MUNTHE ART MONDAY: NINA JOHNSON

Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.

My name is Nina Johnson Milewski, I am the founder of Nina Johnson, a contemporary art gallery based in Miami, Florida. I’m also a mother to two sons and the wife of musician, Daniel Milewski.

Nina is wearing Arissa knit

Can you name some other female (artist) that inspires you and explain why they do so?

The gallery program has always heavily skewed toward female artists, this month we are opening an exhibition of sculptural works by Anna Betbeze, weavings by Sara Seistreem and a photography exhibition by Reynaldo Rivera. Each of these artists are dealing with gender in unique ways, for example, Reynaldo’s exhibition looks at the life and work of Miss Alex, a dancer and performer who became a muse of sorts for Rivera.

What has been the most challenging aspect of being a woman in the arts?

The most challenging aspect of being a woman in the arts is navigating the expectations foisted upon you by others. I have tried to work in a way that feels true to myself and the artists I represent and not allow public expectations or pre-conceived notions to define me.

Could you explain more about how being a woman has affected your career?

How hasn’t it? Being a woman is a defining characteristic of who I am. We live in a world where gender is an ever present construct, we are defined by it and whether we embrace it, push up against it, amplify it, it’s a constant in the way I encounter the world and the way the world encounters me.

Nina is wearing Arissa knit.

What would you like people to notice in your artwork?

I am not an artist, but as a dealer I want people to recognize the intuitive nature of our program and to invest time in really looking at the work. Our culture moves so quickly that audiences often don’t invest ample time into looking at work, artists have given their lives to these objects and it’s important to honor that with intentional viewing.