ABOUT

Art-Icon is a cultural non-profit organization organizing international exhibitions of photography and contemporary art. Founded in 2024, we have bases in Milan and Paris. Created with the support of renowned photographic organizations, our mission is to promote art and support interdisciplinary fields through innovative visual technologies and communication methods.
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Our objectives include promoting artistic excellence by connecting emerging artists with internationally renowned artists, art producers, curators, gallerists and collectors. We specialize in the intersection of contemporary art, photography and new media, providing artists with comprehensive support and mentorship. We guide them through every stage of the creative process - from initial concepts to final exhibitions - and offer guidance from industry leaders.

Contact: info@art-icon.org  

Instagram: @art_icon.official

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HEAD CURATOR:

Danila Tkachenko is a renowned artist and curator based in Paris. His work has been exhibited globally and featured in leading publications. Tkachenko’s work has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the World Press Photo, European Publishers Award, Leica Oskar Barnack, Gabriele Basilico Prize, Foam Talent, among others. He collaborates with prominent publications such as Spiegel, CNN, The Washington Post, The Guardian, BBC, National Geographic, and Libération.

CURATOR:

Slavica Veselinović is a Milan-based curator and the president of the Art-Icon organization. She holds a degree in Graphic Arts from the University of Ljubljana.Veselinović is the founder of Just Women, a collective project dedicated to celebrating women photographers. Over the past two years, the project has been exhibited in Paris and Milan, with the goal of amplifying underrepresented female perspectives in photography and fostering a more inclusive and diverse visual narrative within the art world.Previously, she co-curated Going East, a visual exploration of the "New East" of Europe, which was presented in Paris, Ljubljana, and Vienna.Her curatorial practice is rooted in expanding the visibility of marginalized voices and questioning dominant narratives in contemporary visual culture.

Director of the Archive:

Graziano Arici was born in 1949 in Venice and began his career as a photographer in the late 1970s. Over the decades, he has collaborated with some of the most prestigious international photo agencies, including Grazia Neri in Milan, Sygma in Paris, AGE Photostock in Spain, Leemage in Paris, Eyewine in London, Focus in Germany, and Contacto in Spain. He was the official photographer of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice for nearly twenty years and extensively documented the Venice Biennale. In 2012, he relocated permanently to Arles, France, where he was named an honorary citizen in December 2018.

graphic designer:

Manuele Scalia is a Milan-based graphic designer whose work focuses on editorial design, branding, and visual storytelling. He collaborates with major Italian publishing houses, including Mondadori, bringing a refined and conceptual approach to layout and typography. His design practice reflects a strong sensitivity to narrative structure and image-text relationships, often bridging commercial and cultural contexts.

Advisor:

David Gauthier holds degrees in both political science and the arts. He is Head of Practice-Based Research at the École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS). In 2005, he co-founded a pioneering practice-based research program in collaboration with the École nationale supérieure de la Photographie in Arles — a unique initiative that will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025. He has also curated several exhibitions.Since 2014, he has served as Vice President of Art+Université+Culture, the national network for cultural affairs in higher education (supported by the French Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Culture), focusing on interdisciplinarity, arts education, and artistic research. He is also an art critic (member of the International Association of Art Critics, AICA) and contributes regularly to journals such as Tracés, lacritique.org, and others.

PR Manager:

Wen Roks is a Netherlands-based photographer and communications specialist. She has joined the Art-Icon team as PR Manager. Her documentary projects have been recognized by international photography awards and featured in various professional publications. Among her most noted series are SIXTEEN and CONNECT, focusing on themes of adolescence, time, and human relationships. Alongside her artistic practice, Wen brings experience in visual storytelling, media communication, and the promotion of cultural initiatives.