VVA VirginiaVisualArts Ltd
CULTIVATING ARTISTIC FUTURES & CATALYST FOR CONTEMPORARY VISIONARIES
With a wealth of experience spanning nearly three decades, Virginia Damtsa, Director of VVA VirginiaVisualArts Ltd., stands as a seasoned and respected Art Dealer, Gallerist, Curator, Cultural Strategist and Artist Agent, bringing a unique and invaluable perspective to the art world.
From pioneering Riflemaker in the 2000s to spearheading VirginiaVisualArts in 2018, collaborating with Peter Gabriel on the i/o art & music project and been appointed Director of Arts & Culture at the Town Hall in King's Cross in 2025, her experience is vast.
At the age of sixteen, Damtsa entered the art market to help her uncle to open the Museum of Alekos K. Damtsa, in The Art Centre Giorgio de Chirico. While she was studying her Master's degrees in Art Management at the University of the Arts and Contemporary Art at Sotheby's, she converted her apartment into a gallery showcasing emerging artists and curated several exhibitions in her space, other galleries and pop-up spaces.
From 2004-2017, she co-owned with composer and writer Tot Taylor, Riflemaker London, a contemporary art gallery housed in a historic gunmaker's workshop off Regent Street. Built in 1712, it is one of the oldest public buildings in the West End of London. In addition to her gallery work, she also lectured at Christie's for the Master's degree in Art, Law, and Business program.
Damtsa, who co- founded iconic gallery Riflemaker, counts Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran and Michael Seresin, cinematographer of Harry Potter, amongst her collectors. Annie Lennox has also been a long-standing enthusiast of the gallery’s representation of visionary powerful artists. Virginia Damtsa is also working with musician Peter Gabriel on a collaboration of art and music for his new i/o album, which features works by prominent artists such as Ai Weiwei, Nick Cave, Cornelia Parker, Olafur Eliasson, Annette Messager, Tim Shaw, David Spriggs, and others.
Curated Exhibitions:
Damtsa curated several exhibitions with emerging and established artists such as Martin Kippenberger and Maria Papamitriou, Judy Chicago, Takis, Yoko Ono, William S. Burroughs, Liliane Lijn, Penelope Slinger, Gavin Turk, Keith Tyson, Michael Craig-Martin, Gordon Cheung, Chris Levine, Stuart Pearson Wright, Shoja Azari, Christopher Bucklow, John Maeda, Julie Verhoeven, Ralph Ziman, Conrad Shawcross, Wolfe von Lenkiewicz and many others.
In 2018, Virginia Damtsa founded VirginiaVisualArts, a gallery and artist's agency that represents, manages fifty artists and organises more than twenty exhibitions per year. The artist’s agency helps artists to break into the art market with introductions, exhibitions, and new opportunities. She works closely with the artist as a strategist, mentor, advisor, consultant, PR and also assisting on sales and promotion.
She also runs her own art school where she teaches professionals about art history and the art market. She mentors Artists and Creatives, writes about art in major financial newspapers, features on TV as an Art World Expert and creates links and sales between artists, galleries, major collectors and museums.
With exhibition spaces in prime locations across London, including Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Marylebone, King’s Ctoss and Notting Hill, VirginiaVisualArts provides an immersive and engaging environment for collectors and art enthusiasts to discover and experience the best talent in the art world. Damtsa also regularly participates in leading art fairs and collaborates with other galleries to expand her artists' exposure and reach. She curates more than twenty exhibitions a year.
In addition to running her gallery/agency and curatorial activities, Damtsa is also collaborating with musician Peter Gabriel on a groundbreaking project that merges art and music for his new i/o album. The project features the works of prominent artists such as Ai Weiwei, Cornelia Parker, Olafur Eliasson, Annette Messager, Barthélémy Toguo, Tim Shaw, Henry Hudson, Antony Micallef, David Spriggs and other great names to be revealed in an exhibition in 2025.
References:
All artists need help and support to build their careers and Virginia Damtsa is well equipped to provide that. Judy Chicago, Artist
We are also very grateful to Virginia Damtsa for exactly ten years ago introducing us to Judy Chicago here at the Serpentine, Hans Ulrich Obrist, art curator and critic, artistic director at the Serpentine Galleries
If I was an Artist, Virginia would be my Agent. Anthony D’Offay, Art Dealer, Curator, Collector
Virginia's in depth knowledge of the working of the art market is refreshing as it comes from real experience. She is conscientious with an outstanding eye for talent and always works with the thoughtful concern of the professional . I would encourage anyone to discuss with her openly the art market as she is always an excellent candidate to open up new ideas and exciting possibilities. Wolfe von Lenkiewicz, Artist
Virginia thank you for all your help this year and your determination. You are a tour de force. Minnie Weisz, Artist
I worked with Virginia on the IO project where she coordinated and helped to select artists for each of the different songs. It’s been a pleasure to work with her. She made some great recommendations, was very thorough putting everything together and her deep knowledge of the art world was a real asset for our project. Peter Gabriel, Musician
