FOCUS Talk 2026
FOCUS TALK goes beyond traditional artist talks, offering a platform where artists, curators and cultural leaders come together to exchange ideas and perspectives. This year’s programme centers on Asian contemporary art, exploring themes of cultural memory, soft power, and shifting narratives in global contexts. Through panel discussions and artist talks, the series highlight diverse voices and fosters meaningful dialogue, positioning FOCUS as a space for deeper understanding and cross-cultural exchange within today’s world.
FOCUS TALK also continues to encourage cross-disciplinary conversations, hands-on experiences, and global artistic exchange, building a lasting legacy for the FOCUS Art Fair.
CHELSEA INDUSTRIAL
550 W 28th St, New York
Art & Tech :
Art in the Digital Age
Art & Tech: Art in the Digital Age explores how digital tools, online platforms, and emerging technologies are reshaping artistic creation, exhibition-making, collecting, and cultural exchange. Bringing together voices from art law, curation, and the digital art market, the talk reflects on the opportunities and questions defining art today.
Jiayin Chen
Curator, writer, cultural entrepreneur and founder of SCREEN Magazine
Maya Man
Artist
Yayoi Shionoiri
Art Lawyer, VP of External Affairs and General Counsel at Powerhouse Arts & U.S. Alliance Partner to City Lights Law
Liley Huo
Head of Marketplace at JOOPITER, previously David Zwirner Platform and Artsy
Friday, May 22
14:30 - 15:30
Art, Crafts
& Material Culture
Art, Crafts & Material Culture explores the renewed significance of craft, materials, and making within contemporary art. Bringing together voices from galleries, collecting, and cultural leadership, the talk reflects on how material practices shape artistic value, cultural identity, and the evolving relationship between tradition and innovation today.
Heather Hubbs
Executive Director New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA)
Lydia Duanmu
Founder of LDM Art Global
Linda H. Zhang
Investor and Art Collector
Taye Yun
VP of TEO Nomad
Friday, May 22
16:00 - 17:00
Queer Art Ecosystems :
From Community to Institution
Building Queer Art Ecosystems: From Community to Institution explores how queer artists, creatives, and cultural platforms build visibility, support, and long-term networks within the art world. Through a conversation between Garry Ho and Venjhamin Reyes, the talk reflects on community, representation, artistic practice, and the pathways from grassroots initiatives to institutional recognition.
Garry Ho
Founder Queer Art Hub
Venjhamin Reyes
Photographer
Tina Wang
Art Critic, President of Asian American Journalists Association New York
Saturday, May 23
16:00 - 17:00
Asian Contemporary Art :
Market, Institutions & Community
Asian Contemporary Art : Institutions & Community examines how artists, curators, collectors, and cultural platforms shape the visibility of Asian contemporary art today. Bringing together voices from museums, auctions, and independent initiatives, the talk reflects on institutional support, cross-cultural exchange, market development, and the communities driving new narratives forward.
Daniel Komala
Co-founder of Larasati Auctioneers
Alex Z. Wang
Founder & Director of Collective Z Gallery
Steven Abraham
Art collector and co-founder of The Here and There Collective
Geuryung Lee
Visual artist
