For the past decade, Third Eye has been a pivotal force in the cultural landscape, collaborating with leading creative talents to shape the future of art, architecture, design, and hospitality. This year, the agency excelled in managing media campaigns for Frieze Art Fairs' acquisition of The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago, executing four complementary campaigns. Noteworthy achievements include the successful launch of White Cube’s Upper East Side space, the opening of the Albert Frey Aluminaire House at Palm Springs Art Museum, and the debut of Mickalene Thomas’s international touring exhibition at The Broad. Third Eye also revitalized its event work, returning to pre-pandemic levels with high-profile non-profit galas and events like MOCA LA’s annual gala, Art Production Fund, LA Dance Project, ARTWALK, and Young Collectors Night at The Winter Show. The agency has expanded its client base and teams in New York and Los Angeles, largely due to the leadership of Tyler Mahowald and Darius Sabbaghzadeh, who were promoted to Partner in 2024. Their exceptional management and client service have been central to Third Eye’s continued success and ability to handle high-profile projects.
Leadership team:
Justin Conner, Co-Founder
Dan Tanzilli, Co-Founder
Tyler Mahowald, Partner
Darius Sabbaghzadeh, Partner
Notable long-term clients:
Frieze Art Fairs (New York / Los Angeles), The Broad, The Winter Show, The Brant Foundation, The Phillips Collection, Frederick Fisher and Partners, Acquavella Galleries, White Cube, L.A. Louver, Tina Kim Gallery, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, MOCA LA, The Art Students League of New York, Orange Barrel Media, The New York City AIDS Memorial, LA Dance Project
New client wins:
Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), The Brick (formerly LAXART), Aichi Triennale, The Armory Show, EXPO Chicago, Palm Springs Art Museum, The Cultivist, Capital One
Describe the key tenets of your agency's mission and ethos.
Putting art first: First and foremost, we are a team of communications professionals who are driven by our passion for art, and making it accessible to the widest audiences possible. We believe in the transformative power that art can have on people's wellbeing, and that is the reason we come to work every day. We strive to accelerate the work of some of the best known organizations and individuals working in arts and culture. In the last twelve months, Third Eye has begun working with new and diverse clients that allow the company to amplify voices that are historically underrepresented in cultural media. The majority of our team has advanced degrees in art history, or have made the jump to our agency after years of work at leading galleries, museums, and auction houses.
Our clients are our partners: Our philosophy looks at our client relationships as a true partnership, not just as a vendor. When you hire us you are beginning a partnership built on dialogue, open communication, and flexibility. We strive to make our work together as pleasant as it is productive. We are inspired by our clients and in turn are able to deliver results that propel their businesses forward. We are proud that 75% of our current roster has worked with us for over 5 years, and we are very pleased that we had the opportunity to welcome back several previous clients this year who recognize the impact our team made on their overall goals.
Relationships matter: Both the art world and the PR world are spaces that celebrate individuality and human creativity like no other. With that in mind, we believe that we are in a people-first business, and we invest and encourage deep relationships and the human touch that a dedicated team of professionals can provide. We encourage our team to be engaging directly with our clients, the media, and important members of the international arts industry. Nothing will ever beat the interpersonal dialogue we have with the media about our clients and the robust cultural content they create. These relationships are the building blocks we use when we work beyond media relations by forging partnerships, securing sponsorships, assisting in content creation, and generating ways each partner can have agency in telling their own story in tandem with the press.
