A little Informal Note from the Gallery today..
There’s been a noticeable shift lately in the art world—one we’ve felt directly in our gallery. Some major galleries and art fairs have closed and although our sales as an established medium range gallery are about the same as years past, it still feels like people are a little less spontaneous. However, there are exceptions. While the overall art-buying economy has tightened a bit, there’s a clear and encouraging trend: collectors are gravitating toward artwork that brings them joy. Not just pretty pieces, but ones that radiate optimism, energy, and color. Art that feels like a deep breath, a spontaneous laugh, or a moment of much-needed lightness.
We’ve seen this most clearly in the recent success of Denise Stewart-Sanabria’s exhibit with us. Yesterday we hosted an all day pop-in, on the 4th of July, which to be honest I wasn't sure anyone would come to since it was a perfect South Carolina beach day. Her vibrant, maximalist works brought wide smiles to the gallery—on faces and in sales. Denise doesn’t hold back: her paintings are bold, humorous, curious, and visually full. They have an unapologetic playfulness that people seem to be craving right now. One visitor said it perfectly: “This is the kind of joy I want hanging in my house.”
And honestly, it makes sense. With the world feeling unpredictable—economically, politically, environmentally—it’s only natural that people are reaching for things that ground them emotionally. There’s a lot we can’t control, but we can choose what surrounds us. And right now, more than ever, people are choosing joy.
It’s been a good reminder for us as a gallery. We’re always looking for great work, but it’s becoming clear that what people really want right now is art that is both beautiful but also that makes them feel good. Art that engages them and lifts a room. And we’re proud to represent artists who are doing just that.
So here’s to more joy—in our homes, on our walls, and out in the world.
