John Talley

John Talley joined Fung Collaboratives in 2010 to assume the role of Executive Director. In 2015 Talley founded FC Projects, the not for profit arm of Fung Collaboratives. Over the past twelve years John developed many new contacts with city officials, corporate sponsors, and local residents on behalf of both organizations and as harnessed energy and support from previous supporters.

His first major endeavor was realizing Artlantic in 2012 – 2015. The initiative was to create a new park system for Atlantic City, NJ that was envision by and included artwork by leading artists.  Several artworks were particularly challenging such as Devil’s Rage by Ilya & Emilia Kabakov. This life sized, partially sunken pirate ship was designed as a recent discovery. It was meant to be interactive to the public and after the first day was known as the “playground” by the locals. Robert Barry and Peter Hutchinson created their largest commissions to date.

Talley worked closely with Noemie La Faurie, partner at Balmori Associates who developed the landscape design. Set in the middle of the 7.5-acre park was a designed garden by Kiki Smith of which every living thing encompassed the color red. Shrubs, plants and trees were selected with foliage, flowers and berries in mind. John found the work exhilarating because he was able to work and advise the participating artists as well as hire and inspire the various contractors and trade groups. He gained the support of the local painter’s union who volunteered to paint, as a training program for their apprentices, John Roloff’s complicated mural installation. This kind of elliptical thinking not only maximizes the limited resources dedicated for a public art project but more importantly allows additional local involvement and participation.

John has overseen all of the exhibition initiatives from the company including most recently Constellations: Global Reflections, the first exhibition for aG20 or B 20 summit.

Before joining Fung Collaboratives full time, he honed his administrative skills as the superintendent of a leading residential developer in the Bay Area for over 35 years. He happily retired from the building trade and is excited to be working on the periphery of the Art World. “My role at FC takes me away from the construction world and allows me to use my knowledge in an advisory role and as brainstormer and problem solver. It is wonderful when an artist comes to me and asks me how to build their project and I am able to help realize their dream.”

As an avid photographer, John was on the Board of Directors for the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, Calif. This organization has strong roots in photography as they still operate in the space where Ansel Adams and Brett Weston founded the organization. John is also the official photographer for Fung Collaboratives.

John also is a skilled furniture designer and builder. He works with wood in a functional yet sculptural manner and is never more satisfied when witnessing people use and appreciate his hand made designs.