Olu & CompanyOlu & Company founder and CEO Amani Olu has been recognized for revolutionizing art world marketing by turning passion into action through curiosity, multitasking and a drive to support artists, activists and creative change-makers. The agency is strategically growing its team of diverse and specialized talent, welcoming team members with expertise in skill sets such as social media, communications, public relations, strategy and comprehensive media research. Continually growing its suite of offerings, Olu & Company provides clients with premier backend website development, influencer cultivation and business plans that pinpoint actionable steps to generate revenue and exposure to the right audiences. The agency also offers career development opportunities for artists, assisting with the sourcing and preparation of applications for exhibitions, residences and grants among other relevant opportunities for career advancement. The Olu & Company team is located across the US, from Miami and Atlanta to Detroit and New York City.
Notable long-term clients
Ford Foundation Gallery, Barrett Barrera Projects, More Art, The Hole, Dario Calmese, Skinner Auctioneers, Deem Journal
What was your biggest business challenge this year and how did your team overcome it?
As an arts business focused on creative collaboration, exhibition openings, in-person events and art fairs, Olu & Company’s internal practice shifted from hands-on support to digital facilitation at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite an uncertain season of arts programming and in-person openings on pause, Olu & Company experienced a huge amount of growth during the pandemic. With an influx of client requests came the challenge of growing our team thoughtfully and putting sustainable processes in place.
This past year has centered Black, Indigenous and creators of color at the forefront of long-delayed conversations, and because Olu & Company is one of the only premier Black-led arts marketing firms, we were sought after like never before. Our growing client roster prompted internal growth on a national scale. We brought in editors and arts experts, writers and collaborators in all creative disciplines to grow and work with top-tier artists like Hank Willis Thomas and Ekene Ijeoma.
Onboarding remotely has been a rewarding challenge, one that has made our processes even stronger and more organized across time zones. We’ve expanded our offerings, grown our client partnerships and broadened our talent-base all due to COVID-19 and a shift in artworld conversations—specifically towards BIPOC artists and racial justice.
We’ve implemented new software tools to increase productivity, researched effective modes of training remotely and meticulously compiled case studies, documents and resources all catered to the success of our clients and our team.
