Figenia Keil is an experienced museum manager and art consultant based in Dubai. She has 15 years of experience working in the art and culture industry, including roles as an independent art agent, director of a private museum, and head of corporate communications. She has an extensive network of contacts within the industry and has organized exhibitions featuring international artists.

1. Figenia Keil
Address: PO Box 487 177, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 50 10 30 517
Email: figen.keil@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/figenia-keil-14b4bb59
Professional Profile
An ambitious and reliable Museum Manager/Director/Exhibition Organiser and Coordinator/Art Consultant, with an
extensive background in graphic design, film production and gallery curation. Combines expertise in overall
safety, preservation, record-keeping of the museum’s collections, project management, VIP relations, PR and
event management with an international perspective and multicultural, multilingual heritage. Recognised as a
credible and creative leader, who is able to direct diverse teams and develop trusting professional relationships
with colleagues and customers alike. Possesses an extensive industry network, including both public and private
sector executives, private collectors and members of the Royal Family. Highly organised, with excellent
commercial acumen and the ability to achieve excellent results even when under pressure. An expert in the latest
developments and technologies in the art, design and culture industry
Professional Experience
Independent Art Agent and Consultant 2015 - date
Figenia Keil Art Consulting, United Arab Emirates
• Representing 10 international artists and cooperating with 3 leading art galleries
• Networking internationally with galleries such as Ayyam Gallery, Lawrie Shabibi, Carbon 12, Opera Gallery,
“The Container”, John Martin Gallery, Mizuma Gallery, Choi & Lager Gallery and K+Y Gallery, as well as
foundations including the Asia Pacific Art Foundation and Sharjah Art Foundation
Key achievements
• Discovering the only pop art artist in the region, Marwan Chama, enabling him to mount an exhibition and sell
his work to French gallerist François Chabanian at Bel Air Fine Art Gallery in Geneva
• Managing the official launch of Marwan Chama’s new series Chagrin D’Amour – The Musical at the Opera
Gallery Dubai and presenting his talent the first time in the GCC region
• Receiving regular invitations to attend VIP and collector previews including Art Abu Dhabi, Art Dubai, Sharjah
Biennale, Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze, Tokyo International Art Fair, Venice Biennale and Art 2016, Art Basel
Miami, India Art Fair, Beirut Art Fair and Singapore Art Fair
• Developing an extensive industry network including American-Peruvian Artist Grimanesa Amoros, Austrian
Photographer Mario Marino, Iranian Artist “Nazzy” Beglari, Japanese Artist Benjamin Lee, Scottish Artist Steve
McLean, collector couple Jochheim, collector couple Lim, collector “Prinz von Wittgenstein” (excl. for his Carl
Barks Collection)
Director, Head of Special Projects and Co-Curator 2013 - 2015
Salsali Private Museum, United Arab Emirates
• Leading a team of 5, and also coordinating external contractors responsible for on-going museum renovations,
event design and museums information printings
• Booking and buying advertising for leading magazines such as CANVAS and Harper’s Bazaar Art, and also
design advertisements and invitation for the shows, using graphic design expertise, sending out press-
releases to all major news paper and magazines, listed show in major art calendars
• Inviting editors from major magazine like CANVAS, Harper’s Bazaar Art, The National – Arts and Life, Art
Radar and many more, to feature the exhibitions
• Visiting major art fairs including Art Abu Dhabi, Art Dubai, Sharjah Biennale, Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze NY,
Tokyo International Art Fair, Venice Biennale, Art 2016, Art Basel Miami, India Art Fair, Beirut Art Fair and
Singapore Art Fair
• Liaising extensively with artists and collectors regionally and internationally
Key achievements
• Organising and managing exhibitions of both international and regional artists, including Deutsche Bank Artist
of the Year 2013, Imran Qureshi (Pakistan), Iranian Artist Amir Hossein Zanjani, German Photographer
Christian Voigt, Iranian Artist Reza Derakshani and for the 10th
Year Dubai International Film Festival
Anniversary the CINEMA Exhibition
• Managing all operations to ensure the smooth and successful running of the museum, including event
management, PR and marketing, design and print, database management, collection management, legal
management and logistics
• Designing and listing exhibitions on major platforms including Dubai Events, Art in the City, Art Calendar
Canvas, Harper’s Bazaar Art, Art Week, Art Guide Dubai and many other medias
• Private touring of VIP and Groups Vistors, by appointment only

2. Head of Corporate Communication 2011 - 2013
Infofillers, United Arab Emirates
• Creating content for short information films of 1-2 minutes ( info-graphics )
• Managing key client accounts such as Kahramaa, Electricity and Water Cooperation in Qatar,
Emirates Airlines and Fly Dubai, to just name few, and proactively developing new business
Key achievements
• Bringing in significant new business worth an average of 200,000 – 450,000 Dirhams per film
• Successfully completing around 10 films per year
Executive Producer and Business Development Manager 2008 - 2010
Optix Digital Pictures, United Arab Emirates
• Providing strong leadership across a team of 10, comprising a Script Writer, Film Director, Design Developer
and Film Editing team
Key achievements
• Developing the Corporate Film division of the business, with responsibility for first draft of the film script,
monitoring post-production and film editing
• Delivering the Emirates Airlines in-flight safety and arrival promotional videos, with globally renowned media
and creative agency Leo Burnett
• Winning key clients like Mubadala JV with Siemens Healthcare for a ground breaking technology project in
Abu Dhabi, managing the complete project with the Executive Team of Khaldoon Al Mubarak in cooperation
with the Siemens Middle East Marketing Team for TAWAM Molecular Imaging Centre ( Al Ain Hospital )
Graphic Design Assistant 2006 - 2008
Logomotive, Austria
• Managing graphic design projects diverse corporate and individual accounts
• Generating initial concepts and designs, for development by colleagues in the Design team
• Acting as the key interface between the client and the Designer
• Fostering positive professional relationships with clients throughout the lifecycle of the project
Key achievements
• Winning several new accounts, with projects worth up to €50,000 per design
• Collaborating with clients on major projects, including a 100th
anniversary theme book for Post Austria, and
pocket tourist guides for Tourism Austria
Project Manager 2005 - 2006
Equipe Milano, Italy
• Leading a team of 5 to develop the design and feel of a major fashion show, to achieve timely and cost
effective delivery
Key achievements
• Project managing the décor, light and sound for a unique 2006 Calvin Klein fashion week show in Milan, Italy
Apprentice Architect 1994 - 2002
Fred Hochstrasser, Germany and Switzerland
• Receiving mentoring in product design and classical conceptual design
• Delivering several architectural projects, drawing all plans in ink on tracing paper
Key achievements
• Renovating the famous design school “Hochschule fuer Gestaltung”, Suedwestpresse Ulm Publishing House
and Neu-Ulm Railway Station
• Successfully completing a BA degree
Qualifications
Diploma: Contemporary Art History (Sotheby’s Art Institute London) 2014 - 2016
BA degree: Architectural Draughtsman (Fred Hochstrasser Ulm) 2005
Diploma: Graphic Design (Falkenburg Ulm) 2000
Key I.T. Skills
Microsoft: Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Adobe: Acrobat, Illustrator and Photoshop
Industry systems: AutoCAD and several web design applications
Personal Details
Languages: Native German and Turkish, fluent English
Location: Willing to travel nationally or internationally for extended periods for the right role
Nationality: German