LIVING WITH CHAMBERLAIN: A CONVERSATION WITH ALEXANDRA FAIRWEATHER

As Director of the John Chamberlain Estate since 2017, Alexandra Fairweather is dedicated to preserving the life, work, and legacy of the late artist. She skillfully navigates the intersection of reverence and strategic business management, having expanded the estate's archival, management, and marketing teams to amplify awareness and appreciation of Chamberlain's work. Alexandra has assembled a team of professionals responsible for the operational aspects of the estate, from overseeing the maintenance of physical properties, including Chamberlain’s former home and studio, to managing financial affairs and legal considerations, allowing the estate to thrive as a dynamic and sustainable entity within the art world. By strategically expanding the archival team and implementing new conservation protocols, Fairweather ensures meticulous preservation, digitization, and cataloging of Chamberlain's work and archives, providing a rich resource for researchers, scholars, and collectors.

As the stepdaughter of John Chamberlain, Fairweather brings a deeply intimate and nuanced understanding of the artist to her work and the estate. In keeping with Chamberlain’s spirit, she is committed to honoring his relentlessly inventive and fearless practice through the estate’s projects. Fariweather has fostered notable partnerships with major art institutions organizing exhibitions and events that showcase Chamberlain's work in new contexts to a global audience. Recognizing the power of contemporary marketing techniques, she has adeptly combined traditional methods with digital and social media strategies to propel Chamberlain’s work into new realms of public consciousness and appreciation. Fairweather is interested in exploring new mediums to share his work and continue his rich legacy of inspiration among notable creatives. Most recently, she helped organize Chamberlain’s first museum show in over a decade, THE TIGHTER THEY’RE WOUND, THE HARDER THEY UNRAVEL, curated by Urs Fischer in collaboration with Dia Art Foundation for the Aspen Art Museum that celebrates Chamberlain’s love of discovery and fitting together of disparate parts.

Through her efforts in exhibitions, activations, events, and digital content creation, Fairweather actively steers the John Chamberlain Estate in a direction that honors the artist’s legacy and ensures its perpetual significance in the evolving landscape of contemporary art.

Alexandra Fairweather completed her undergraduate education at Columbia University. She is currently based between Shelter Island and New York City, and sits on the board of various Hamptons educational and arts organizations.