Lee Shulman: The Anonymous Project, collective memory and the power of obsession

What does a box of forgotten vintage slides reveal about our shared identity, and how do you transform a passion project into a viable global cultural phenomenon? Host Katy Wellesley Wesley sits down with visual artist, filmmaker, and founder of The Anonymous Project, Lee Shulman, to delve into his journey from buying a random box of Kodachrome images to curating an archive of over a million slides.Lee discusses the emotional content and universality of these private moments, exploring the delicate balance between the "sacred" family snapshot and public art. They explore the creative strategy behind large-scale installations like The House at Arles and commercial partnerships. In a market where high-end art sales are contracting while the mid-market is gaining momentum, Lee shares his pragmatic philosophy on "art as a business," collaboration, and why curatorial vision is the true genius behind anonymous images.(00:00) - Introduction to Compelling (02:08) - The Origins of The Anonymous Project (05:10) - Emotional Depth and Universality (07:54) - Challenges and Criticisms (13:41) - Collaborations and Future Projects (21:49) - The Democratization of Photography (23:02) - Art as a Business (24:38) - Inspirations and Influences (25:52) - Commercial Collaborations (29:51) - Site-Specific Art Projects (34:54) - The Value of Obsession (36:56) - French Obsessions and Mastery of Craft (37:53) - The Importance of Time in Art Lee Shulman: Lee Shulman is the Founder and Creative Director of The Anonymous Project, containing nearly a million Kodachrome slides. A London-born, Paris-based visual artist and award-winning filmmaker, his expertise lies in curating and recontextualising amateur photography through immersive installations, books, and collaborative art projects. His recent work includes the collaboration Being There with Omar Victor Diop and directing the documentary film I Am Martin Parr.Visit the Anonymous ProjectKaty Wellesley Wesley: With over 18 years of leadership across galleries, foundations, and startups, Katy has built a career shaped by curiosity and a drive to explore new ideas. She spent a decade at leading commercial galleries—first at Gagosian, then at Pace, where she was Director of Exhibitions in London. She went on to lead the Villa Lena Foundation in Italy as Director, before joining the founding team of ROKBOX, a pioneering environmentally focused art logistics startup, as Sales Director. After relocating to Paris six years ago, Katy developed a strong interest in the intersection of art and luxury. To deepen this focus, she recently completed an Executive Master’s in Luxury Management and Design Innovation, a joint program between ESSEC Business School and Parsons School of Design. She now works as a consultant to brands, artists, foundations, and collectors. Among her clients is the legendary art publisher Cahiers d’Art, where she heads Commercial Partnerships.Compelling is proudly in partnership with Cahiers d’Art.Compelling is produced in collaboration with Cahiers d’Art, the iconic Paris-based art publisher founded in 1926, home of the Catalogue Raisonné of Picasso and most recently the Frank Gehry Drawings Catalogue Raisonné. At the heart of it's publishing program is the Cahiers d'Art Revue, one of the most significant and longest-standing annual art publications of the last century. In 2026, Cahiers d’Art will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a series of major publications, projects and exhibitions in collaboration with leading global institutions, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the MoMA in New York City and the Musée Picasso in Paris.Visit Cahiers d’ArtArt direction by Eddie Harrop StudioWebsite and Production by Story Ninety-Four