What are the IAO PROJECTS? We are a conceptual art project founded in
2008 by Shadna Sieger and Albert Wang. It is a gallery which is featured
in a curator's <100 square foot office space. Our inspiration is
derived from the famed BBC television program "The Office" minus that
bad(ass) attitude. The goal is to discover untapped and innovative
talent throughout the world which have not had the opportunity to be
presented to the public at large.

Also we are a gesture against the grain of the prevailing Utah
cultural winds. Typically Salt Lake City is not seen as the harbinger
of artistic trends worldwide. IAO PROJECTS will dispel that notion
extremely quickly. We do not believe in academicism or empty emotional
art. We celebrate all art forms ranging from artist's books to
installation to even video/digital art which has been seen as anathema
in the market around here. We love traditional with a twist,
controversy with a coffee creamer, groundbreaking visual styles, and a
rebellious attitude whether subtle or evident in egg tempera, etc...

Like the secret style of the Wu-Tang shaolin monks, we strongly feel
that having a diverse range of vocabularies is key to the ultimate
championship, the red belt. From the crane style to the monkey style,
IAO PROJECTS seeks to give support to artists who have not had the
opportunity to feel relaxed to express themselves honestly because of
commercial support. We want the artists to be comfortable to who they
are because it is what we are too.

The IAO PROJECTS Flatfiles is an emerging artist (mentoring, teaching)
program for nurturing young and hip artists who have testing the
waters and the limits of what their art can do. Through group shows
and solo shows, we plan to have a mentoring program where the
experienced artists from the PROJECTS can help the young artists grow
and develop and navigate the treacherous waters of the art market. All
too often, there are good artists but lack of marketing and wide
exposure have knocked talents by the wayside. We believe that
schooling and experience, not formal education only, is the key to the
cycle of experienced artists being able to help out the youthful
artists who worry that they won't be able to make it. So we have
developed the Flatfiles as a stepping stone for those who are starting
out…

Note that we plan to change the game up. We believe in being honest
and forthright to the artists and treating them with respect and
understanding. We also believe in being uncensored and provocative,
even if risks cultural misunderstanding and even protest, because we
know that the most dangerous thing is the lack of critical thought
which is all too often the dominant malaise of our current society.