At the heart of Union Square, the W Hotel set the stage for a powerful conversation about innovation and creativity as Catiana Van Dinh, founder of CVD FINE ARTS, took the spotlight on a panel hosted by the Onda Community. During this intimate yet dynamic discussion, Catiana shared the journey behind her company’s growth, the challenges she faced, and the vision driving her forward.
Speaking with candor and insight, she touched on everything from her entrepreneurial beginnings to the values that shape her business today. Her talk resonated with the audience, drawing a mix of industry veterans, young professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs who came to hear firsthand about her experiences navigating the fast-paced world of Art advisory. The panel, which emphasized collaboration and community, was as much about personal stories as it was about business strategy, leaving attendees inspired and eager to apply new ideas to their own endeavors.
Special thanks to photographer Sia Arora for capturing the energy and essence of the event through her lens, providing us with moments that bring the conversation to life.
CVD Fine Arts was built on a simple idea: Art is more than an object. It’s emotion, strategy, connection, and cultural currency. Its founder moves between roles with ease: artist, advisor, curator, and connector. She began quietly, with painting and poetry, shaped by an instinct to observe and translate emotion into form. Over time, she realized that artistry isn’t limited to what you make; it also lives in how you see, guide, and build.
Her work now focuses on supporting artists with structure and helping collectors understand value beyond aesthetics. She approaches the business of art with clarity and intuition, leading with a form of feminine energy that is grounded, strategic, and calm. Reinvention is part of her story, and she sees it as a strength. The ability to shift direction without losing purpose.
This interview opens the door to her perspective, her mission, and the future she sees taking shape in the art world.
1. “Let’s start with your stories — what do you each do today?”
I launched CVD Fine Arts, an art collective and advisory platform connecting artists, collectors, and designers. I help clients build collections with investment-grade and high-potential artworks while empowering emerging artists with strategy, visibility, and career development.
My mission is to build a transparent and future-focused art ecosystem one where creativity, community, and intangible assets like cultural relevance, vision, and relationships hold real value. Art is no longer just an object; it’s a conversation, an investment, and a cultural currency.
2. “How did your creative journey begin, and how has your definition of ‘artist’ evolved?
I’ve always been an artist at heart, quiet, observant, and emotional. Painting and poetry were my first languages. I was inspired early by contemporary work and Neo-Expressionism, where emotion becomes structure. As I entered the art world professionally, I realized that artistry isn’t limited to what you physically make. Being an artist is also about how you see, curate, connect, and innovate.
Today, I define an artist as someone who can translate emotion, culture, or identity into something that moves people whether it’s a canvas, a concept, or a community.
That emotional resonance is an intangible asset, and it’s more valuable than people think.
3. “You transitioned from artist to running a gallery and business—how?
I started by showing my own work, but quickly saw how many talented artists lacked resources, representation, and strategy. That realization shifted my path. I didn’t leave art, I expanded it.I became a curator, advisor, manager, connector, and storyteller.
Understanding the interplay between creativity and business allowed me to support artists with real structure. Today, I use my eye, my network, and my understanding of branding, valuation, and market psychology to help artists and collectors grow in ways that are sustainable.
4. “What have you learned about the business of art that most artists don’t talk about?
Talent alone isn’t enough, not in this industry. Art is a business built on relationships, trust, clarity, contracts, and consistency. The moment I started treating my creative practice like an enterprise, tracking expenses, understanding negotiation, building systems, and protecting my intellectual property everything changed.
In art, your creativity is the product, but your reputation, professionalism, and boundaries are the intangible assets that determine your longevity.
5. “How do you lead with feminine energy in male-dominated, hustle-driven industries?
Growing up with two brothers made me resilient and competitive, but being a woman taught me intuition, emotional intelligence, and grace under pressure. Leading with feminine energy means anchoring yourself in clarity and calmness. It’s choosing collaboration over ego. It’s knowing your value without overexplaining it. It’s relying on intuition as much as logic. Feminine energy isn’t soft, it’s strategic. It’s a force that strengthens your leadership without losing your humanity.
6. “Advice for women reinventing themselves?”
Reinvention is your superpower. Be bold. Be unapologetic. Be willing to be misunderstood. People will project their fears onto you, ignore it. Your ability to adapt, rebuild, and evolve is your strongest intangible asset. The moment you stop asking for permission and commit to your own vision, everything aligns your purpose, your direction, and the opportunities meant for you.
7. “What inspired you to create CVD Fine Arts now?”
The art world is changing. Collectors want authenticity, transparency, and curation they can trust. Artists want real support not just exposure. After a decade in the industry, I saw a gap between talent and opportunity. CVD Fine Arts is my answer to that, an ecosystem built on integrity, access, and innovation.
8. “Where do you see the future of art going, especially with tech and the Middle East rising?
We’re entering a global shift. The Middle East is investing heavily in culture, tech, AI, real estate, and creative economies. Dubai alone is becoming a cultural capital. Art is moving beyond walls into digital spaces, architecture, real estate development, and global investment portfolios.
The future belongs to artists and advisors who can bridge creativity with technology, emotion with strategy, and culture with commerce.
