Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

XOX

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK this is not a comment of first-hand experience, but does anyone know why this gallery has such fast staff turnover? It seems like every week there's an ad for assistant, registrar or archivist on NYFA. It's a very reputable gallery, serious artists, but that question always baffled me. Does anyone have any stories to tell?
-Curious

Anonymous said...

I worked here as an intern several years ago. At the time it was Bonakdar-Jancou, and not once in the 6 months I was there did she ever acknowledge my presence, say hello, ask my name, etc.

Found out from my very good friend who interviewed for asst dir job that she has a strict class-based policy---upper management should not speak to underlings, no fraternizing, no talking, etc. The reason? "I don't care what anyone did last night or on vacation." Literally told my friend that if she got the job she was not to speak to any of the underlings except about business. WOW! My experience is she's a narcissist. self-hating woman who is a snob and insecure.

Anonymous said...

I was told by a Gallerist that I dodged a serious bullet when I decided not to take an opening there. Its true though always is an add for someone there...

Anonymous said...

have had a long business relationship w\the gallery without ever having a problem w\ownership or staff. current staff is excellent and easy to work with.

Anonymous said...

Consigned 2 works with TBG for resale and they found buyers very quickly and paid me immediately for both.

Anonymous said...

She knows her stuff better than perhaps anyone else seen in the business. I little tough and at times cold, but the gallery's program deserves huge respect.

Anonymous said...

Well, I have no proof but like MANY galleries I think they get young staff for a cheap price who in turn who don't stay long. Certainly TBG is a "serious" gallery. Why should they care how your vacation was? If you want love at the office, work for your mother!

Anonymous said...

I interviewed for an entry level position there years ago. Had a great first interview with Ethan, her director, and was then called back for a second interview with both Ethan and Tanya. She sat through the interview looking immensely bored, barely asked questions, and I don't think she made eye contact once. Needless to say I didn't get the gig, and needless to say, I was fine with that!

I don't think that employers need to fraternize with their employees, and I have nothing but enthusiasm for a reasonable level of professional discretion and distance (having worked for a few oversharing bosses), but Tanya's cold and indifferent demeanor was just rude. I have enormous respect for her accomplishments as a gallerist and think she has one of the top 3 programs in New York right now, but I would never want to work for her.

Anonymous said...

i interviewed for one of the positions advertised on NYFA, arrived for the interview promptly at 9:55am for the 10am appointment. Ethan, who i was going to interview with arrived at the gallery until 10:20am (carrying a bag with his coffee and pastry), told me that it would be a few minutes until we sat down to talk. at 10:35am he finally came out to meet me, we talked for 45 min, he now had coffee/pastry breadth, mentioned that Tanya would join us in a few minutes, but never did. he then balked when i mentioned my salary requirement. the whole interview experience slowly became really unprofessional by Ethan, he was not a very good interviewer at all, i was really surprised, basically he sucked and i'm glad i never spoke to him or Tanya. Ethan: learn to interview and wash out your coffee/pastry breadth before interviewing potential employees.

Anonymous said...

I had nearly and identical interview experience with Tanya and Ethan (as described by the Nov 10, 2008 poster). I was very well qualified individual with 8 years under my belt. Tanya couldn't even make eye contact with me then just stood up and walked away while I was mid-sentence. The most rude interview experience of my life. You can't shake a hand and say, "thanks"? Thank God I never got that job, what a terror.

Anonymous said...

Worst interview experience I ever had (this was about 5 years ago.) First meeting with Ethan and the person I would be replacing went fine. Second interview with TB was 25 solid minutes of her cussing me out. Every other word started with F or S. After telling me I was obviously crap at my current job she went on to trash-talk several specific members of her staff, who were in earshot. I was totally blindsided by her behavior. I never heard back either -- who knows, maybe I'll get a call back after 5 years. I also had a story from a former coworker sitting waiting for an interview with her for a looong time, while trying not to listen to her scream down the phone at a vendor in the next room.

Anonymous said...

I also interviewed with her once, years ago, when she was still in Soho. Nice gallery, strong program, but she is deeply contemptuous of anyone who isn't one of her artists (i assume) or especially her collectors, Not nice.

Anonymous said...

I worked for the gallery for over five years and I always found my fellow staff members to be very professional. Everyone works extremely hard to support the artists in every capacity and the artists themselves are an absolute pleasure to work with and for.

In the office everybody is expected to contribute their full energy and effort; like any fast-paced job it can be stressful, but I think because the work is challenging there is always something new to learn, and lots of opportunity for advancement. I learned so much from Tanya and the gallery directors, and had a really good relationship with all of them throughout the course of my time there.