A Conversation with Everette Taylor

Everette Taylor is CEO of Kickstarter, the world’s premier crowdfunding platform for creative projects. Under Everette’s leadership, Kickstarter was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies for the company’s global impact in the creator economy. Taylor currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for 1stDibs, and was recognized by BoardProspects as one of the “100 Black Board Members Making a Difference.” As a new member of our Honorary Committee, Everette joined us for a rapid-fire round of questions on his go-to sources for discovering new makers and artists, what's next on his creative horizon, and more.

Art + Design

Favorites 

If you could add one museum piece to your personal collection, what would it be?

No. 46 [Black, Ochre, Red over Red] by Mark Rothko, I first saw it in the Fondation Louis Vuitton retrospective but it’s in LACMA’s permanent collection. The color palettes are also coincidentally in conversation with works that I own by other incredible abstractionists like Stanley Whitney and Ed Clark.

Which design era or movement most inspires you right now?

The moment we are in right now, it’s been incredible to watch present day designers continue to innovate and do fresh/new things.

Who is an emerging artist or designer you think everyone should know?

Reginald Sylvester. In my opinion, he’s the best young abstract artist working today. He’s phenomenal and continues to evolve in a brilliant way.

What’s a piece in your collection that always sparks conversation?

The Frank Gehry “Wiggle” side chairs…I always get, “is this made of cardboard?”

If you could collaborate with any artist or designer, living or dead, who would it be?

David Hammons, no question.

What’s your favorite space you’ve ever visited for its design or art alone?

Oh wow, that’s really hard… hmmm the first thing that comes to mind is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

Lifestyle

What’s the first piece of art or design you ever purchased?

I actually won my first piece of art through a raffle for an artist named Jon Hen based in Massachusetts called Red Whisper.

What’s your ideal weekend in New York City?

Sleeping in, proper breakfast/brunch (which I don’t get to do during the week), getting a fresh hair cut, walking everywhere I can with beautiful weather, seeing art and design that inspires me, eating great food, spending time with people I love, dancing, massages, comfy clothes, lots of laughs (maybe a comedy show), and seeing a film or play.

Which design-related Instagram accounts or newsletters are your must-follows?

1stDibs of course =).

What’s your go-to source for discovering new makers and artists

1stDibs again, but also just Instagram and word of mouth from people with taste I respect.

If you weren’t in your current profession, what would you be doing?

Running a non-profit, or making films. Maybe both.

Plugs

What’s a project from the past year that pushed you creatively?

Our Kickstarter partnership with Tubi, figuring out a way to solve the biggest problem that filmmakers on our platform face which is distribution. Happy to have that partnership launching soon because it’s going to be a game changer for filmmakers.

Which upcoming exhibition is on your must-see list?

Kerry James Marshall at the Royal Academy of Arts, and then it heads to Zurich and Paris.

What’s next on your own creative or collecting horizon?

For me, it’s just continuing to find solutions to help support creative people throughout their entire journey via Kickstarter. It’s such an important time with the way the world is changing around us, and using my creativity to empower others is what gets me out of bed. We have some really cool stuff coming up in the future.

Where can people see your work next?

Just follow me on instagram @everette, or follow updates.kickstarter.com for what’s new at Kickstarter.