Founding Partner, Art Historian – Dr Michelle Lim

Michelle Lim is an art historian and curator based in New York and Singapore. She has been involved with the contemporary art world since the early 2000s, working on research and curatorial projects for institutions such as the Asia Society Museum in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Singapore Art Museum and the National Museum of Singapore.

Michelle’s experience with the art market is diverse, having worked closely with many artists, collectors and museums on various projects and commissions. She was on the acquisitions committee for the Singapore Art Museum from 2016 to 2022 and is a frequent guest speaker on biennale programs and art fair circuits in Asia. She sat on Christies’ Education’s Asia Art Week New York roundtable, “Contemporary Asia: Beyond Geography,” in 2015 and moderated the 2020 S.E.A. Focus panel, “Southeast Asia Through a Global Lens,” by STPI Singapore. She was also invited to speak for Tokyo Biennale 2019, the 2019 Collectors’ Conversations series at Ota Fine Arts, and “The Power of the Voice in Art” panel at Hermés Aloft, organized by Theo Art Professionals. As the deputy director of Taipei-based private art investment and auction house Ravenel Art from 2001 to 2003, she helped set up its Singapore office before embarking on her graduate studies in the U.S.

Michelle holds a PhD in art history from Princeton University and was a Curatorial Fellow in the Whitney Independent Study Program 2009/10. She is a member of the AICA-USA, the largest national chapter of the Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art.

Founding Partner, Collections Strategist – Vernice Chua

Vernice Chua is versatile as a brand consultant, entrepreneur, creative writer and positive psychology practitioner.

From a brand strategist to an art collections strategist, Vernice believes in creating intrinsic value between the collector, the collection and its interactions with our world – both emotionally and financially. The value should be one that is driven to build positive changes in our world.

Vernice built a wealth of experience in managing and creating brand businesses, starting from a brand strategy consultant at Interbrand. She worked with clients from various industries spanning FMCGs, government, banking, property development and non-profits. She contributed to the valuation of the Top Singapore Brands 2002 conducted by IE Singapore. With a keen interest in branding for the non-profits, she plays an advisory role for them and consults for youth causes, social welfare groups, hospices, and an anti-drug and rehabilitation organisation. 

Her work as a fiction writer spans across multiple genres, encompassing graphic novels, poetry, prose, and also novels. “Haee The Cat with a Crooked Tail”, 1st book in her book series, won the International IndieReaderDiscovery Award 2013.

Vernice holds a B.A. in English Literature, an M.A. in Communications and a G.D. in Applied Positive Psychology.