Fortune Cookie Projects, a partnership held by Mary Dinaburg and Howard Rutkowski, was formed to take advantage of the dynamic movement seen in the art markets in the Far East. The company seeks to play two cross-cultural roles: introducing major international artists - spanning from Impressionism and Modernism through Contemporary practitioners - to venues in the Far East and by bringing established and emerging artists from the region to the West.

Fortune Cookie Projects has already securely established itself in its first purpose, beginning as early 2000 with an exhibition of 8 important international video artists at Arario Gallery in Cheonan, Korea. This was followed, also at Arario, in 2001 by Pop Thru Out, a survey of historical and current work, exploring popular culture through a variety of media. Subsequent projects included solo exhibitions of major international artists such as Sigmar Polke, Jorg Immendorff, Per Kirkeby and Markus Lupertz.

In addition to gallery and institutional projects, Fortune Cookie Projects has been active in placing individual works of art with private collectors, corporations and foundations throughout the region. It counts among its corporate clients Clifford Chance, SEI, UBS and The Saatchi Collection.

As indicated above, Fortune Cookie Projects’ other main area of activity is in the field of Contemporary Asian art. At its most basic, it involves satisfying particular requests from private, corporate and institutional collectors for specific works by specific artists. The more creative and strategic aspect revolves around the discovery and development of new artists from the region and introducing them to situations in the West that are mutually beneficial.

In addition to curating, organising and promoting exhibitions of young Asian artists, Fortune Cookie Projects continues to add to its inventory of works for investment and ultimate sale. This is a business strategy that does not passively react to markets, but seeks to actively create, nurture and seize advantages worldwide.

Mary and Howard are members of the Advisory Board of Art Hong Kong.