Maisonette Muse
Isolde Brielmaier
When Isolde Brielmaier took the helm of the arts program at Westfield over four years ago, her goal was to engage its visitors with bold, interactive installations to encourage a moment of pause in the midst of the chaos of daily life in downtown NYC. It was no small task. Drawing on her global background – Isolde’s parents are Ugandan and Austrian - her curatorial roles at the Guggenheim, Bronx Museum of Arts, and SCAD, she has helped bring some of NY’s most modern and exciting installations to life, while balancing a professorship at NYU, marriage, and motherhood.
- Photography
- Taylor Jewell
- Written By
- Phoebe de Croisset
How did you make your foray into the art world?
My first job was as a program manager at the Guggenheim Museum, and it opened up an entire new world for me in which I could combine so many interests: my love of art, the visual world, ideas, creativity, and interacting with people… It was so inspiring to be given the opportunity to work with artists (something I had been myself up until that point). All of this, and then to be able to have an impact on how people see and think about the important ideas, people, and places of our time was so enticing.
You’re now the Director of Arts & Culture at Westfield – what drew you to this role, and why is public art so important?
When I came on board over four years ago, I was very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with artists on big curatorial projects, for big audiences in a big, but nontraditional space. There are roughly 400,000 people who pass through the Oculus each day. It is a dynamic and active space and since most people don’t come specifically to see art, we are always thinking about work that it big, bold, interactive, and experiential. Our goal with each installation is to encourage people to pause, stop, and think and feel. Art is so necessary, particularly in these challenging times and in so many ways art can be a real catalyst for change. It can create many small shifts in culture.
When did you become a mother, and how did it affect your career at the time?
Farrah is eight years old now, and it has been such a joy to see her grow and evolve. When she was born, my career did slow down a bit, maybe for a year or so, but it was really timely as it allowed me to think about next steps, shifting gears, and perhaps making a change. I really saw this period in my life as an opportunity.
My first job was as a program manager at the Guggenheim Museum, and it opened up an entire new world for me in which I could combine so many interests: my love of art, the visual world, ideas, creativity, and interacting with people… It was so inspiring to be given the opportunity to work with artists (something I had been myself up until that point). All of this, and then to be able to have an impact on how people see and think about the important ideas, people, and places of our time was so enticing.
You’re now the Director of Arts & Culture at Westfield – what drew you to this role, and why is public art so important?
When I came on board over four years ago, I was very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with artists on big curatorial projects, for big audiences in a big, but nontraditional space. There are roughly 400,000 people who pass through the Oculus each day. It is a dynamic and active space and since most people don’t come specifically to see art, we are always thinking about work that it big, bold, interactive, and experiential. Our goal with each installation is to encourage people to pause, stop, and think and feel. Art is so necessary, particularly in these challenging times and in so many ways art can be a real catalyst for change. It can create many small shifts in culture.
When did you become a mother, and how did it affect your career at the time?
Farrah is eight years old now, and it has been such a joy to see her grow and evolve. When she was born, my career did slow down a bit, maybe for a year or so, but it was really timely as it allowed me to think about next steps, shifting gears, and perhaps making a change. I really saw this period in my life as an opportunity.
"I am very aware that I am raising both a girl, and that I am raising a black child, and I consider that a huge blessing and privilege."
As a working mother, do you find yourself searching for the elusive work/life balance?
That “balance” is not something I ever work to attain. That feels like a lot of pressure. Instead, I see it as part of the constant flow of life in general, and within this flow sometimes we are centered, sometimes we lean left and sometimes we lean right. But it’s all just part of how we live.
How does your career help you to be a better mother, and how does being a mother help you in your career?
My practical answer to this question is that having my daughter in my life continues to offer clarity on what is a priority to me; Farrah reminds me to keep focused on the big picture, but also to stop and smell the roses. And if I weren’t already extremely organized with my time, I have become even more so. When I think about it, I am truly amazed by how much women get done in one day.
Did you have any fears embarking on the journey of motherhood? Any surprises along the way?
I’m not a big fan of fear, and I try not to live in that space. When I see Farrah dance, sing, stand up and recite a poem, share something she has learned – all of these moments make me so happy… to see her evolution and her joy as she learns about herself and the world around her. I think what surprised me the most was how much I love and really enjoy being a mother as each stage and each year passes. And how much this love and joy continues to grow.
That “balance” is not something I ever work to attain. That feels like a lot of pressure. Instead, I see it as part of the constant flow of life in general, and within this flow sometimes we are centered, sometimes we lean left and sometimes we lean right. But it’s all just part of how we live.
How does your career help you to be a better mother, and how does being a mother help you in your career?
My practical answer to this question is that having my daughter in my life continues to offer clarity on what is a priority to me; Farrah reminds me to keep focused on the big picture, but also to stop and smell the roses. And if I weren’t already extremely organized with my time, I have become even more so. When I think about it, I am truly amazed by how much women get done in one day.
Did you have any fears embarking on the journey of motherhood? Any surprises along the way?
I’m not a big fan of fear, and I try not to live in that space. When I see Farrah dance, sing, stand up and recite a poem, share something she has learned – all of these moments make me so happy… to see her evolution and her joy as she learns about herself and the world around her. I think what surprised me the most was how much I love and really enjoy being a mother as each stage and each year passes. And how much this love and joy continues to grow.
How does your culture inform the way you parent?
I want Farrah’s world and lens to be as big as it possibly can. I feel really blessed to come from such a culturally rich background, as does my partner, Mangue, and it’s very important to us that we share as much of our families’ cultures and traditions with Farrah as we can - from food (East and West African, Austrian and Italian) and language, to traditions like how we celebrate the different holidays and religions of all our family members. We travel whenever we can, to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean to see family and friends. It is one of the great privileges a person can have. You never see things in the same way once you’ve been fully immersed in the different ways people live around the world.
Do you talk to Farrah about style/fashion/beauty?
I don’t talk a lot about the specifics of style, fashion or beauty per se, but I do talk a lot about how many of the things we see on the outside emanate from within. Style and fashion are about expressing yourself, and how you feel and think. Beauty is something each and every person has, but that can look different depending upon what each of us see in a person, as well as how that person sees herself. And I tell Farrah all the time that she is smart, funny, talented, and beautiful – in this order.
How is raising a girl today different from when you grew up?
I am very aware that I am raising both a girl, and that I am raising a black child, and I consider that a huge blessing and privilege. Although these times are challenging, I do see progress and a landscape that although imperfect, is changing. It is my duty to help Farrah build a healthy and accessible toolbox she can use to navigate this landscape with confidence, a strong sense of self, love and compassion for others, and a whole lot of #blackgirlmagic.
I want Farrah’s world and lens to be as big as it possibly can. I feel really blessed to come from such a culturally rich background, as does my partner, Mangue, and it’s very important to us that we share as much of our families’ cultures and traditions with Farrah as we can - from food (East and West African, Austrian and Italian) and language, to traditions like how we celebrate the different holidays and religions of all our family members. We travel whenever we can, to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean to see family and friends. It is one of the great privileges a person can have. You never see things in the same way once you’ve been fully immersed in the different ways people live around the world.
Do you talk to Farrah about style/fashion/beauty?
I don’t talk a lot about the specifics of style, fashion or beauty per se, but I do talk a lot about how many of the things we see on the outside emanate from within. Style and fashion are about expressing yourself, and how you feel and think. Beauty is something each and every person has, but that can look different depending upon what each of us see in a person, as well as how that person sees herself. And I tell Farrah all the time that she is smart, funny, talented, and beautiful – in this order.
How is raising a girl today different from when you grew up?
I am very aware that I am raising both a girl, and that I am raising a black child, and I consider that a huge blessing and privilege. Although these times are challenging, I do see progress and a landscape that although imperfect, is changing. It is my duty to help Farrah build a healthy and accessible toolbox she can use to navigate this landscape with confidence, a strong sense of self, love and compassion for others, and a whole lot of #blackgirlmagic.
