Conversations with Tanith K

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanith K

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Gallery Athanor is a private in-home alternative art space and curatorial project! I opened in fall 2022. It is cozy and intimate at a whopping ~200 square feet. My curatorial style is unconventionally balanced, finding unheard conversations and unique foundations between artists, their art, and each other. I love a full-grid gallery wall with a gentle touch of informal composition. I pull from my values as an art collector myself as well as my personal practice as an artist whenever I curate. I crave visual interest and maximalism delivers.
 
My goal for Gallery Athanor is to create an alternative art space that reflects casual collections and real-world art displays found in homes, as well as transform traditional barriers that often bar artists from entering into pre-determined art circles. This ambition is reflected in the gallery’s name. An athanor is a legendary if not outright mythical, alchemical furnace that is able to hold the perfect steady temperature necessary for transmutation. Through consistency, patience, and care, elements transform into something entirely different and new. 

I aim to reflect actual collector practices through a wide range of accessible pricing, styles, and mediums. I want to introduce collectors to artists they might not have met otherwise and I want to give artists an opportunity to witness their works on the walls of a house and as part of a collection.
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I have three (3) exhibitions a year, each with its own open call. Shows run six (6) weekends on Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4pm by appointment. I hope patrons can find space to breathe during this private moment and give themselves the time they want to experience with these temporary collections.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel like I am still in the very early stages of this space. It always takes way more time than you expect to find your voice, to land in a spot that feels aligned with your goals, and to build trust and reputation, especially when you are doing something outside of a white box gallery tradition. It’s a slow road, but one I’m happy to be on.

The KC art scene often goes through phases and I’m really excited to be doing this during a surge of artist-ran projects.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I (they/them) am a trans, disabled abstract artist and maximalist curator living and working in their hometown of Kansas City, Missouri with two sweet kitties. I am a self-taught painter, graphic designer, and gallery curator with a background in historical research and tech.

My art reflects upon my personal trans, queer, and disabled experiences as well as the exploration of the general Human Condition. Philosophy, history, emotions, current events, and more inform my work throughout the creative process.

I play with organized chaos. Just like life, it is messy, fun, mind-boggling, and beautiful. Each layer builds upon the next to create a whole and no piece is complete without them. I aim to capture the struggle and joy of living authentically in a world that demands manufactured personalities and one-dimensionality.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
A lot of curation is listening and finding resolution between not only artworks, but also the artists. It has been interesting fine-tuning that skill in order to create these visual conversations and aesthetically pleasing arrangements. Becoming better at curation has enabled me to become better at conflict resolution and be a more emotionally available person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thetanith.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galleryathanor/
• Other: https://cara.app/thetanith