Art is about seeing the world beyond color. Art is about empowering People.

We help you find the perfect artworks and artists to match your vision and tell Your Story, to empower You.
 ART IS AN EXPERIENCE. 
ART IS A STATEMENT.
ART IS MINDFULNESS.


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Our Story... is to tell Your Story

Hi Curious!


My name is Vanessa Selk, I am a Human, a Mother, a Radical Art Lover, a Tout-Monde Citizen, and the Founder of Toukan-Arthouse, an alternative art advisory and creative platform to match new generations of collectors with underrepresented artists.


As a child, I spent time playing and growing up in the Amazonian jungle of French Guiana. French Guiana is a culturally very rich and diverse territory, but it is a postcolonial dependency, hard to access and isolated from the rest of the world, in particular the art world.


Toukan-Arthouse was built on the desire to make art more accessible to those who have been marginalized by a dominant and hermetic art market.


On the collectors' side, we want to change the experience of a majority of people who walk into a gallery and feel awkward or  uncomfortable because of certain behavioral codes, because of un-understandably high prices or because they do not identify with the artworks. Sounds familiar? We make sure the art is snob-free and accessible to all (no discrimination), that it resonates with your convictions and that it tells Your Story.


On the artist's side, we equally focus on communities that are underrepresented in the art market, and who have culturally diverse backgrounds, such as the Caribbean, LatinX, the African diaspora and Indigenous communities. We connect you directly to the collectors who share the same values.


By diversifying the collectors base and the artists represented in those collections, we hope to decolonize and diversify Art History one day.


Vanessa Selk

TESTIMONIALS

  • "She did a fantastic job in listening to my needs and curating my existing collection"


    “When I moved to New York, I came with a lot of artworks from Africa, so I did not necessarily need to buy any additional pieces. I just needed help displaying  and curating them in my new home. Vanessa understood that and did not push for buying any extra pieces. She did a fantastic job in listening to my needs and curating my existing collection, by highlighting and putting together some specific pieces in a beautiful and meaningful way. She literally transformed my place! Every artwork was placed in harmonious dialogue with other works, furniture and accessoires. The whole place was energized in a new way, and I feel relaxed and ressources at the same time every time I get home. As a diplomat, I receive a lot of political authorities and VIPs at home and I always receive the greatest compliments about the art curation. I wish I had asked Vanessa to do the same for all my previous homes!”

    Diarra D., New York

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  • "Vanessa knows how to drive you off the beaten path while respecting your tastes and wishes"


    « We’ve been so excited to receive this contemporary artwork « Here and Now » from the Guyanese artist Dominique Hunter. We’ve chosen this artwork thanks to our precious art advisor Vanessa Selk.  We love art but we didn’t know much about it. Vanessa guided us in a very professional way and has an uncommon sense of details.  In addition to her huge knowledge on art and especially on contemporary Caribbean art, she is an extraordinarily intuitive person, and she knows how to drive you off the beaten path while respecting your tastes and wishes. Thanks to Vanessa we got to know new artists. And on top of that, we can say she allowed our artistic selves to emerge. This was exactly what we were looking for when we asked her to be our art advisor. Thank you Vanessa, for your original and unconventional approach ! The way you advised us was unique. This is just the beginning… »

    Maïté & Boris E., Guadeloupe

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  • "I cannot recommend her enough if you are not very familiar with the art market"


    “I discovered Vanessa Selk’s work through a solo exhibition she curated in New York. I did not know the artist, Roxane Revon, but I truly enjoyed discovering her body of work thanks to the thoughtful scenography and artistic guidance proposed by Vanessa. She helped me understand Roxane’s singular pieces, which are sometimes quite abstract. I notably fell in love with one ink drawing that reminded me of a Copenhague map and that I decided to acquire. It was my first important art acquisition. Vanessa was very helpful with providing me information on the artist’s career and background and trying to negotiate a fair price for everyone. I cannot recommend her enough if you are not very familiar with the art market, its values and prices, and trying to invest in good artworks or emerging artists at reasonable prices. Vanessa will surely consider your constraints and needs without being ever too pushy.” 

    Karen R., New York

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  • "We are so grateful to Vanessa for the part she played in finding us the perfect piece of art for us and our space!"


    "When we left Miami to move back to New York we knew we’d be looking for art for our new apartment and wanted something that reminded us of our time in Miami. Knowing this, Vanessa introduced us to the art of Edouard Duval-Carré, an incredibly charismatic Haitian artist whose work perfectly captures the tropical beauty of the Caribbean and Miami. What followed was a visit to Edouard’s studio in Little Haiti and a truly magical afternoon getting to know him and exploring his eclectic, beautiful space, full of his stunning, unique art. Ian and I were both immediately drawn to Grand Bois. 

    It’s a stunning piece, and we took inspiration from its bright colours and vibrant energy to decorate the rest of our new home. We are so grateful to Vanessa for the part she played in finding us the perfect piece of art for us and our space!"

    Sophia B. & Ian D. , New York

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  • "Vanessa was very knowledgeable and talented in helping us to identify a few emerging street artists in our price range and matching our style."


    “I wanted to surprise my husband with a street-artwork for his birthday. But I had no idea where to look without taking the risk of over-paying a piece of art. Vanessa was very knowledgeable and talented in helping us to identify a few emerging street artists in our price range and matching our style. We absolutely loved one particular artist, Jean-Marc Hunt. Thanks to Vanessa’s contact and network, we got our favorite piece for a reasonable price at a Parisian gallery. Today, we are still extremely happy about this acquisition and looking at this unique piece of art brings us joy every day! And we look forward to working with Vanessa again when we are ready for another artwork. “

    Sophie & Daniel P., Paris

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  • "Vanessa helped us discover and invest in an established artist"


    “When my husband and I bought our new home in Miami, we knew from the beginning that we wanted not only a beautiful interior design but also meaningful artworks for our new house. Our interior designer @atelierroyheckl recommended us Vanessa. 

    For our first meeting, Vanessa offered me for a guided tour of some Art Basel galleries at the fair. It was very interesting to discover new artists and have her insight on them. Even if I would not buy all the pieces, I learned about different perspectives and political art pieces. I ended up buying one of the first artworks she showed me and thought would be a right fit: a gorilla drawing from Abraham Cruzvillegas, that I immediately loved and still do today. Beyond the interest for the work itself, Vanessa also helped us invest in an established artist who has currently a show in a museum in Miami and continues to rise. We can’t wait to move into our new home to pick further artworks with Vanessa’s advice.”

    Astrid A., Miami

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  • "The Rodrigo Matheus sculpture we bought thanks to her was a perfect addition to our home"

    “I started an art collection a few years ago when we moved into our new home in London. I made most my decisions based on intuition, a mix of me being moved by the work and its fitting with the design of our home. One day, Vanessa who has been observing my aquisitions for the past years, spontaneously sent me the image of an artwork saying: “I just saw this and I think you will like it”. And indeed, I absolutely loved it, even though it was an abstract sculpture, quite different from the other pieces, mostly paintings, we own. Vanessa helped me identify and define the existing style of our collection (I love portraits and success stories) and yet she directed me towards something new. The Rodrigo Matheus sculpture we bought thanks to her was a perfect addition to our home and beautifully complements our existing collection. She really has a great sense for art and her knowledge is precious.“

    Karima N., London

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  • "Vanessa found me a unique artist residency, curated one of my solo shows in NYC and placed one of my works"

    "Vanessa helped me transition from the performing to the visuar arts scene. She found me a unique opportunity for an artist residency/studio, curated one of my solo shows in NYC and placed one of my works among a young emerging collector. Her understanding of the market, including galleries, collectors and instituti9ons, and her regular advice have been very valuable to kick off my new career path."

    Roxane R., Artist, New York

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