Women Working in the Arts: Ogechi Harry

In this edition of our recurring interview series highlighting Women Working in the Arts, we meet lawyer and art advisor Ogechi Harry. She is the founder of Golden Our, a lifestyle advisory brand focused on intentional collecting that celebrates stories from the African Diaspora.

Born in Nigeria and raised in Atlanta, she has had a lifelong passion for art. Golden Our was launched with the mission of working with private collectors and interior designers to re-imagine the creative cultural landscape and discover Black creative excellence through thoughtfully curated art, design, and objects. Her aim is to empower clients to infuse their spaces with joy and a sense of placemaking while bridging the art equity gap.

Can you talk about your transition into running your own lifestyle advisory brand? What was the catalyst behind launching Golden Our and what gap(s) in the market do you seek to address?

As a transactional attorney working in the built environment, my career journey straddles the worlds of structure and aesthetics. Advising architects and designers, allows me to have a front-row seat to how well-designed meaningful environments shape everyday living experiences. My work experience helps me understand that art and design are powerful story tellers, and that these stories can have a significant impact on how we navigate the world.

Throughout my career, I noticed that I did not see many Black artists in collector and commercial spaces. Launching Golden Our is my way of bridging the art equity gap. I saw a clear need for an art advisory model that supports private collectors and interior designers in intentionally sourcing artwork that celebrates culturally diverse Black stories we often do not see or hear. Golden Our is helping to reimagine the creative cultural landscape by de-mystifying what a ‘typical’ collector looks like and offering a conscious aesthetic eye.

What insight can you give us about the services you provide? How do you approach working with your clients when it comes to finding the right artwork for them?

Through a lifestyle lens, I offer collection strategy, assistance with sourcing art and decorative objects, and conversations led around the significance of intentional collecting. I help collectors apply a purpose-led strategy around the past, present, or future stories they want to tell about themselves on their own terms through textures, colors, shapes, and patterns. Stories that start with them and that are culturally aligned, visually impactful, and thoughtfully curated.

Whether it’s sourcing a single statement piece for an accent wall in a home in Atlanta or developing a full-collection strategy for a women’s clinic, the process is rooted in intention. For private collectors, we focus on deep personal alignment, what story do they want to tell, how do they want to live with their collection, and what legacy do they want to leave? For interior designers, we integrate seamlessly into the design process, ensuring the selected works don’t just match the room, but elevate it with the end users in mind. We take a holistic approach.

We’d love to hear about your perspective on intentional collecting. How about general advice for those who are completely new to purchasing art?

Today, we are living in a consumption-focused world where many of the things we consume are often unsustainable, mass produced, and lacking quality with an outward look towards longevity. We want to break away from this kind of thinking where we can. Intentional collecting means thoughtfully surrounding yourself with pieces (art and objects) that have deep layers of meaning because I believe that thoughtful surroundings shift our minds, which then shifts our outlook on life. Being mindful about the stories we consume in our environments, is not just imperative for wellness and mental clarity, it also allows for important placemaking. It is about slow purposeful living and protecting our minds from things that do not serve us.

For those new to collecting, whether individuals or designers sourcing for clients, I always recommend starting with intention, layered with open curiosity. Intention leads the direction of everything that happens next: budget, artist research, and aesthetics. Think about the emotions you want the space to hold. And don’t rush the process, it is not just about what fits in a space, it’s about what feels right and will continue to resonate over time.

Let’s dive into an exciting new development for Golden Our—an intimate art dinner series called Golden Glo. Where did the idea come from and what will the events entail?

Golden Glo offers a unique way to experience art beyond museums and IG scrolls. Collectors often struggle with understanding market trends, finding quality artists, and connecting with other collectors. As a well curated intimate art dinner series, I created Golden Glo to address these issues by merging art, culture, and connection. These gatherings bring together collectors, curators, designers, and creatives who value Black storytelling in art and design. Dinner guests learn about collecting, enjoy a multicourse meal, discover new Black artists, and connect with fellow collectors in an environment fostering dialogue, learning, cultural exchange, and inspiration.

Who would you say these dinners are perfect for? What will they gain or take away from the experience?

Golden Glo is ideal for private collectors or the artfully curious who crave deeper connection to other art enthusiasts on the same collecting journey, who are passionate about investing in artists, and who are committed to the journey of self-discovery that comes from collecting. What guests take away is a mind shift, that we are all collectors. The goal is to help diverse art lovers understand that collecting is not just for the wealthy. It is for all of us.

Who are a few artists you work with or suggest should definitely be on our radar?

It is an exciting time to champion Black creativity. There is so much talent coming out of the African Diaspora right now from Los Angeles to Lagos. Black artists are continuing to shape today’s visual and cultural language in all sorts of mediums. You may have already heard plenty about brilliant artists like Asuka Anastacia Ogawa, Tschabalala Self, Cy Gavin, Hebru Brantley, Lina Iris Viktor, and Amoako Boafo. In no particular order, here are some additional artists, at various career levels, to add to your palette:

1. Eno Bassey

2. Gopal Dagnogo

3. Zizipho Poswa

4. Clotilde Jimenez

5. Lindsay Adams

6. Nkechi Ebubedike

7. Thandiwe Muriu

8. Laju Sholola

9. Josephe Eze

10. Thabo Motseki

11. Modupeola Fadugba

12. Taiye Idahor

13. Patrick Eugene

14. Affen Segun

15. Zohra Opoku

16. M. Florine Démosthène

17. Danielle Mckinney

18. Calida Rawles

19. Cecilia Lamptey Botchway

20. Ludovic Nkoth

21. Cedric Smith

22. Evita Tezeno

23. Roger Carter

24. Alison Saar

25. Yasser Claud-Ennin

Follow along with Golden Our on Instagram.