Tandem was built out of frustration. My co-founder, Dr. Eliza Goodpasture, and I were tired of being freelance arts writers. Research, pitch, rejection, repeat. Sometimes it seemed to be just a numbers game. Tandem was created so we could write pieces that focus on undervalued and spectacular contemporary artists, all in conversation with historical art. At Tandem, historical art would always be at the center of the work, not as a footnote.

Tandem evolved into a weekly digital publication, featuring artist interviews, opinion pieces, and a monthly bulletin detailing what we thought about art at the moment. Outside of our digital work, last fall I created the first Tandem event: Tandem x ESSELL presents Tomas Pintos.

The event was meant to bring together a whole host of Barcelona creatives to build a creative space where the chosen artist, Argentine dancer and choreographer Tomas Pintos, could create without the restrictions of what everyone else wanted.

The result was something that went well beyond a performance piece. The space was transformed into a gallery exposition, with frosted windows and clothes as sculpture.

During the performance, Pintos moved slowly through the crowd to stripped-back classical music. It was a space that recognized that art is always a community event. The audience and the performer were in direct conversation.

Tandem now is looking outward, expanding our contributor network, searching for new artists, and continuing to hone the Tandem ethos.

Art direction by Isabella Fox Arias. Branding by Mirando Fox Arias.