Meet Natalie Pashaie & Chloe Farhadi | Co-Founder & Directors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Pashaie & Chloe Farhadi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie Pashaie & Chloe Farhadi, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for our business was born of a mutual, deep-rooted passion for art. Our motivation to open our gallery came from what we saw as a ‘missing piece’ in the gallery sphere. While there are so many incredible institutions here in Los Angeles, we couldn’t help but notice how some of our friends – particularly those unfamiliar with the art world – felt unwelcome in these spaces. We wanted to establish a gallery that felt more inviting, more communal. One of the ways we aim to achieve this is by hosting different events in the gallery (we have been host to a film crew, comedy club, and musical performers, to name a few). We also were following so many talented young artists whose work we hadn’t seen exhibited, and were driven to showcase their pieces. We aim to prove that contemporary art is more than an untouchable ideology – it is something you can live with; the idea that fine art can be intersectional and accessible is at the core of MEY.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
MEY is a contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles. We focus on presenting work by a diverse array of talented emerging artists from both near and far. We are looking forward to hosting more collaborative events in the gallery, so to highlight other local businesses and expand the arts community.

While not every moment has been easy, we have found that the old cliche holds true: the best way to learn is by doing. We are a two-person operation at the moment, and are quite lucky that we have the same goals, but different areas of expertise.

We want people to know that whether they are first-time or seasoned collectors, MEY is somewhere they could go to engage with fresh, dynamic, and well-rounded artwork. We are powered by backgrounds in research and sales, but ultimately, by a love of art and the connection it sparks.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course we’re going to recommend visiting MEY then grabbing Thai food and drinks a few doors down at Night + Market. Not only are there countless museums and galleries in LA, there are also places like the Weisman Foundation and the Hollyhock House – each incredibly unique places to see art in an intimate setting. Definitely check out the Arts District – have a bite to eat and something to drink at Manuela, the restaurant at Hauser & Wirth. Also in Downtown is Bavel, one of our favorite restaurants. Another day we’d recommend walking around Abbot Kinney and eating at Gjelina or Gjusta. For solid French food and wine, we’d recommend going to Marvin on Beverly Blvd. A can’t miss would be eating at a few taco trucks – namely El Ruso, Teddy’s Red Tacos, and Mariscos Jalisco. On the weekends (usually Sundays) there are farmers markets and flea markets throughout the city. Lastly, we would definitely recommend a late night bite at In-N-Out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Thank you to the artists that we have worked with, those who have come to see our shows, our collectors near and far, and publications like these for highlighting what we do.

Website: https://www.meygallery.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mey__gallery/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/meygallery/

Image Credits
Artwork by Allison Lu Wang