VAO27 JUDGES

The Visual Art Open carefully selects distinguished members from the contemporary art world to serve on our expert judging panel.

These judges, drawn from a diverse range of roles, including practising artists, writers, art critics, professors, collectors, and curators, bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight to the evaluation of each artist’s application.

Their collective expertise ensures a fair, informed, and inspiring assessment process, reflecting the highest standards of contemporary art practice.

Alexandra Steinacker

Alexandra Steinacker-Clark is a London-based American-Austrian art historian, podcaster, and author of Working In Art: How to Build a Career in the Art World.

She holds a BA in History of Art from University College London and an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths. Her expertise spans contemporary art, the art market, accessibility, and making the professional art world more inclusive and accessible.

She is the founder and host of the All About Art podcast, which explores career paths across the arts and cultural sector and reaches listeners in over 115 countries. She is also co-director of NXT GEN: AWITA x All About Art, supporting early-career arts professionals through partnerships with institutions including Tate Modern, the ICA, and the British Council.

Having lectured at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and UCL, delivered a TEDx talk on whether consuming art can increase empathy, and held roles at leading galleries and Sotheby’s Auction House, Alexandra brings a valuable combination of art-world expertise, industry insight, and a commitment to accessibility. On the panel, she will offer an informed perspective on contemporary art, professional practice, and the qualities that help artists navigate and develop their careers in today’s art world.

Daniela Bianco

Daniela Bianco is Chief Sales Officer at Artscapy, bringing over 15 years of experience across the art world, including commercial galleries, private client advisory and art collection curation.

Throughout her career, Daniela has developed a strong understanding of the art market, working closely with collectors to build meaningful collections that balance personal passion with informed decision-making. Her experience spans the commercial and advisory sides of the industry, giving her valuable insight into how artists connect with collectors and navigate the evolving art landscape.

As a judge for the Visual Art Open 2027, Daniela brings a commercially informed perspective, combining her knowledge of the art market with an appreciation for the individual vision and ambition behind each artistic practice. Her experience advising collectors enables her to consider how artworks communicate, engage audiences and create lasting connections. Daniela will contribute valuable insight into artistic potential, originality and the opportunities available to artists seeking to develop their careers and reach new audiences.

Sally Bent

Sally Bent is an experienced arts and design events professional, with a career spanning the creative industries, with a particular focus on art and design. As Event Director of New Designers and through her work with London Art Fair, she brings extensive experience across contemporary art, design, creative education and industry engagement.

At New Designers, Sally champions emerging design talent, building relationships between graduates, universities and the creative industries, and creating opportunities for the next generation of designers to showcase their work and develop their careers.

At London Art Fair, Sally works to strengthen the Fair’s position within the modern and contemporary art market, developing its audience, partnerships and cultural programme to connect galleries, collectors and wider audiences. Across both events, she is passionate about creating platforms that celebrate creative talent, encourage discovery and foster meaningful connections between the arts, design and commercial sectors.

Mark Walmsley

Mark Walmsley is the Founder of the Arts & Culture Network, one of the world’s largest independent online communities for arts and culture professionals, connecting more than 185,000 members worldwide.

With a background spanning music, arts leadership, marketing, business development and community building, Mark has worked with thousands of professionals and organisations to increase visibility, build meaningful connections and create new opportunities across the cultural sector. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM), and Chair of Culture Chelmsford.

Mark brings valuable expertise in championing creative talent, increasing professional visibility and connecting artists with opportunities, making him a fantastic addition to the Visual Art Open judging panel.

Helga Stentzel

Helga Stentzel is a London-based contemporary artist known for finding unexpected characters in everyday objects. Working across sculpture, photography and installation, she transforms clothing, food and household items into playful, poetic compositions that invite audiences to look at the familiar world with fresh eyes.

Her internationally recognised Clothesline Animals series, launched in 2020, marked a significant turning point in her practice, leading to exhibitions across Europe, Asia and the United States, alongside collaborations in theatre and public art. Her work has attracted international attention and has been featured in prominent publications including The New York Times, The Guardian and Colossal.

Shaped by her upbringing in Siberia and her background in fashion and design, Helga’s practice explores the imaginative potential of overlooked details in daily life. Through inventive simplicity and meticulous construction, she creates works that blur the boundaries between sculpture, photography and storytelling.

As a Visual Art Open judge, Helga brings a distinctive perspective on originality, material experimentation and visual storytelling, alongside an understanding of how artists can communicate compelling ideas through accessible, unexpected approaches. Her international exhibition experience and cross-disciplinary practice offer valuable insight into the many ways contemporary art can engage and connect with audiences.

Debbie Hillyerd

Debbie Hillyerd is Senior Global Director of Learning and Partner at Hauser & Wirth, where she leads the development of global learning, philanthropy and charitable initiatives across the international gallery. With more than 30 years of experience in arts education, research and cultural engagement, she has lectured in Fine Art, Critical Studies and Curatorial Practice at Bath Spa University, the University of the West of England, Northbrook College and Loughborough University. She has also advised national and international organisations on education strategy and practice.

Debbie brings extensive expertise in arts education, critical studies and curatorial practice to the Visual Art Open judging panel, alongside a deep understanding of how artists can develop their practice, engage audiences and build meaningful connections within the wider cultural sector. Her work championing learning, accessibility and cultural engagement aligns closely with the award’s commitment to supporting emerging and established artists, increasing visibility and creating opportunities for creative talent to flourish.

Sukhai Eccleston

Sukai Eccleston has worked across broadcast media, film and TV licensing, and digital marketing. She understands the power of representation through the visual arts, as well as how artists can monetise their work through different channels and online marketplaces. Sukai advises and supports emerging artists in navigating contractual agreements and managing their careers, while offering consultancy to arts organisations in curation and event planning.

As Founder and CEO of CasildART Contemporary, a not-for-profit gallery championing contemporary Black artists, Sukai develops exhibitions and cultural programmes that celebrate Black creativity and broaden representation. Her curatorial work has included #Can’tStopOurFlow: Celebrating Black Artistic Expression at J/M Gallery, alongside collaborative programming with Fusion Arts.

Sukai brings valuable expertise in artist development, commercial opportunities, digital visibility and inclusive curation to the Visual Art Open judging panel. Her experience across creative industries and independent gallery leadership offers a practical understanding of how artists can build sustainable careers, reach wider audiences and communicate their work effectively, while championing diverse perspectives within the contemporary art world.

Lee Sharrock

Lee Sharrock is a creative communications specialist, art writer and curator with more than 20 years of experience across the art world and creative industries. She is the Founder and Editor of Culturalee, an international arts and culture platform celebrating established and emerging talent through interviews, reviews and features. Lee previously served as Director of Global Creative PR at Saatchi & Saatchi, overseeing international campaigns and the PR for its New Directors’ Showcase at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Her career spans Sotheby’s, the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), the British Museum and leading commercial galleries. As a writer, she has contributed to publications including Forbes, Financial Times, Creative Review, Artlyst and FAD Magazine. Her curatorial projects include exhibitions and charity auctions at Christie’s, Art on a Postcard and 99 Projects Gallery. Lee studied History of Art and Italian at University College London and the University of Bologna.

As a Visual Art Open judge, Lee brings a valuable combination of curatorial insight, art-world knowledge and media expertise. Her experience championing artists, developing compelling narratives and securing international visibility offers a strong perspective on artistic originality, effective communication and the opportunities that help artists build their careers.

Adwoa Botchey & Solomon Adebiyi

Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi are the multi-award-winning creative couple behind Adeche Atelier, celebrated storytellers, artists and content creators redefining how African mythology, folklore and culture are represented in contemporary art and media.

Winners of the 2025 ITV bCreator Awards in the Canon Best Original Content Creator category, and recipients of the All Things Africa Cultural Vanguard Award, they are recognised for advancing cultural literacy and championing overlooked narratives. Their distinctive artistic practice, which involves painting every piece simultaneously, draws on African spiritual systems, oral traditions and heritage to challenge misconceptions and inspire new perspectives.

With a combined audience of more than half a million followers across social platforms, Adeche Atelier has collaborated with leading cultural institutions, including Tate Britain, the National Gallery, BBC Arts and the Fitzwilliam Museum, as well as the Walker Art Gallery and Hayward Gallery. Their work spans painting, exhibitions, content creation and their podcast, Afro Mythos, which explores the stories and spiritual traditions of Africa before colonisation.

As Visual Art Open judges, Adwoa and Solomon bring a distinctive perspective on storytelling, cultural representation and artistic originality. Their experience working with major cultural institutions, engaging diverse audiences and building a successful creative practice offers valuable insight into how artists can communicate meaningful ideas, develop their professional visibility and connect with audiences internationally.