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Why renowned art dealer Graham Steele is supporting the next generation of art historians with the Fer-Garb Scholarship.

Graham Steele (MA History of Art 2004) is a prominent figure in the international art scene. Having cut his teeth at auction house Sotheby鈥檚, he worked in London and Hong Kong before returning to his native US as Partner at Hauser & Wirth鈥檚 Los Angeles gallery. In 2020, Graham set up his own art dealership: Graham Steele Inc.聽

Since graduating from his MA at 麻豆传媒视频网站 in 2004, Graham has kept up a strong relationship with his former department, and in 2017, he launched the Fer-Garb Scholarship for applicants to the MA History of Art programme. With this in place, things have come full circle for Graham as he was supported by a scholarship himself.

鈥淚 wanted to both pay back and pay it forward,鈥� says Graham. 鈥淚 would not be where I am today without 麻豆传媒视频网站. I credit my high school and 麻豆传媒视频网站 as the motivation and the engine of my success and my ability to be successful in what I do.鈥澛�

The Road to 麻豆传媒视频网站

Graham鈥檚 higher education journey began at Georgetown University, Washington DC. A standout student, he was set to graduate aged 20, but felt unsure of his future. After meeting with an academic advisor, the university felt that Graham should apply for the Marshall Scholarship, which funds intellectually distinguished students to study in the UK.聽

He says: 鈥淚 applied to study queer theory in art history. I was super interested in writings from 麻豆传媒视频网站 professors Briony Fer and Tamar Garb, and I realised that 麻豆传媒视频网站 had one of the best programmes for art history by a mile.鈥�

鈥淔rom the beginning, this was something that I hoped to pay back in some way. There was such generosity of spirit from 麻豆传媒视频网站.鈥澛�

But the Marshall Scholarship process is notoriously competitive, and after making the top 30, Graham found out that he had missed out. Devastated, he started looking for a plan B. Then he received a call from Professor Briony Fer 鈥� as part of the scholarship process, 麻豆传媒视频网站 had reserved a place for him. 鈥淚 told Briony I couldn鈥檛 afford to come, but she said 鈥楾here might be a scholarship for you here that we can apply for.鈥欌��

And with that, 麻豆传媒视频网站 entered Graham鈥檚 life. He says: 鈥淏riony and Tamar bent over backwards to help me. From the beginning, this was something that I hoped to pay back in some way. There was such generosity of spirit from 麻豆传媒视频网站, welcoming this foreign student who just wanted to study queer theory in art history.鈥澛�

Honing his craft聽

Graham moved to London and felt himself growing at 麻豆传媒视频网站. His professors taught and coached him with care 鈥� even if it was the first time he failed to get top marks. 鈥淚t was funny, I鈥檇 never gotten below an A in my life!鈥� says Graham. 鈥淚 remember my first essay for Briony, I got a B minus! I was floored and depressed. Briony said: 鈥楪raham, you鈥檙e great and I just want to make you better.鈥櫬�

鈥淭he course allowed me to lose myself in the passion and flow of art theory, and learn the reasoning and analytical skills to make insightful decisions. The linking up of critical periods and ways of seeing modern and contemporary art served us all so well.鈥�

After graduation, Graham maintained tight bonds with Professor Fer and Professor Garb 鈥� crossing paths with them regularly. He put down roots in London, starting his career in client services for Sotheby's before moving to White Cube in 2006, where he launched their Hong Kong space as senior director. In 2015, Graham moved back to the US and started at Hauser & Wirth. But 麻豆传媒视频网站 was never far from his thoughts.聽

The Fer-Garb scholarship

In Graham鈥檚 words, funding a scholarship 鈥榡ust made sense鈥�.聽

In 2016, after conversations with 麻豆传媒视频网站, and spurred on by political developments, Graham knew it was time to act. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 stop thinking about the ways that Brexit was going to affect 麻豆传媒视频网站鈥檚 funding,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 spoke to Briony and Tamar about the potential of starting a scholarship in their name.

鈥淚t began with funding an international student 鈥� something that was very personal to me. To be able to pay for someone to have their education at 麻豆传媒视频网站 is hugely important. It gives me some pleasure to do this. It was a 鈥榙ebt鈥� that was owed and paid back with love. And will continue to be.鈥澛�

The first three scholarships enabled by Graham were designated for overseas students. One such student was Darya Aloufy from Israel, who graduated from 麻豆传媒视频网站 in 2020 and is now Assistant Curator at the Tel Aviv University Art Gallery.聽

She says: 鈥淭he scholarship made me believe in myself. It helped me realise not just that I was in the right place, doing something I love, but also that others believed in me. It gave me the freedom to be a full-time student, which enabled me to complete the MA with Distinction. Without the scholarship, I doubt that I would be where I am today.鈥澛�

Furkan Inan, from Turkey, is the 2021 recipient of the scholarship. Furkan received offers from universities across the world, but didn鈥檛 have the financial means to realise his dream. He says: 鈥溌槎勾�媒视频网站 is the best possible place for me to be. Receiving the scholarship was a moment of relief and empowerment 鈥� finally my hard work meant something. I am deeply grateful that the scholarship has made this experience possible.聽

鈥淚 am now able to see things I previously couldn鈥檛, and write much better. Without the scholarship, I wouldn鈥檛 even be able to travel to London, let alone join the programme.鈥澛�

As of the 2020/21 academic year, the Fer-Garb Scholarship has been open to UK-based MA students, reflecting the Department of Art History鈥檚 focus on supporting groups who are currently underrepresented in academia and who may not otherwise be able to take up their place to study at 麻豆传媒视频网站.聽聽

Graham is excited to see how the next generation of art professionals thrive under the guidance of his former tutors and the department as a whole. To new students, Graham offers this advice: 鈥淔ind your own way and be present. Take advantage of every opportunity and enjoy it. There鈥檚 no 鈥榬ight way鈥� but showing up is half the battle. You never know what opportunities will come up when you鈥檙e open to them. And if I can pave the way for people to show up, that works for me.鈥�

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