where artists and designers blur boundaries. Pieces like Katie Stout’s sculptural lighting or Misha Kahn’s experimental furniture combine utility with artistic vision.
There’s also growing interest in site-specific commissions, where art is integrated into architecture or landscape. These collaborations between artists, designers, and collectors lead to truly immersive environments that reflect creativity and intention.
DESIGNEERS
Dream dinner guest?
Jessica Arb Danial
Beyoncé. She’s a visionary in constant reinvention, and her creative courage is inspiring.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite design hotel.
Jessica Arb Danial
The Shinmonzen in Kyoto, designed by Tadao Ando, for its harmony of architecture and art.
DESIGNEERS
Design hero?
Jessica Arb Danial
Albert C. Barnes, founder of The Barnes Foundation, is remembered for his bold curatorial vision that still feels personal and timeless.
