We recently connected with Lele Barnett and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lele, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my extremely smart, driven, and hard-working mom who single-handedly raised three young daughters on a solitary income. She never discouraged me from pursuing the arts; instead, she encouraged me to find a career path that would allow me to support myself. Even when I was fairly young, she talked to me about finances and how to earn a living. She taught me to be self-reliant and to work hard, not depending on others for financial support.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My primary focus is on supporting art and artists, and I do this by:
- Collaborating with tech corporations, I connect artists with researchers and technologists to disrupt regular thought patterns.
- Assisting private clients who are enthusiastic about expanding their involvement and understanding of the arts.
- Working alongside arts organizations that support positive change in the world.
I’m particularly interested in what art will look like in the future and how new technologies will shape it. That’s why I feel so lucky, at the moment, to be working with an XR Research team. I want to learn all I can and share that knowledge with artists.
I’m also passionate about working with artists to tell stories that have been lost. I have an exhibition coming up at the Tacoma Art Museum titled “Finding Home: The Chinese American West.”
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’ve always had a genuine interest in others. I’m generally curious about people and want to know them on a deeper level. I also enjoy connecting people who share similar interests. This has opened doors for me. When I introduce people to each other, they’re often willing to make new connections for me as well.
I’m pretty balanced between left and right brain dominance, which helps when I’m working with artists on projects. I can be creative, but I also know how to stay on task for deadlines.
And of course, there’s work ethic, which we’ve already talked about. I’m a Gen Xer, so maybe I’m too focused on working hard. I’ve been trying to balance self-care with that, too.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am looking to partner with folks who are:
○ passionate about learning and growing in their patronage of the arts
○ interested in supporting positive change in the world
○ want to focus on inspiration and fulfillment
If that is you, please connect with me!
https://www.lelebarnett.com/contact
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lelebarnett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lelebarnett/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lelebarnett/
Image Credits
Lele+Barnett_Collection_wiseknave-6.jpg Art by Brian Sanchez Private Residence in Clyde Hill, WA photos by wiseknave FBAIR+LAX+II_Amir+Fallah_wiseknave-39.jpg Amir H. Fallah commission in Playa Vista, CA curated for Meta Open Arts photo by wiseknave OpenArts-2023-RED0301-JohnGrade-Final-22 John Grade commission in Redmond, WA curated for Meta Open Arts photo by Ready Go Pictures DerrickAdams.jpg Art by Derrick Adams curated for Microsoft Art Collection photo courtesy of the artist
