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 108 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 been 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 xperienced 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.