The market for fine art is ever-evolving and while most news about the gallery field focuses on blue chip outposts in major cosmopolitan centers the vast majority of working artists operate within their own regional communities dotted around the United States. The average artist will never see their work acquired by a museum, will not receive an institutional retrospective, and likely will struggle to find robust gallery representation. At the same time, the demands on retail gallery owners in smaller cities are constantly increasing. Rents, and the other myriad expenses associated with small ..read more

As that time of year nears when many arts organizations host shows and sales of small artworks, it is interesting and timely to consider the historical tastes for little pieces of art. While the impending holiday season might bring exhibitions of smaller sized works to venues across the country, collectors have prized small art for centuries and the trends in modestly sized artworks have shaped art history more generally as well. Highlights from the history of art can serve as inspiration for contemporary patrons to add intimately scaled artworks to their collections. Unknown maker, Right Hal ..read more

Numerous prominent arts organizations in the United States trace their roots to the turn of the century, a moment of turbulent excitement on the nation’s cultural scene. Connecticut’s New Britain Museum of American Art is one such institution. Founded in 1903, it is considered to be the first museum dedicated exclusively to the acquisition of American art. In its galleries, a wide ranging collection tells a broad story of art made in and about the United States. While the museum has holdings that span from the Colonial period to Contemporary, some of the most compelling areas of its collection ..read more

Impressionism remains one of the most revered movements in Western art history. The soft focus paintings of Monet continue to hold sway with contemporary audiences sheerly through their unbridled beauty. The divergent influences and aftereffects of the Impressionist movement are less well-known by audiences but are no less worthy of exploration. In a current exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum, some of the complex realities of this art historical moment are explored, resulting in new insights that go beyond a popular aesthetic. The entrance to the exhibition is a wall-spanning tribute to t ..read more

In the early 2000’s the British singer Kate Nash had a song which began “Simply knowing you exist ain’t good enough for me.” The same can be said for art. It simply is not enough to know an artwork is out there somewhere. Art must be seen close up to be fully appreciated. In a world sodden with digital media, the quest to view art in person is a virtue, but developing virtual connoisseurship skills is a necessity and learning to love art we have not yet seen is  something to aspire to. In the new Netflix series This Is a Robbery, the infamous theft of artworks at the Isabella Stewart Gard ..read more

It is easy to misread sculpture as a static medium, or as one dedicated to inward-looking stillness. Great art, though, can upend such preconceived notions of its genre. One of the best regarded Baroque sculptures, Bernini’s David, for instance, is known for its remarkable torsion. Building up in the subject’s taut body, the drama inherent in tension and expected release is the key to this great work. In Down to Earth, a career-spanning survey of work by twentieth century sculptor Robert Rohm (1934-2013) another artist’s relationship with notions of tension, balance, and even motion is explore ..read more

I live out the philosophy that one can never have too many art books. Having acquired my art library from a variety of sources, I’ve also found that one doesn’t have to trek to The Strand for great selection, though. Closer to home, in New England, a couple other favorite vendors include Harvard Book Store in Cambridge and the Book Barn in Connecticut. I’m sure there are many great art bookstores in your own backyard, and in my case that’s Providence, Rhode Island. In spite of the size of this relatively small city, I have several go-to spots where even the most discerning reader is certain to ..read more

I have spent the majority of my professional life in gallery work. Managing gallery spaces, organizing exhibitions, and guiding artists through the process of sharing their work are core elements of what I do. So, when the opportunity arose to take on a space to mount my own personal curatorial projects outside the context of my day job, I jumped at the chance. Through this new venture, I hope to expand my own practice as an independent curator and advisor and give emerging artists novel opportunities to share their work while testing and improving gallery practices. My new Project Space is lo ..read more

Community-based art organizations serve a number of important roles and among them naturally is their capacity to give artists space to celebrate their town or region. South Coast Artists (SCA), a non-profit collective of creatives based in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is one such organization. On view through May 29, 2022, SCA is hosting its Spring Invitational Exhibition at DeDee Shattuck Gallery in Westport, Massachusetts. A richly varied salon-style show, the exhibition includes many highlights which find inspiration locally and further afield. Featuring one hundred and sev ..read more

Call for Art Urban Life: Cities in Art An International Virtual Exhibition curated by Michael Rose The excitement of cities and urban spaces has inspired thousands of artists. Gallerist and curator Michael Rose seeks original artworks for a virtual exhibition focused on the continued resonance of urban places in visual art. A competitive juried exhibition presented online, this show will feature a thoughtfully curated selection of exceptional artworks that derive their subjects or inspirations from the city. Cities in Art is part of an ongoing series of popular virtual exhibitions hosted by Ro ..read more