Emerald Gruin is a green-eyed, ivory anchor for the current state of art. Born in Sydney to a ceramicist mother, Emerald grew up in an art studio with a cat called Clay. The art aficionado spent her early 20’s modeling in London, Paris, and Hong Kong, before settling in New York.
“I was modeling in London, Paris and Hong Kong and very disenchanted with the modeling world. I would seek out museums and galleries for comfort, in between casting and shows. I would go there alone and sometimes sketch the works I liked, for hours and hours. I spent more and more time surrounded by art, galleries and museums. I was drawn to the diversity of subjects and always discovering something new. I felt if it was good art, I could connect with it on some level.”
She spent years working in the city peppering her resume with various jobs in the events and art world before opening her first art gallery in Lower East Side. ROX NYC was the most scandalous spot New York city had seen in a while. It was a defiant and rambunctious cause and their first show, a campaign for ‘Free The Nipple’ was complete with a police shut down. She now runs Gruin Gallery with her husband Adrian Gruin. Emerald’s art curation has put their shows on the map and enabled her to work with such art stars as Spencer Tunick, Michael Wolf and Chen Jiagang. We get a tour inside the head of art world’s rising star.
What was the first piece of art you felt you loved?
story / Koko Ntuen