Brains, beauty & art. Ogechi Harry is the founder of Golden Our, a lifestyle advisory brand focused on intentional collecting that celebrates stories from the African Diaspora. With 15 years of legal experience in the built environment at major law firms and other top international institutions, she decided to focus on her passion for diverse artistic voices.
Inspired by the two most sacred hours of the day, sunrise and sunset, Golden Our is an advisory services firm inviting private collectors and interior designers to re-imagine the creative cultural landscape and discover Black creative excellence through thoughtfully curated art, design, and objects. Ogechi empowers collectors and designers to inspire their spaces with joy and a sense of placemaking while bridging the art equity gap.
Ogechi is based in Chicago, a city with historically deep arts and culture roots, and is surrounded by a vibrant international art community. Facilitating the drafting of the Arts and Culture strategy for Mayor Lightfoot’s Administration and serving on the Board of the Chicago Public Art Group, a 50+ year old public arts non-profit organization, taught her just how uniquely important Chicago is to the global art market. Her advisory approach reflects her professional experience as a transactional lawyer. She provides strategic art advisory and guidance at the intersection of culture, design, diligence, and intention so that clients build heirloom-worthy collections of joy. Ogechi is also an ISA-approved art appraiser in training.
We caught up with Ogechi and had a few questions for her, and here is what she had to share:
1. Golden Our is inspired by the sacred hours of sunrise and sunset. How do these moments influence your approach to curating art and advising collectors?
Golden hours are quiet but powerful—transitional moments where light reshapes and beautifies everything in its path. Sunrise and sunset are cyclical measures of time, marking the beginning and end of the day. They allow us to take stock of what we achieved during the day and remind us that tomorrow is another opportunity to keep trying. I believe that Black artistic voices, which have been generationally overlooked, need this kind of amplification—held in the most powerful light. This need is infused in my approach to art advisory. It’s not just about finding beautiful pieces; it’s also about guiding collectors towards works that transform their spaces, shift their perspectives, and reflect who they are becoming. Just like sunrise and sunset, I believe the most meaningful art holds space for both reflection and revelation.
2. With your background in law and infrastructure, how has your previous career shaped your perspective on art advisory and the importance of storytelling in collections?
My legal background trained me to pay attention to the fine print and think strategically about how to persuasively tell a story. As a transactional lawyer working on complex capital projects, the essentials matter as they are the details of the story that lead the direction of an outcome. When it comes to art advisory, I approach every client’s art needs like a narrative framework centered around intention. I provide strategic art advisory and guidance at the intersection of culture, design, diligence, and intention so that clients build heirloom-worthy collections of joy.
3. Golden Our emphasizes celebrating stories from the African Diaspora. Can you share how you guide clients to connect with these narratives when selecting pieces for their spaces?
Absolutely. I start with the client’s own story and intention—where they come from, what resonates, what traditions they want to carry forward, and why they are interested in collecting. Then, I tap into my network and introduce artists or artisans whose work reflects or challenges those experiences based on their budget. Whether it’s a piece that honors ancestral memory or one that reframes what modern Black experiences are like, the goal is always intention. I empower clients to see themselves in the stories they want to tell in their spaces as well as see beyond themselves into the richness of the Diaspora.
4. You’ve been involved in initiatives like drafting the Arts and Culture strategy for Chicago. How do such experiences inform your vision for integrating art into public and private spaces?
Working on city-wide cultural strategy taught me that art is both deeply personal and inherently public. In every space—whether it’s a condo or a city corridor—art has the power to shift minds, attract investment, claim space, and resolve serious societal issues. These experiences, especially in an international city like Chicago, taught me that access to art is a basic human right, not just for the wealthy among us. At Golden Our, I champion that same vision: we are all art collectors in our own right, and homes, offices, and even dinner tables are important spaces for intention-led placemaking and cultural dialogue.
5. For couples looking to infuse their homes with meaningful art, what advice do you offer to ensure their collection reflects both personal significance and cultural heritage?
I start with shared values. What are the stories you want to tell together? Is it legacy, love, resilience, joy? From there, we curate art that acts as a visual affirmation of those values. I always remind couples: your home is your first gallery. Let it reflect your roots, your journey, and your vision for the future. Art doesn’t have to match the couch—it should match the evolution of what you’re building together.
6. Golden Our hosts events like the Golden Glo dinner series. How do these gatherings foster a sense of community and deepen the appreciation for Black creative excellence among collectors and designers?
Many of my collector clients have expressed frustration around how to invest in creatives through collecting— they find that there are too many trends, it is tricky to find quality artists, and that it is hard to meet fellow collectors, etc. So, I created Golden Glo to resolve these pain points. Golden Glo is an intimate art dinner series where art, culture, and connection meet around the table. These dinners are designed to feel intimate and intentional—bringing together collectors, curators, designers, and creatives who value storytelling through art and design by Black creatives. Golden Glo offers the opportunity to demystify what it means to be a collector while learning collecting principles, enjoying a multicourse meal, getting access to new Black artists, and connecting with other like-minded collectors. We create space for honest dialogue, learning, cultural exchange, and shared inspiration.
7. As an ISA-approved art appraiser in training, how do you see the role of appraisal in bridging the art equity gap and promoting long-term value in collections?
I have been learning so much about the importance of appraising personal property and am understanding why becoming an appraiser of African descent, appraising work by culturally diverse Black artists, is critical. Context matters. History has shown the undervaluing of Black-owned homes by appraisers. Appraising art by Black artists is not just about price—it’s about value, legacy, and market recognition. For too long, Black artists and collectors have been excluded from systems that validate and protect cultural assets. My work as an art appraiser and consultant is about closing the art equity gap—ensuring that the work we cherish is documented, preserved, and valued appropriately. My appraisal work will be a form of stewardship. It’s about making sure that our stories hold weight in every room, including the boardroom and the auction house.
Ogechi Harry’s journey as a lawyer providing art advisory services underscores a profound commitment to intentionality, cultural heritage, and equity in the art world. Through Golden Our, she not only curates art but also cultivates spaces where stories from the African Diaspora are celebrated and preserved. Her work serves as a beacon for collectors and designers seeking to infuse their spaces with meaningful narratives and lasting value.
For more information on Ogechi Harry and Golden Our, visit thegoldenour.com.
