Melissa Netecke

Melissa Netecke brings over 15 years of expertise in the art world, building globally recognized art events and cultural partnerships.

Prior to her current role as Director of Development at Desert X, Melissa was Head of Business Development at 291 Agency, overseeing a range of commercial projects for leading contemporary artists. During her decade-long tenure at Art Basel as Global Head of Partnerships, Melissa spearheaded the strategic development of partnerships across the fair’s flagship locations in Hong Kong, Basel, Paris, and Miami Beach. Melissa was also integral in the launch of several new business initiatives, including Art Basel Cities: Buenos Aires; Intersections, the Art Basel podcast; the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report; the fair’s first-ever retail product collaboration, as well as the debut edition of Paris plus par Art Basel in 2022.

Melissa Netecke holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from The New School in New York City and a B.A. in Rhetoric and Writing from the University of Texas at Austin. She has consulted a wide range of cultural organizations on partnership and growth strategies.