Installation view of the ‘What?s Up’ exhibition curated by Lawrence Van Hagen in Hong Kong
Lawrence Van Hagen set out to start a travel tech company, and somewhere along the way, ended up curating a successful series of art exhibitions dedicated to supporting emerging artists. Now, Van Hagen runs LVH art, a business dedicated to helping clients navigate the international art market. Here, we speak to the entrepreneur about his unexpected career path, his favourite places to see art and how to start building a collection.

Lawrence Van Hagen
1. Can you tell us more about the What’s Up exhibitions and how you found yourself in the role of curator"
I started a travel start-up and in order to raise funds for it I decided to curate an art show. I wanted to curate a show since my family is in the arts. My mother has her own art foundation, collects, curates exhibitions and writes books on art. We decided to curate a show called What?s Up based on what?s up today in the art world with a focus on artists to look out for, whether they are young or established. We had the first show in Soho, New York with two spaces, 50 artists and 100 artworks. The next show turned out to be even more successful than the first. Follow LUX on Instagram: the.official.lux.magazine
We have now had shows in New York, London, Hong Kong and Seoul. I work closely with my mother. It?s more my project, but my mother gives me a huge amount of advice and help. It is nice to be able to bou...