Caitlin Kelly-McKenna, founder and director of Kelly-McKenna Gallery, shares her journey of opening a contemporary art gallery in Spring Lake, New Jersey. She discusses the empowering experience of running her own space, the importance of trusting her vision, and the challenges of programming outside of New York City. This conversation explores the role of education in fostering art appreciation, the rewards of showcasing unconventional art, and valuable advice for emerging artists navigating the art world.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Caitlin’s path to gallery ownership and how the pandemic shaped her decision to open her own space.
2. The importance of community engagement and education in making contemporary art more accessible.
3. Key challenges and rewards of showcasing unconventional art outside of major art hubs.
4. Practical advice for emerging artists, including self-advocacy, networking, and the role of residencies.

About Caitlin-

Caitlin Kelly-McKenna is the founder and director of Kelly-Mckenna Gallery. Kelly-McKenna Gallery, established in Fall 2022, serves as both a fine art gallery and a consulting firm. They showcase emerging and established artists through year-round exhibitions and offer tailored services such as collection building, management, and comprehensive appraisal and valuation services. Located in the serene beach town of Spring Lake, New Jersey, just outside New York City, the gallery provides a calm and inviting environment away from the city's bustle. This setting allows visitors to experience and discuss art with a clear and open mind. Spring Lake was chosen for its slower pace of life, which has shaped their approach to programming: They present fewer exhibitions each year, but they run for longer durations. This approach allows more focus on broad, universal themes that resonate deeply and address pressing contemporary issues. The exhibitions explore topics like artificial intelligence, environmental challenges, and the enduring tension between science and religion—ideas that invite reflection and spark meaningful conversations.

Website: kellymckennagallery.com
IG: @kellymckennagallery

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Etta Harshaw, founder of Harsh Collective, shares her inspiring journey and the themes central to her work in the art world. Her gallery is dedicated to supporting emerging artists, fostering community, and curating interactive and joyful art experiences. This conversation explores Etta's entrepreneurial lessons, the importance of relationships in the art world, and her commitment to underrepresented artists and mediums.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Etta’s artistic family background and how it inspired her career in curation and community building.
2. Her passion for starting a gallery and empowering emerging artists through mentorship and collaboration.
3. Creating meaningful exhibitions that prioritize underrepresented voices.
4. Insights into studio visits, feedback, and building meaningful relationships between artists and curators.

About Etta -

Growing up in a family of artists, Etta Harshaw cultivated an appreciation and keen eye for fine art from a young age. Her grandparents were both artists in New York City, advocating for the support of Soho Artist In Residence laws in the 1970s. Following the sale of her grandparents' New York City property, Harshaw was bequeathed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—to utilize these funds to continue her grandparents' vision of supporting emerging artists in the city.

Cutting her teeth in the gallery and design space, Harshaw began discussing the goal of reimagining the contemporary gallery, Harshaw actualized this dream by taking business courses in her senior year of college. She developed a business plan using her concept for projects in her classes. After graduating, Harshaw founded Harsh Collective to support artists' voices in New York and provide a cultural hub and platform for contemporary artists to share their unique vision with art admirers and collectors of all levels. To scale Harshaw’s vision, her first step was to bring on colleague and friend Juliette Eberle to support the gallery’s continuous growth and manage operations.

With Harshaw’s formal background in fine art and graphic design and her experience in the art industry, the Harshaw built a creative and inclusive community at Harsh Collective. Harshaw continues curating and designing bespoke exhibitions for emerging and historically underrepresented artists.

Website: harshcollective.com
IG: @ettaharshaw / @harshcollectivenyc

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Tanya Weddemire, founder and CEO of the Tanya Weddemire Gallery, discusses her inspiring journey and the themes central to her work in the art world. Her gallery focuses on representing diverse perspectives while fostering community, creativity, and authenticity. This conversation offers insights into Tanya's entrepreneurial mindset and the gallery's evolution as a space for accessible and meaningful art experiences.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Tanya’s journey from Jamaica to becoming a prominent figure in the art world and her commitment to better representation for underrepresented artists.
2. The challenges and rewards of building relationships, fostering community, and balancing authenticity with entrepreneurship.
3. The gallery’s mission to empower emerging artists and create accessible, inclusive art spaces while embracing small steps for significant progress.
4. Reflections on documenting successes and failures, finding clarity through sacred moments, and the importance of passion and teamwork in navigating the art market.

About Tanya -

Tanya Weddemire is the Founder and CEO of the renowned Tanya Weddemire Gallery. Originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, she moved to Brooklyn at the age of eleven, where her passion for art flourished. At eighteen, she began her professional journey as the youngest Account Executive for couture designer Mary McFadden.

Weddemire earned a B.S.A. in Design Communications with a minor in Art and Corporate Branding from Philadelphia University. Her artistic perspective and analytical skills, combined with her degree, propelled her into a successful career as a Luxury Retail Executive. She demonstrated exceptional leadership at notable brands such as Pottery Barn, Natuzzi Italia, and Ethan Allen, where she redefined industry standards.

In November 2022, she launched the Tanya Weddemire Gallery with a mission to celebrate the transformative power of art and community and highlight the vitality of art in diverse communities. Since then, the gallery has been featured in prominent publications, including Forbesblk, Vanity Fair, ARTNEWS, Art in America, Brooklyn Rail, Industry City Publication, Amsterdam News, Black Art Magazine, PR News Wire, Brooklyn Reader, Hyperallergic, Bluecalf, Voice of America and Park Magazine.

Tanya Weddemire has demonstrated unwavering dedication, leading several impactful activations and exhibitions at art fairs such as the Affordable Art Fair, Art on Paper NYC, LA Art Show, Hamptons Fine Art Fair, and Scope Art Show Miami Beach. These events have transformed the gallery into a dynamic showcase of community, culture, and legacy, inspiring creativity in everyone who engages with it.

Upcoming events at Tanya Weddemire Gallery:

2/1/25 : I GOT A STORY TO TELL | BHM Activation Opening Reception | 1PM - 6PM

3/1/25 : I GOT A STORY TO TELL | Artist Talk

I GOT A STORY TO TELL is an impactful Black History Month Activation, running from February 1st to March 8, 2025. Presenting the works of four dynamic female artists: BLU MURPHY, BRITTNEY S. PRICE, KAYLYN WEBSTER, and LEX MARIE. This showcase marks the curatorial debut of Tatianna Mack, Art Liaison at the Tanya Weddemire Gallery setting the stage for an exciting and meaningful year ahead.

2/20/25 : BUY ART WITH YOUR HEART | Panel Discussion | Camp David | 6PM - 9PM

BUY ART WITH YOUR HEART, brings four collectors together during BLACK HISTORY MONTH to share their experiences of purchasing art and the profound impact it has on their lives. This event emphasizes the importance of supporting Black and Brown artists and Black Owned Galleries. This conversation will not just showcase ART as an object but as a meaningful reflection of the artist’s narrative, the cultural moment, the issues shaping our generation and highlighting how art acquisition becomes an act of cultural preservation and empowerment.

Website: tanyaweddemiregallery.org
IG: @tanyaweddemiregallery / @tanyaweddemire_

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

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