Mysteries Unraveled

AFH Alumna Arielle Bremby today.

From a young age, Arielle Bremby was drawn to the world of art and creation. Growing up in Lawrence, Kansas, she was always eager to explore different avenues and artistic mediums. Her parents recognized this passion immediately and enrolled her in painting lessons by the time she was in elementary school. As a very quiet and reserved kid, Arielle describes art when she was young as a contained hobby that allowed her to express herself.

In high school, it was hard to find an artistic medium that Arielle didn’t try to attempt. From pottery to metal smithing to jewelry making and oil painting, she was obsessed with getting her hands dirty with new projects. Her curiosity extended beyond her art classes as well. Arielle joined the debate team, showcasing her love for solving puzzles and unraveling complex ideas. For her, the way she communicated her thoughts was through creativity and critical thinking, often opting to create dioramas or other hands-on assignments for her required classes.

Arielle's passion for art led her to pursue a painting degree at Boston University (BU) after high school. During her time there, her artistic repertoire continued to expand into realms of glassblowing and printmaking. With inspiration from a professor of art history, she discovered a new avenue for understanding art. Instead of interpreting art on an objective, technical level, Arielle credits her introduction to art history as her initial understanding of art in a historical, societal context.

After graduating from BU in 2012, Arielle's curiosity and newfound love for art history led her towards a path she hadn’t anticipated—working as a college admission counselor for Lesley University where she reviewed portfolios and spoke with young artists about their work. Arielle loved to witness the budding excitement of the students she met, but the associated travel was difficult to sustain. 

It was through this work with teen artists in the Boston area that she first heard about Artists for Humanity (AFH). Intrigued by AFH's mission and the raving teen participants she had met through her work, Arielle became determined to get involved. When she saw they had an opening for an events manager, she knew it would be her next step.

In 2013, Arielle began working as an Events Manager at the AFH EpiCenter, a popular venue that hosts community and corporate events and home to AFH’s gallery space. Having graduated from college only one year prior, she wasn’t quite comfortable broadcasting her artistic abilities. Yet one night, during one of AFH’s events, she shared a bit about herself with AFH Co-Founder and longtime AFH mentor Rob Gibbs. Rob immediately realized she was a talented artist with great potential and invited her to become a Painting Mentor for the summer of 2014.

As a mentor in the AFH Painting Studio, Arielle was tasked with giving new teens a foundational understanding of artistic expression and the AFH community. As a mentor, she found herself nurturing the same curiosity and love for art she saw within herself as a young artist. Arielle described her role as teaching teens how to be fluent in artistic jargon and helping them develop their identities as artists. 

Arielle's teen mentees with their self-portraits (Photo Credit: Arielle Bremby).

In her role as a mentor at AFH, Arielle didn’t expect to learn so much about herself in the process or build confidence in her ability to excel in the art world. But upon completion she had a new-found trust in herself and clarity for what was next. Although conflicted about leaving, the endless support from the community she had found at AFH inspired her to pursue a masters degree.

Then AFH mentor Arielle (top row, second from right) with fellow AFH mentors on the last day of summer studio in 2014.

Still brimming with curiosity for all that she hadn’t touched and explored, Arielle studied contemporary art theory at Sotheby’s Institute. While in grad school, her love for art history was solidified, and she began interning at Swann Auction Galleries in Manhattan. Over the next five years, she worked her way up to become a junior specialist, excited every day by the opportunity to evaluate artwork, uncover histories, and determine an artwork’s value based on her findings.

(L) Photo by Arielle while working at the auction house, she called “the thrill of the hunt!” and (R) Syrian-American artist Diana Al-Hadid poses under her sculpture "Phantom Limb," which Arielle helped install at the Armory Show in 2021. 

Arielle's career continued to grow as she looked for new opportunities to test her abilities. She had a brief stint working as a registrar at a gallery in Chelsea before she became the studio manager for renowned artist Diana Al-Hadid. In working as a studio manager, Arielle's problem-solving and improvisation skills were put to the test, especially while navigating the new job during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Today, Arielle works with a global art collection for a major corporation, where she is able to exercise her curiosity and detective skills every day. She started at the company as a contractor, but after making her enthusiasm and dedication to the work clear, she was offered a full-time position as the in-house appraiser and researcher. Working at a company with such a vast art collection and constant mysteries that need to be solved, it is clear that Arielle has found her place. 

Reflecting on her story, Arielle holds a deep appreciation for her experience at AFH. Though her time as a mentor was limited, the impact it had on her confidence and professional development was endless. Nowadays, as she works in New York City managing this private collection, she describes the time she is able to attend AFH events as a breath of fresh air. As she continues to unravel art mysteries from across the globe, Arielle remains grateful for the formative time she spent at AFH, and never forgets the second family she was able to find. 

Follow Arielle’s journey on instagram @brembles