new testimonials - Devi Singh

Curator,
Art Advisor &
Art Consultant.

Devi Singh

Testimonials

The Singh Twins

Photo credit Christopher Doyle

Contemporary British Artists MBE

Working with Devi on our solo exhibition at Snape Maltings this past year has been an absolute pleasure. From initial discussions right up to the opening of the show in May, we have been impressed by Devi’s professionalism and attention to detail, ensuring that installation of the artworks were carried out to our exact requirements, to the highest level, and with the utmost care. Her commitment to promoting the exhibition resulted in it receiving valuable main stream media exposure and contributed to the huge success of the private view launch. On a personal level her warm, accommodating and approachable manner was reassuring. We feel that we’ve made a friend for life and look forward to working together again.

Ian Rowlands

~ Podcaster with ‘Beneath the Stream’

~ Explorer of the human experience in the non-human world ‘Wild Soul’

Director of arts-science-biodiversity non-profit Incredible Oceans.

Devi was involved from start to finish in the development and delivery of a new arts & environment festival in Suffolk ‘Siren’ from 29th July-9th August 2019. She was key in the conceptual development work and showed enormous imagination and initiative in bringing those ideas to the team and then into reality. Her team working skills made everything go smoothly. However, for me her most outstanding gift is her breadth of experience, knowledge and networks. As a consequence, she was our highly effective doorway into the creative sector, combined with an effortless instinct for understanding which artists and performers would be best for us. She contacted and liaised with a diverse range of artists and creative practitioners, and curated their participation in the festival programme. She also carried out a similar, and highly effective, role with a range of musicians and performers who took part. Most crucially she liaised with, and project managed, the festival’s principle sculptor and his large-scale art installation on Aldeburgh beach. Quite simply she made the festival the success it was. When I think of Devi the first words that leap out are: warmth; knowledge; and creativity. She matches her knowledge and networks around fine arts, music and performance with a gift for communication and relationship management, which means that not only do ideas spring out of her but she has the contacts and the ability to deliver on those ideas. Integrity, generosity and maturity are also her hallmarks, but she wraps those qualities with her warmth, approachability and a huge sense of fun. In short, she’s a pleasure to work with.

Jennifer Dyer

Founder and Director, JH2 Media

As a television production company, Devi was invited initially to produce a logo for the company. It was crucial that the design would be visually impacting and memorable. Devi produced some wonderful conceptual designs that met our brief and reflected the personality of the company. In keeping with her creative talent once a series of programming was completed and a broadcast date / channel was eminent, we were able to consult with Devi to assist with the PR of the programming. Namely the Evander Holyfield documentary titled ‘The Real Deal Holyfield’ which aired internationally and was promoted at Mip TV in Cannes, France. Devi is passionate, informative and experienced in many areas… and it’s an absolute pleasure to be in her company.

Sarah Bardwell

Executive Director, Britten Pears Arts

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with Devi in 2019 with her knowledgeable and enthusiastic attitude. Her support in arranging an installation at the Red House and Snape Maltings was essential and without her involvement it would not have happened. Not only did she passionately, yet clearly, describe the piece in advance she also helped us think through the logistics at all stages of the planning and installation. Her kind and thoughtful introduction to Roger Hardy was entirely professional.

Roger Hardy

Artist

I first met Devi when she invited me to create an art installation as part of the Siren, an Arts and Environmental Festvial. I am so pleased I undertook the project. After her initial briefing Devi paved the way for a very successful and creatively rewarding project. She was instrumental with all aspects of making it happen, from organising all the PR, press and TV, to encouraging words where nothing seemed too much. Devi worked her magic on paving the way for the installation to go on tour to Snape Matings concert hall grounds and The Red House, home of the Britten Pears Arts.If Devi were to approach me again, I would jump in with both feet, as I know I and the project would be in the best possible hands.

Elma Glasgow

Inclusive engagement Consultant.

Devi curated the Power of Stories exhibition, featuring three original costumes from ‘Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 1 movie, at Snape Maltings in winter 2022/23. Following the original award-winning exhibition in Ipswich in 2021, I led the Suffolk tour and wanted Devi to work on Snape’s version after meeting her and hearing about her passion for decolonised practices.

This was no mean feat, considering the emotional weight and symbolism of the costumes, and a sense of ownership by the Black community who had been very engaged in the Ipswich exhibition. Also, the space for the exhibition was the large, cavernous Snape Maltings Concert Hall foyer, usually used as a thoroughfare. Plus, Snape had never seen Black art of any kind on its walls before. Devi took the curation in the appropriate direction, ensuring the exhibition was authentic, honest, impactful, and compelling.

Devi worked with archivists at The Red House to identify Benjamin Britten stories fitting for Snape’s version of Power of Stories. As it was a decolonised approach, she ensured the narratives were appropriately written, and positioned within the exhibition. She also ran community art workshops to create Black-created artworks for the exhibitions, enabling local people to share their stories and sell work.

Working with the operations team at Snape Maltings, Devi oversaw the installation of what became a hugely successful exhibition which attracted thousands of visitors.

I have every confidence in Devi’s practices and her ability to work with a diversity of exhibitions.

Angela A’court PS

Artist, New York

I met Devi in 2010 when my work was first exhibited with Thompsons Gallery in the UK. From that introductory meeting, it has been a pleasure to work with Devi, on both a professional and personal basis. Devi has a great combination of being highly efficient with the organisational and business process, alongside having a wonderful personable way of interacting.Regarding the business side, she consistently follows through, is great at communication and keeping in regular touch with updates. This has been demonstrated recently with a solo show of my work at Thompsons. Devi was my go to from start to finish. From initial discussions to hanging, organising, PR, marketing and ultimately a successful show. She has a great ability to supervise and assemble all the pieces under pressure whilst keeping her team working as a happy cohesive unit. On a personal level, Devi has a wonderful way of working with people, she gets the job done whilst maintaining a sense of fun and adventure. She has always provided a strong supportive role which for me, which as an artist is an important piece. Over the years we have become good friends and getting to know her is to discover her extensive background in the arts, not least her considerable background in music. Devi has an innate aesthetic of the arts and an instinct for people, which makes working with her a pleasure.

Jila Peacock

Artist

My professional collaboration with Devi Singh started in the summer of 2021 with the planning of an exhibition of 20 new images which was installed in the Dovecote gallery at Snape Maltings during the month of July. The show 7HEAVENS, was inspired by the work of Composer Jonathan Harvey and a recording of his music and of seven of his students was played in the gallery alongside the framed works. Devi Singh’s background in music and her long experience as an accomplished curator resulted in a very successful show.

Our success continued with the organisation and installation of a major show of Japanese and Persian Calligraphy in January 2025, at the Wolfson Gallery and Library at SOAS University of London.

Devi’s organisation started six months before the show. Her dedication, energy and attention to every detail resulted in a faultless build-up and installation of the exhibition. This continued with impeccable management of invitations and several private views during the four-month duration of the show.

The success of both these shows depended on her dedication and consummate ability as a curatorand I’m pleased to seek her advise and expertise as my personal artist agent.

For enquiries about art advisory, speaking, or anything else…