“I talk to myself in the mirror like I’m my own life coach. My system is 50% panic, 50% calendar reminders. The struggle is worth it.”
Michelle Hellman, the style-savvy curator, philanthropist and founder of the Artist Plate Project, is the darling of New York’s art world. Alexander Hankin meets Hellman in Chelsea to dish on collecting art, Hanukkah traditions and how to help the homeless.
I love this restaurant.
Cucina Alba has become our go-to for every gallery dinner. It’s around the corner from my apartment and my husband’s gallery [Adam Cohen’s A Hug from the Art World]. We’ve had some unforgettable nights. At a celebration for Mary McCartney, Jeff Koons gave this very serious speech about “the Gaze.” I was a few martinis in and thought he was talking about all my cute gays surrounding me.
ARTWALK NY was the event of the fall.
The evening generously honored me – I know, I know just let me cringe through this part – alongside my dear friend, artist Sheree Hovsepian, for our contributions to the Coalition for the Homeless. I had never spoken publicly before. I was freaking out about giving a speech. I was convinced I was going to pass out. I planned my collapse so it would look elegant, like a fainting Victorian heroine, not a tranquilized zoo animal. But I stayed upright. I looked up, took it all in and felt so supported by friends, artists and everyone there for the Coalition for the Homeless. That energy gave me this insane moment of calm and pure joy. A true lifetime highlight.
You’ve curated so many great shows.
My favorite thing is working with artists and seeing a project through from start to finish, especially when it involves philanthropy and an event to tie it all together. I’ve worked on campaigns for nonprofits for years and have probably raised 25 million across the board simply by partnering with artists and visionaries who care.
The Artist Plate Project is phenomenal.
In the darkest days of the pandemic, when the world felt like it was cracking, I was at home drowning in homeschooling, a loud-talking husband, feral children and a new puppy. Meanwhile, thousands of New Yorkers didn’t even have a place to wash their hands. The inequality of that moment was impossible to ignore. That’s when the idea hit: what if artists lent us images, we could print on limited-edition plates to raise money for the Coalition for the Homeless? I emailed Christopher Wool, Eddie Martinez and Elizabeth Peyton. All three said yes within an hour. We launched 50 artist plates. Each edition had 150 plates. The purchase of just one plate could feed more than 100 homeless and hungry New Yorkers. They sold out almost instantly. Since then, the Artist Plate Project has partnered with more than 150 world-renowned artists, raising over $8 million to support food, housing, crisis services and other vital aid for people experiencing homelessness. This past November, I pushed the idea further, partnering with 100 artists to create unique, one-of-a-kind plates. That project alone raised another $1.2 million.
“My husband and have completely opposite tastes. He is kitsch, I am minimal. Half the collection I love, half I tolerate and all of it sparks lively marital debates.”
Your husband Adam Cohen and you have an interesting art collection.
My husband and have completely opposite tastes. He is kitsch, I am minimal. Half the collection I love, half I tolerate and all of it sparks lively marital debates. One day, when we finally make it to the big leagues, I dream of owning works by Louise Bourgeois, Laura Owens, Lorna Simpson and Cecily Brown. They also happen to be my Artist Plate Project GOATS.
Your husband’s gallery is all the art world buzz.
A Hug from the Art World’s second gallery space on 10th Avenue “Hugs on 10th” is a must-see. Pablo Barba’s work is this fascinating blend of Old Master elegance and digital-age humor: lush, witty and a little unhinged in the best way. His show “Black Friday” features wild ladies fighting over Pucci dresses. My kind of Black Friday except with The Row.
“The Artist Plate Project has partnered with more than 150 world-renowned artists, raising over $8 million to support food, housing, crisis services and other vital aid for people experiencing homelessness.”
You have two kids and a career.
I talk to myself in the mirror like I’m my own life coach and occasionally hide in my bathroom pretending to ‘look for something’ but just hiding from my family. My system is 50% panic, 50% calendar reminders. The struggle is worth it.
Happy Hanukkah!
We light the candles on our “Banorah” – a banana menorah – which feels very on-brand for our household. My husband and I exchange art-related gifts for Hanukkah. This year he gave me a beautiful tiny ceramic by Edmund de Waal—whose work I’m utterly obsessed with but can’t quite afford at full scale—so it feels incredibly special to have a small piece of his world at home. This Hanukkah feels especially poignant in light of the tragic events unfolding around the world. My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor, so remembering and honoring his life has always been a meaningful part of the holiday for our family. This year carries added significance as our son became Bar Mitzvah’d this fall. We celebrated in our art gallery, surrounded by Joel Mesler’s exhibition “Dear Rabbi” which made everything feel deeply intertwined – faith, art, tradition, memory and the importance of being proud and loud.
(Photo: Jenny Gorman)
