Nicola Vassell

Nicola Vassell (born 1979) is a Jamaica-born American art dealer, curator, and gallery owner. She is recognized as the first black woman to open an art gallery in the Chelsea Arts District of New York City.

Early life and education Vassell was born and raised in Jamaica. She moved to New York City in 1996 to work as a model. She studied business and art history at New York University beginning in 2002.

Career In 2005, Vassell began working as an intern at the Deitch Projects gallery after meeting Jeffery Deitch at the 2004 Armory Show. Vassell then served as a director at Pace Gallery between 2010 and 2012. She also curated the artwork that appeared in Empire 's second season. Vassell co-curated "Edge of Chaos," an exhibition about feminism and ecology, at the Venice Biennale in 2015.

In May 2021, Vassell opened her eponymous gallery on Tenth Avenue in Chelsea. In November 2023, Vassell announced a partnership with Hauser & Wirth for co-representation of artist Uman and the production of a jointly organized exhibition of her work at Hauser & Wirth London in January 2024.