PIR STUDIOS
Pir Studios provides strategic support and management services for mid to late career visual artists navigating pivotal stages in their practice.
With a focus on long-term sustainability, institutional alignment, and legacy planning, we partner with artists to structure their careers with the same care and intention they bring to their work. From exhibition planning and archive development to collector strategy and studio operations, our services are tailored to the unique needs of established artists seeking greater clarity and momentum.
Rooted in discretion, professionalism, and deep art world experience, Pir Studio exists to ensure that artists are not only seen—but supported.
Who We Are
Pir Studio was founded by Maya Pir O’Donnell-Shah, an advisor, manager, and cultural producer with over a decade of experience working alongside artists, estates, galleries, and institutions. Her career spans architecture, auction houses, public art, and private collections—culminating in a practice rooted in advocacy, strategic thinking, and long-term care for artists.
Pir Studio serves as a quiet but vital partner to mid- and late-career artists—particularly those whose work is critically engaged, long in development, and deserving of broader recognition. We provide confidential, high-touch support across career planning, exhibition coordination, archive and estate structuring, and strategic advising during periods of accelerated growth.
Our approach is personal, not prescriptive. Every engagement begins with listening: to the artist’s priorities, the rhythms of their practice, and the larger arc of their work. We believe that visionary careers are built over time—and that artists deserve infrastructure and insight equal to the complexity of their vision.
Pir (پیر), meaning elder or guide, reflects our commitment to stewardship and depth. We aim to be a trusted source of clarity in an often opaque art world—working in service of the artist, always.
Services
Pir Studio offers strategic support for artists whose careers are evolving—and whose needs extend beyond what traditional gallery representation can provide.
We operate as a discreet, artist-first partner, stepping in where bandwidth, infrastructure, or clarity may be lacking. Our services are modular and scalable: we meet each artist where they are, and build from there.
Studio Systems & Operations
A sustainable practice requires reliable operations. We work with artists to streamline studio processes, optimize administrative systems, and support communication with galleries, clients, and collaborators.
Includes:
Workflow optimization and delegation
Hiring and training of studio staff
Budgeting, invoicing, and financial clarity
Exhibition & Project Management
We manage the logistics, timelines, and communications around solo exhibitions, biennials, publications, and major commissions—so you can stay focused on the work itself.
Includes:
Studio-to-gallery coordination
Scheduling and production oversight
Liaise with curators, fabricators, and publishers
Archive, Inventory & Legacy
We help artists create systems for tracking, organizing, and preserving their work—now and for the future. Whether you’re looking to establish an archive or plan for long-term legacy, we bring both structure and sensitivity.
Includes:
Archive and studio inventory systems
Estate and legacy planning strategy
Documentation and digitization workflows
Advisory & Strategic Planning
We work closely with artists to assess their career trajectory, identify goals, and develop actionable plans. Whether you’re preparing for a major institutional opportunity or seeking to reorient your practice, we provide perspective, structure, and momentum.
Includes:
Strategic goal-setting and roadmap creation
Preparation for institutional or gallery milestones
Pricing, contracts, and market positioning guidance
Each engagement is customized. We collaborate in ways that are grounded, confidential, and deeply attuned to the evolving needs of each artist and their work.
ARTISTS
TESTIMONIALS
“She’s worth her weight in gold. We have accomplished so much this year and couldn’t have done it without her”
— Jane Dickson, Artist
“Whip-smart, incredibly thorough, and a consummate professional, maya is a fount of contemporary art knowledge who makes the complex process of building a private art collection as easy as sending an e-mail. Simply put, she's exceptional at what she does.”
— Jason + Tamara Lynch, Private Collectors
“Maya helped us get our bearings at a very important time in planning for our father’s legacy.”
— Sacha Bowling, Trustee Frank Bowling Studio
“Maya’s social media game is fire, or should I say water? She made it an art form, a venue for gorgeous heartfelt, deep and well-researched short form illustrated essay. I am, we at Works on Water are, are so grateful and impressed. I think for me your awareness and firm but subtle approach to intertwined issues of race, class and nuanced environmental justice are especially wonderful. I am grateful for your careful research and writing.”
— Clarinda Mac Low, Director Culture Push, Core Member Works on Water
“Maya is my right hand and my left! Confidant, friend and co-conspirator”
— Papo Colo, Artist, Co-Founder of Exit Art + Pangea Art Republic