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About Serious Play Consultancy and Creative Coaching
Serious Play, located in Santa Fe, NM, is a transformative consultancy and creative coaching service designed for creatives and gallery owners. Serious Play seeks to elevate their artistic careers while maintaining a balance between artistic integrity and commercial success. The consultancy is owned and led by Ivan Barnett. He is a visionary with over five decades of experience in the art world. Serious Play offers a unique blend of creative mentorship, strategic business insights, and personalized guidance tailored to each client.
At the core of Ivan Barnett’s approach is the belief that “serious play’s” strategies fosters creativity and innovation. By encouraging his clients to explore, experiment, and take risks in their artistic practices, Ivan helps them unlock new levels of creativity. Discussing the strategies are done through support and one-on-one creative coaching sessions, where Ivan adopts a more personal and developmental approach. Serious Play provides strategic advice for enhancing business operations. Ivan Barnett’s guidance is both practical and empowering to help his clients advance and elevate their careers.
“I’ve been terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from a single thing.”
— Georgia O’Keeffe
disciplined Strategies
As the former co-founder and creative director of Patina Gallery, Ivan Barnett successfully guided artists from emerging talents to established professionals. His vast experience as both a studio artist and gallery owner provides him with an understanding of the art world’s intricacies. This allows him to diagnose problems and implement practical, innovative solutions, mentorship, and strategies for his clients. Through Serious Play, Ivan Barnett helps artists who want to navigate the complexities of studio management, marketing, PR, and presentation skills. He wants to ensure they thrive in a competitive landscape while staying true to their creative vision.
Barnett combines his experience, empathy, strategies, and holistic approach to support artists and galleries achieve success and creative breakthroughs. His proven track record of success stories reflects his deep commitment to fostering artistic excellence and community engagement. Whether acting as a creative coach or consultant, Ivan Barnett is dedicated to helping his clients reach their full potential.
“The brand is a story, but it’s a story about you, not about the brand”
— Seth Godin
Meet Serious Play founder & Visionary, Ivan Barnett
In this compelling reflection, Ivan Barnett delves into the concept of “serious play” as the cornerstone of his artistic and professional journey. He draws inspiration from his heroes like Georgia O’Keeffe, Alexander Calder, and Pablo Picasso. Ivan explores how playful curiosity, disciplined skill, and a passion for experimentation have shaped his life. From co-founding the Patina Gallery, in Santa Fe, to establishing his consultancy for creative coaching, Serious Play, Ivan shares how embracing creativity, authenticity, strategies, and innovation led to his impactful work. This piece invites readers to join him in discovering how the magic of playing seriously drives artistic and personal success.
“You are the hero of your own story.”
— Joseph Campbell
Editorial Timeline About Serious Play
Explore a captivating timeline featuring Ivan Barnett’s enduring influence in the art world. From co-founding Patina Gallery to launching Serious Play Consultancy, Ivan has curated iconic exhibitions, supported cultural institutions, and championed innovative collaborations and strategies. Editorial highlights include his hallmark “Oxidized” exhibition and groundbreaking storytelling campaigns. With each project—whether showcasing avant-garde jewelry, promoting sustainability through art, or curating transformative exhibitions—Ivan Barnett continues to shape the creative landscape. This timeline celebrates three decades of artistic achievement, innovation, and dedication to fostering meaningful connections within the arts community. Dive in to discover how Ivan’s vision inspires and elevates artists and galleries.
“Play is the exultation of the possible.”
— Martin Buber
“Getting UNDER THE STORY”: Bridging Art, Strategy, & Storytelling
Ivan Barnett, established artist, curator, and dynamic, engaging arts consultant, brings over five decades of expertise in the fine arts, studio craft, and gallery worlds to his writing. As the founder of Serious Play and former creative director of the renowned Patina Gallery, Barnett has shaped the careers of countless artists while fostering deep connections between creative makers, collectors, and Arts institutions. His published writings offer an insightful perspective that seamlessly blends artistic vision with strategic insights, providing invaluable guidance on creative storytelling, exhibition curation, market positioning, and professional growth. With a keen eye for innovation, strategies, and an unwavering commitment to artistic integrity, Ivan Barnett’s writings serve as both a source of inspiration and a practical roadmap for creatives navigating today’s evolving art landscape. His contributions focus to empower artists, galleries, and arts organizations, bridging the space between disciplined creativity and long-term sustainability in a rapidly changing industry.
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