Meet Ilan Gutin | Artist, Curator, and Arts Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ilan Gutin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ilan, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk has always been part of the process—both as an artist and as a curator. As an artist, taking risks has meant being honest in my work, even when it’s uncomfortable or hard to do. It’s meant experimenting with new mediums, sharing personal stories, or showing work that I wasn’t totally sure how people would receive. But every time I’ve leaned into that uncertainty, it’s led to growth and connection.

As a curator, I think about risk in terms of advocating for artists and ideas that might not always fit the mold. I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful shows come from taking chances—on a first-time solo artist, on a unique concept, or on work that pushes people to think differently. It’s not about being risky for the sake of it, but about staying open to the unexpected and trusting the process.

Risk keeps things interesting and evolving. I’d rather be in spaces that are experimenting and growing than playing it safe all the time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artistic practice is rooted in a deep curiosity about the environment that surrounds us and moments we often overlook. I’m drawn to the act of perception itself, and how it can be shaped, disrupted, or heightened through visual experience. A lot of my work plays with this idea by creating a new kind of order—one that’s filtered through my personal vision and invites viewers into that space of wonder, contemplation, and even uncertainty.

What sets my work apart is not just the visual outcome, but the process behind it. Much of it is experimental, and I embrace chance as a key collaborator. Whether it’s through screen-printed moiré patterns, large scale Jacquard weavings, precarious sculptural arrangements, or colorful light refractions, I’m interested in what happens when materials interact in unexpected ways. Often, the most meaningful moments come from those accidents—the places where control slips and something human and imperfect shines through.

I’m really proud of how this approach creates space for viewers to have their own, unspoken responses to the work. I think of the gaze not as passive, but as an active form of engagement—a way to rediscover meaning through the simple act of looking. Influenced by Minimalism and phenomenology, I want my work to reward slow looking and presence, encouraging people to tune into the subtleties of perception and their own bodily responses.

Getting to where I am now hasn’t always been easy. Like most artists, I’ve dealt with uncertainty, rejection, and moments of doubt. But I’ve learned to trust the process—both in the studio and in my career as a curator. One of the biggest lessons has been to let go of the need for perfection and embrace unpredictability and uncertainty, and just trying something new.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know about me and my work, it’s that I’m not trying to give answers—I’m offering an invitation. To pause, to look again, to feel and think something unexpected.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting for a week, I’d definitely want to give them the full Colorado experience—equal parts adventure, art, and good food. We’d start off with a hike—maybe something scenic but accessible like Bear Peak in Boulder or somewhere in Indian Peaks. If they’re into it, we’d turn it into a quick backpacking trip or, in the winter, swap that for a day on the slopes at Copper or A-Basin.

Midweek, ’d take them to the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art, and then we’d hop around to a few local galleries like David B. Smith Gallery, Understudy, Robischon, Leon, and my gallery Friend of a Friend.
We’d probably hit the climbing gym one day and maybe catch a Rockies game if the weather is nice.

For food and drinks, I’ve got some go-tos: we’d check out Linger and Root Down for their fun atmospheres and amazing small plates, grab tacos at Mezcal on Taco Tuesday, and maybe do dinner at Ototo for something a little more special. For cocktails, I’d take them to Death & Co. or Williams & Graham.

Basically, a little bit of everything: some fresh air, some art, some tasty food. That’s my version of the perfect week in Denver.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would give a shoutout to my parents who encouraged me to pursue a career in the arts when I was in college. When I was thinking about pursuing a different major, it was them who encouraged me to pursue an art degree which lead me to where I am now.

Website: https://www.ilangutin.com

Instagram: @explorilan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilan-gutin-951538b6/