Trendy Art Buzz: Souleo and Harlem Equal Gallery Talk

Almost two months ago, we shared the delightful time we had at the Emerging Artists event the Striver’s Garden Gallery in Harlem. It was a celebration of works by artists who are on the cusp of discovery as well as a quiet tribute to Danny Simmons who is already a well-respected and established talent.

The show was made possible by the joining of formidable forces, namely media instigator, Souleo of Souleo Enterprises, LLC and of course Striver’s Gardens Gallery in Harlem. As expected, the exhibit was a triumphant hit and it garnered rave reviews as well as impressive coverage by NBC, NY Times, Ebony.com and NY Daily News among others.

So it only made sense to extend the series by highlighting a key sector of the art world that only the very privileged are privy to; the business of collecting art. Art collectors have a very refined and skilled eye and the best of the bunch have mastered the ability to be drawn to the right pieces at the right time. This invaluable instinct takes time to foster and that is usually after constant exposure, extreme focus and a revolving educational timetable.

The guest speakers at the On the Cusp: Collecting Art Emerging Artists Panel & Networking event this past Sunday afternoon, were not only experts in the field of art appreciation but they clearly also had a good grasp on what it truly means to be a collector of art. The panel comprised of Tracy Causey-Jeffrey, who is a curator and art historian, Debra Vanderburg-Spencer,  an art management specialist and Amy Kisch, the owner and director of Causey Contemporary Gallery. I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Kisch, and she gave an insightful summary of how she helps to gauge her clients’ potential investments so they reap fruitful rewards both emotionally and financially. Her most valuable advice? Soak up as much knowledge as your brain will allow. Art education is a life long habit that should never be broken simply because it helps to shape your overall tendencies which is a necessary tool in the art world.

The speakers all agreed that relying on the expertise of art advisors and managers is always a reliable way to ensure that your thought process is in line with the overall market forecast.

It was another creatively gratifying afternoon filled with avid networking, well-placed admiration and a slew of vibrant pieces constructed once again from recycled materials which undoubtedly gave each the overall collection a level of intrinsic relevance.

Check out the standout pieces below:

Greg Frederick: Notorious BIG, 2012

Danny Simmons: The Door, 1989

Danny Simmons: The Complicated and Ongoing Search for Suitable Objects of Worship, 1997

Laura Gadson: Old School Hip-Hop, 2010

David Hollier: Greenpoint Sky, 2012