Amar Singh (art dealer)

Kanwar Amar Jit Singh[1] (born 14 June 1989) is a British art and non-fungible token (NFT) dealer, philanthropist, women's rights and LGBTQ+ activist, and film producer.[2][3][4] He has sometimes been described as an 'Indian prince',[5][6][7] despite being a fourth cousin once removed to the current titular holder of the erstwhile princely state of Kapurthala, which was dissolved in 1947.[4]

Amar Singh
Singh in January 2021
Born
Kanwar Amar Jit Singh

(1989-06-14) 14 June 1989
London, England, UK
EducationSt John's Beaumont School
Charterhouse School
Licensed Victuallers' School
Known forArt and NFT dealer, philanthropist, women's rights and LGBTQ+ activist, and film producer

Between 2021 and 2022, Vanity Fair claimed that Singh had secured $500 million of NFT art deals, and owned 100 per cent of his operations.[8] Throughout his career, Singh has emphasised underrepresented female, LGBTQ+ and minority artists,[9] and by 2022 claimed to have donated more than $5 million worth of art by these groups to museums worldwide,[10] a claim which some journalists have questioned.[4] In 2022, he also pledged to donate $1 million to international women's rights non-profit Vital Voices,[11] where he was a member of the solidarity council,[12] until October 2023.[13]

On 14 October 2023, Singh was accused by Air Mail of using threatening and misogynistic language in phone-call recordings with a former partner, who, Singh claimed, had lied about her identity and cheated on him.[4] He allegedly called the young Swedish woman a "fat bitch" and an "anorexic cunt", asking her "do you think you even rank in the top 50" of "the most beautiful girl[s] I've been with?", and threatening that he would "make moves against [her] family" and that "a war [was] going to begin", with him intending to turn a journalistic article about the girl into "an assassination", after which she would be locked out of several Western nations, but "maybe some African countries [she could] go to";[4] language seemingly in stark contrast to Singh's public persona championing women's rights and minorities. Singh denies the allegations, claiming that the recordings had been produced by artificial intelligence, a claim which digital forensics and data recovery expert Alfred Demirjian does not believe.[4] Demirjian said that there was a high degree of scientific certainty that the recordings were of Singh's voice.[4] Singh later asserted that the story about him provided to journalists was fictitious research for a movie plot entitled "Thirst for Fiction",[4] however Singh has been accused of having attempted to bribe a female journalist on two occasions, and utilised lawyers, in an apparent attempt to quash the story.[4]

Education

Singh was educated at St John's Beaumont School, Charterhouse School and the Licensed Victuallers' School. Numerous articles have described Singh as a 'Harvard graduate'.[14][3][15][16][17] Singh's 2019 profile in Forbes 30 Under 30 listed a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Harvard University,[18] however by May 2021, the educational section of his profile had been removed.[19] As of October 2023, Singh does not appear in any freshman-class registers and Harvard could not confirm or deny his attendance.[4] Singh claims that he dropped out of Harvard, but when pressed on which year he had dropped out, he responded to journalists that they had only asked the question "due to the colour of [his] skin".[4]

Career

On 20 January 2017, Singh opened an art gallery in London called Amar Gallery.[7] The gallery exhibited the work of female artists and feminists including the Guerrilla Girls, Helen Frankenthaler, and Renee Cox.[5][20] Singh closed his North London gallery in April 2019, and by 2020 it owed creditors $435,192.[4] The company was dissolved by "compulsory strike-off" in October 2021.[1]

In 2019, Singh had stated his next venture, set to open October 2019, was Curated Golden Square, described as a "$100 million, 30,000 square foot apartment hotel".[21][20] In a 2021 follow up interview with Vanity Fair, Singh claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was the reason the venture did not move forward.[9] The site in question, 37 Golden Square, is a collection of 23 apartments developed by Halamar in 2019.[22]

Singh is a director of Curated Properties Ltd, which became insolvent and went into creditors’ voluntary liquidation in June 2020,[23][24] owing £38,189 to HM Revenue and Customs.[25]

In March 2021, SABO Art and Amar Singh Gallery launched an art exhibition to celebrate women and Women's History Month in Lagos, Nigeria.[26]

In November 2021, Artnet claimed that the value of Singh's NFT deals was in excess of $300 million.[27] Business Insider claimed that Singh's NFT art gallery booked $9.8 million in revenue in 2021.[28] In February 2022, Vanity Fair claimed that Singh had secured $500 million of NFT deals in the prior 12 months, and was on track to secure $1 billion in NFT deals by 2024.[8] In June 2022, PinkNews claimed that Singh's wholly owned NFT studio was worth over $150 million, without naming specific business entities.[29]

Singh is an investor in female-founded startups Chāmpo,[30] and Nice Drinks.[31]

Activism

Through his gallery, Singh mounted LGBT+ exhibitions including Links by Howard Tangye and Section 377, an online exhibition celebrating the road to India legalising homosexuality. Alongside Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil and other LGBT+ activists, Singh has called for the Indian government to strike down Section 377,[2] legalise same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption, and ban LGBTQ conversion therapy.[2][32] In 2020, Singh began working with advocate Ravi Kant on a Indian Supreme Court case to ban conversion therapy.[33] According to Human Rights Watch conversion therapy is already prohibited in India under existing healthcare regulations.[4]

In July 2019, Singh spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute's Annual Future Leaders Conference, held at the Russell Senate Office Building, about women's rights and how communities are impacted through art and culture.[9][34]

Singh has been critical of LGBT rights in Brunei, branding the country's laws punishing homosexuality with death by stoning as 'disgraceful'.[9][20]

Philanthropic claims
Singh at his home in London in 2021

In 2021, Singh pledged to donate $5 million worth of art by female, LGBTQ and minority artists to museums worldwide by 2025.[9][35] In January 2021, Singh donated a painting worth six figures, celebrating women, by the artist María Berrío to Los Angeles County Museum of Art,[9] and a portrait of Joe Biden's inaugural poet Amanda Gorman to Harvard University's permanent collection, valued at £8,000.[36][9] Singh claims he reached $5 million of donations by July 2022,[10] however in October 2023, journalists were unable to find evidence that his donations totalled $5 million.[4] Singh is alleged to have claimed on Instagram that he donated a painting by British-Liberian artist Lina Iris Viktor to the "Smithsonian Museum" in Washington, D.C., however according to journalists the Smithsonian Institution had no record of the painting being in their collections, and the artist's studio declined to comment.[4]

Singh is also alleged to have claimed on Instagram that he donated $10,000 to nonprofit 'Art at a Time Like This', however according to journalists the organisation in question claimed that "there wasn't a donation from Singh", but rather he had helped to facilitate one.[4]

In June 2021, Singh partnered with Givenchy and VeVe to raise $128,000 for LGBT+ youth movement Le MAG Jeunes LGBT+, by collaborating with artists Rewind Collective and selling the first NFT created for a beauty brand.[37][38][39]

Singh was an advisor and ambassador to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, to which he donated some profits from selling NFTs.[3][28] He also donated some NFT profits to non-governmental organization Vital Voices,[28] where he was a member of the solidarity council,[12] until October 2023.[13] In 2022, Singh pledged to donate $1 million over two years to Vital Voices,[11] posing with Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin and Diane von Fürstenberg at an event in May 2022.[4]

Singh claims to have served in an advisory/ambassadorial role to Great Ormond Street Hospital, and that Muhammad Ali had praised his humanitarian work.[4] He is a patron of the Tate,[40] Serpentine Galleries (Future Contemporaries),[41] and Whitechapel Gallery (First Futures),[42] as well as a member of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art collectors committee.[43]

Film

Singh was an executive producer on the 2023 film Assassin Club, starring Henry Golding, Noomi Rapace and Sam Neill,[44] which grossed $188,292 worldwide,[45] and received 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.[46]

Filmography
Year Film Functioned as Notes
2023 Assassin Club Executive producer[44]
TBD Classified † Executive producer[47] Post-production
TBD Ride the Snake † Producer[48] Post-production
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Allegations of threats, misogyny and bribery

In August 2023, Singh made contact with journalist Hannah Ghorashi to tell the story of a relationship he had with a young Swedish woman named Liza-Johanna Holgersson, who, Singh claimed, had lied about her identity and cheated on him.[4] During her research for the piece, Ghorashi received three phone-call recordings from Liza, purportedly involving Liza and Singh, of an ostensibly threatening and misogynistic nature.[4] In the recordings, the man is heard to call the girl a "fat bitch" and an "anorexic cunt", asking her "do you think you even rank in the top 50" of "the most beautiful girl[s] I've been with"?", and threatening "if you hang up on me I'm going to make moves against your family" and "a war is going to begin".[4] The man threatens to turn an article he is assisting journalists with, into "an assassination" against Liza, and that as a consequence she will be locked out of "Spain, Italy, Germany" as well as the UK and the USA, but "maybe some African countries [she could] go to".[4] The man ended by saying "I need respect, worship, and glory after your abuse and you're not providing it".[4] Singh initially refused to comment when questioned by journalists about the voice recordings, later claiming that they had been produced by "A.I.". Digital forensics expect Alfred Demirjian, put the scientific certainty that the recordings were of Singh's voice at 87.2%, and did not believe the claim that they were produced using artificial intelligence.[4] Singh's lawyer, Timothy Drukker of Fishman Brand Stone, stated that the recordings were "not of Mr Singh", while a cease and desist letter from Liza's representative "Johan Stadth" of "Fjällman Juridik", transpired to be a fake e-mail from someone seemingly trying to impersonate the Gothenburg-based law firm Fjällmans Juridik, sent from a domain that had been registered on 29 September 2023 - the day the fake email was sent.[4] The genuine law firm Fjällmans Juridik said that there was no one working at their firm by the name of Johan Stadth.[4]

An apparent non-disclosure agreement (NDA) between Singh and Liza, seen by journalists, stated that Liza was "not allowed to release any recordings of Kanwar Amar Jit Singh into the public domain or private domain", and that if Singh broke his part of the NDA, namely that he would not pursue any member of Liza's family, then Liza would be entitled to any painting by Joan Mitchell within his collection.[4]

Singh told journalists that a book stolen by Liza from his apartment in August 2023 was a signed first-edition of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's which had cost him nearly $10,000 at auction, however journalists believe the receipt they were shown by Singh as evidence of this purchase may have actually pertained to an unsigned first-edition bought at Swann Galleries in New York City for $700.[4]

Singh claims that the stories provided to Air Mail (which included an official Metropolitan Police report about the theft of a book from Singh's address on 11 August 2023) were all research for a film proposal entitled "Thirst for Fiction" to "test the elasticity of truth in the digital age".[4]

Singh has been accused of attempting to bribe Ghorashi on two occasions in relation to the publication of the story, claims which he denies.[4] Singh accused Air Mail of being a "white led newspaper" with a "racist and homophobic agenda".[4]

Personal life

Singh's father is a retired software engineer and businessman, and his mother is a property developer.[4] Through his father, Singh is a great-great-great-great-grandson of Raja Nihal Singh of Kapurthala,[49][50] an erstwhile ruler of one of the 565 princely states which existed during the British Raj, and which was abolished in 1947 following Indian independence. As of 2023, Sukhjit Singh, who is Singh's fourth cousin once removed, is the current holder of the titular Kapurthala title.[4]

A 2022 Esquire interview with Singh falsely claimed on several occasions that Indian Health Minister and activist Amrit Kaur was Singh's grandmother;[10] Kaur was in fact Singh's second cousin three times removed,[49] and died without issue.[51] A 2017 Los Angeles Blade article incorrectly reported that Indian politician Vishvjit Singh was Singh's uncle;[3] Vishvjit was in fact Singh's first cousin once removed.[49]

In 2018, The Independent claimed that Singh, who is heterosexual, was "driven out of India" at the age of 20, after he spoke out in support of gay rights.[32]

Singh is a patron of the Chiltern Firehouse in London, and of Soho House.[4] He lives on Beaufort Street in Chelsea, London.[4]

Depictions

A portrait of Singh by artist Howard Tangye is in the National Portrait Gallery, London.[52]

Recognition

References
  1. "AMAR GALLERY PRIVATE LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  2. Bullock, Andrew (10 August 2020). "Amar Singh: "I don't know why we have to fight so hard for equal rights!"". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. Ocamb, Karen (30 November 2017). "Indian Royal Amar Singh on a mission for equality". Los Angeles Blade. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. Hannah Ghorashi; George Pendle. "A Swedish Conwoman, An Indian Prince, And a Grift Gone Terribly Wrong". Air Mail. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  5. Hawgood, Alex (3 October 2017). "The Indian Prince Who Supports Gay Rights and the Arts (Published 2017)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  6. Jeremy Kinser (17 March 2019). "Is This Star-Studded LACMA Party the Art World's American Idol?". Town & Country. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. Chaundy, Bob (25 January 2017). "Howard Tangye - Amar Gallery". HuffPost. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  8. "Billion Dollar Boom: NFT Rainmakers". Vanity Fair. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  9. Bullock, Andrew (9 February 2021). "The Art of Amar Singh's Activism". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  10. Ramani, Reshma (25 November 2022). "NFT Art Pioneer's Ambitious Push for Change". Esquire. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  11. "REMEMBER US XXI (NFT ARTWORK) EXHIBIT, POWERED BY AMAR SINGH". Vital Voices. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  12. "Amar Singh". Vital Voices. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  13. "Vital Voices Solidarity Council". Vital Voices. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  14. "Meet the 27-year-old Indian royal who just opened the hottest gallery in London". Elle. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  15. Paul, Nisha (2 January 2018). "Ardent Aesthete: In Conversation with Amar Singh". Verve. Retrieved 11 February 2023.(subscription required)
  16. Wareham, Jamie (4 September 2020). "Section 377: What Indian Royals Want You To Know About LGBTQ Equality, Two Years After Decriminalisation". Forbes. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  17. Jain, Saket (17 April 2023). "Royal rebel Amar Singh champions the cause of LGBTQ community & 'conversion therapy'!". Dainik Bharat. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  18. "Amar Singh". Forbes. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  19. "Amar Singh". Forbes. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
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  21. Baker, Sam (29 June 2019). "The (Male) Art Entrepreneur Exhibiting Female Artists". Forbes. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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  24. "No. 63043". The London Gazette. 3 July 2020. p. 11419.
  25. "Statement of affairs". Companies House. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  26. Ekow Barnes. "The Culture List: Four Exciting Art Installations Celebrating Womanhood". Ebony. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  27. McDonald, Maya Asha (17 November 2021). "Meet Amar Singh, the Activist Art Gallerist Who Went From Dealing in Abstract Expressionism to $300 Million Worth of NFTs". Artnet. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  28. Davis, Dominic-Madori (18 March 2022). "How Businesses Can Use NFTs to Boost Sales and Partner With Brands". Business Insider. Retrieved 20 June 2022.(subscription required)
  29. Bullock, Andrew (15 June 2022). "Indian royal Amar Singh on crusade to ban conversion therapy and what he'd say to Liz Truss". PinkNews. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  30. "CHAMPO LIMITED - Confirmation statement made on 24 March 2023 with updates". Companies House. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  31. "ISLAND DRINKS LIMITED - Confirmation statement made on 28 March 2022 with updates". Companies House. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  32. Oppenheim, Maya (10 February 2018). "India's only openly gay prince is turning his pink palace into a centre for vulnerable LGBT+ people". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  33. Bullock, Andrew. "Royal Rebels: Amar Singh and Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  34. "CHLI Conference Connects Future Leaders to the Real World". Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  35. Gerlis, Melanie (4 February 2021). "A tale of Churchill, Roosevelt — and Angelina Jolie". Financial Times.
  36. Onwuamaegbu, Natachi (29 January 2021). "'This work must be in an institution.' Amanda Gorman portrait gifted to Harvard - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  37. "Givenchy Beauty - Official site | Fragrance, make-up and skincare".
  38. Weil, Jennifer (22 June 2021). "Givenchy Parfums Creates NFT Artwork to Profit LGBTQ Cause".
  39. "The Rise and Rise of NFT Artworks". Vanity Fair. 27 July 2021.
  40. "Tate Annual Report 2019/20" (PDF). Tate. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  41. "Support". Serpentine Galleries. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  42. "Annual Report Whitechapel Gallery". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  43. "Amar Singh: Breaking The Glass Ceiling". storiyaan.com. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  44. "Assassin Club - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  45. "Assassin Club (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
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  47. "Classified - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  48. "Ride the Snake - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  49. "Kapurthala". sikh heritage. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  50. Sternlicht, Alexandra (13 May 2021). "Why This 31-Year-Old Gallerist Is Partnering With Christie's To Auction NFTs". Forbes.
  51. Sambuy, L. M., & Portnowitz, T. (2023). In Search of Amrit Kaur: A lost princess and her vanished world. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
  52. "Amar Singh". National Portrait Gallery, London. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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