SOL  WAY is an arts and culture consultancy that develops innovative strategies and programs to advance the goals of luxury brands, arts institutions, galleries, artists, creative collectives, and foundations.

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Services

  • Cultural Strategy and Positioning

  • Program Development and Realization

  • Brand Narratives and Evolution

  • Multi-Platform Storytelling

  • Arts Awards Development

  • Curated Experiences for Audience Engagement

  • Artist Commissions and Brand Collaborations

  • Editorial Strategy for Podcasts and Publications

Work

Boosted the cultural currency of a global luxury brand by creating narratives and distinctive programming that projected its values.

CHANEL Connects:  An ongoing podcast series convening renowned creatives.
CHANEL Connects
A podcast series convening renowned creatives.
Photograph by Emily Okuda-Overhoff
CHANEL Next Prize:  Chanel’s first global arts prize.
CHANEL Next Prize
The brand’s first global arts prize.
Photograph by Bienvenue
CHANEL Culture Fund:  A suite of unique partnerships with leading museums.
CHANEL Culture Fund
A suite of unique partnerships with leading museums.
Collaboration with artist George Condo and actor Jessica Chastain for W.
Collaboration with artist George Condo and actor Jessica Chastain.
Photograph by Max Vadukul
Collaboration with artist Yoko Ono, who reprised her “Cut Piece” for W.
Collaboration with artist Yoko Ono, who reprised her “Cut Piece” for W.
Photograph by Pari Dukovic
A talk with designer Thom Browne and collector Mera Rubell for Thom Browne.
A talk with designer Thom Browne and collector Mera Rubell for Thom Browne.
Photograph by BFA
A rare interview with singer-songwriter Frank Ocean.
A rare interview with singer-songwriter Frank Ocean.
Photograph by Tim Walker
Collaboration with artist KAWS and rapper Drake for W.
Collaboration with artist KAWS and rapper Drake.
Photograph of Drake by Caitlin Cronenberg
One of 15 artist-commissioned political posters ahead of 2016 presidential election.
One of 15 artist-commissioned political posters for W ahead of 2016 presidential election.
Artwork by Nina Chanel Abney
Collaboration with Ai Weiwei while the artist was under house arrest in Beijing.
Collaboration with Ai Weiwei while the artist was under house arrest in Beijing.
Photograph by Max Vadukul

Built new platforms to convene creative gamechangers and engage thought leaders in meaningful ways.

Forged partnerships and seeded new audiences by drawing upon deep industry knowledge and a network of relationships across disciplines.

Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond covers repositioned Surface.
Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond covers repositioned Surface.
Photograph by Craig McDean
Surface redesign to expand engagement with culture, design and fashion.
Surface redesign to expand engagement with culture, design and fashion.
Artwork by Jamian Juliano-Villani, 2019
Cardi B x Mickalene Thomas x Google Pixel collaboration for W.
Cardi B x Mickalene Thomas x Google Pixel collaboration for W.
Photograph by Mickalene Thomas shot on Pixel camera
The first full biography of cultural icon Rudolf Nureyev, acclaimed for its reporting.
The first full biography of cultural icon Rudolf Nureyev, acclaimed for its reporting.
Photograph by Snowdon
An early look at the hyper-linked worlds of rising designer Virgil Abloh.
An early look at the hyper-linked worlds of rising designer Virgil Abloh for W.
Photograph by Walter Pfeiffer
What it means for a star dancer to start over.
What it means for a star dancer to start over.
Photograph by Gilles Tapie

Wove together far-ranging ideas into compelling, clear narratives and powerful storytelling.

About

Principal Diane Solway is a seasoned cultural strategist, producer, and editor with wide-ranging expertise and global experience. In senior leadership roles at CHANEL, W Magazine, and Surface Media, she conceptualized and executed ambitious programs to drive brand and social goals.

Most recently as Head of Arts & Culture Programs at CHANEL, she spearheaded the development and global roll-out of an inaugural series of initiatives to extend the brand's engagement with contemporary culture, making it a cornerstone of its storytelling and programming.

As Features and Culture Director at W and Editor in Chief at Surface Media, she articulated the vision for its influential cultural coverage and its pace-setting interplay among fashion, contemporary art and design, and pop culture. She developed programs that engaged key constituencies and included collaborations with brands and artists such as Google, Thom Browne, Pharrell, Mickalene Thomas, Cindy Sherman and Frank Ocean.

A critically-acclaimed biographer, Solway has also written extensively for the New York Times and taught arts journalism at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

Contact

If you would like to learn more about our work, please get in touch.

info@dianesolway.com