Stay clear at all costs - Gallery Assistant MASH Gallery Employee Review

Exposure and experience with luxury art sales. Some great people come into the gallery for shows. I’m thankful for people I’ve met.

Owner is awful to work with. Very verbally abusive and toxic work environment. Very demanding and micromanages everything. You barely can use the restroom. Very unpleasant, stressful, and rude. It’s not a good work life balance. The quality of art selected and promoted is tacky and embarrassing. Very brash. It is not a peaceful environment and makes me feel sick. Pay isn’t high enough to live comfortably in west side of Los Angeles. It’s basically a glorified selfie backdrop for d-list stars and influencers. It isn’t worth the exposure because it isn’t part of any real art scene. It’s forced and fake. All for show. It’s an awful quality of life. I’ve been told by clients that there is a very high turnover rate.

When I first started working here, I was inspired by the founder's mission and deeply admired what she had achieved, despite her challenging background. I respect her vision and continue to value the mission she upholds. The role has provided an incredible experience, engaging with a diverse selection of contemporary artists from around the world and participating in impactful events.

However, the highly disorganized work structure, such as inconsistent pay dates and lunch breaks, the absence of introductory training, and stressful micromanagement have negatively impacted the experience. Poor communication and impatience make it difficult to understand her expectations, as she often rushes and seeks shortcuts despite the complexity of tasks. The owner's habit of discussing employees with colleagues creates discomfort, and off-hours communication for non-urgent tasks disrupts work-life balance. Additionally, her preference for her own inefficient methods, rather than leveraging the team's expertise, combined with her tendency to view constructive feedback as disrespect, hinders overall team effectiveness. Frequent last-minute changes waste time, as she refuses to plan, believing it takes too long and relying solely on flexibility. Her limited self-reflection on certain professional practices may be a factor in the high turnover rate, as I have watched 7 different individuals come and go in just a few months. While this role offers valuable exposure to the art industry and experience in communications and marketing projects, it may not be suitable for those looking to advance their careers in a structured and supportive environment. Despite these issues, I believe in the potential of this organization and hope that constructive feedback can lead to positive changes, fostering a more supportive and efficient work environment for all employees.