Claudia Cheng is an independent curator and art advisor based between London and Hong Kong. She has curated over a dozen exhibitions for galleries internationally, and has curated a collection as well as a benefit auction for Artsy. With an emphasis on bringing female artists’ narratives forward, Claudia has published artist interviews and curated exhibitions focused on women. She currently serves as an ambassador of Tate as well as a patron of The Serpentine Galleries, and contributes to building a passionate art community that supports artists through funding, exhibitions, and events. She began her art career at Christie’s, and she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Stanford University.
Why did you want to guest curate for this year’s International Women’s Day Auction?
It’s a privilege to contribute to a meaningful cause while highlighting the work of women artists who illuminate the world in intimate, transformative, and expansive ways. My curatorial practice has always centred on the parallels between the female body, nature, and our inner worlds, and each artist I chose for the auction explores these themes through her own unique lens. Bringing their voices together on International Women’s Day feels like a moment to honour the dimensional experiences that shape womanhood.
Art on a Postcard plays a key role in raising funds and awareness for The Hepatitis C Trust. What makes you want to help fundraise for the charity?
I’ve always believed that art holds power not only in what it expresses, but in what it can carry forward into the world. The Hepatitis C Trust is doing life-changing work, and Art on a Postcard has created a platform where artistic generosity directly translates into care, treatment, and awareness. As someone who works closely with artists, I’m deeply moved by the way creativity can actively support healing on a tangible level. Contributing to this auction feels like a meaningful way to use our collective practice for something larger than ourselves.
What were the key things you were looking for when selecting your artists for this auction?
I gravitated toward artists whose practices explore the body in relation to the natural world or the interior landscapes within us, and whose work invites a moment of reflection – even on a postcard or a plywood panel. Because the format is so intimate, I was drawn to artists who can distill their visual language into something small yet potent. Lorena Lohr’s work, for instance, carries a cinematic quality that remains deeply evocative even at a small scale. Dominique Fung reframes cultural histories through a contemporary lens, compressing layers of narrative into a single, resonant image. Johanna Bath’s paintings often hover between clarity and dissolution, inviting moments of quiet introspection that reward close-looking.
What advice would you give to someone buying their first piece of art?
Trust your instincts. Your first piece doesn’t have to be strategic, it simply needs to speak to you. Start by exploring what you’re naturally drawn to: colour, gesture, form, narrative. Spend time with artists’ practices, whether through exhibitions, conversations, or studio visits. Understanding the intention behind a work often deepens your connection to it. Ultimately, buy artwork that will bring you joy to live with. Let your first piece be an expression of what resonates with you at this moment in your life, and allow your collection to evolve naturally from that starting point.
How does a small-scale format like this appeal to new collectors?
Small-scale works feel approachable – both emotionally and financially. They give new collectors the opportunity to enter the art world without the pressure of a major commitment. It also allows people to acquire work from artists who might not typically produce pieces at this scale, making their practices accessible in a way that would otherwise be out of reach. Even at the small scale of a plywood panel, an artwork can hold immense power. It offers a glimpse into an artist’s hand, palette, and sensibility in a way that feels intimate and tangible.
