Anne Neilson Fine Art, located in the heart of South Park, is celebrating 9 years as a gallery next week with the opening of “et cetera,” an exhibit comprised of three artists: Brenda Bogart, Caroline Boykin, and Allison James.
We talked with gallery director Logan Sutton about the details of this special exhibit, and where she hopes to see Anne Neilson Fine Art in the coming years.
Tell us a little about the upcoming exhibit “et cetera” opening on May 4.
Et Cetera is a Latin phrase meaning “and so on” or “and the rest.” This exhibition features three of our most prominent artists who are painters…and so on. They not only utilize paint but a vast array of media in a way that innovates, creating something entirely new. Layer upon layer, the buildup of the mixed media work allows you to study and analyze the intricacies of each artists’ work, almost as if it’s sculptural.
This exhibit is celebrating the 9 year anniversary of Anne Neilson Fine Art! Who will be featured in this exhibit? How/why were these artists selected for such a special exhibition?
We’re celebrating 9 years as a gallery – 9 years for which we are immensely thankful! It feels as though to be only the beginning. The three artists are Brenda Bogart, Caroline Boykin, and Allison James. Not only are all three of their styles perfect for welcoming in the Spring, but each of them are some of our most sought-after artists. Celebrating ANFA wouldn’t be possible without artists such as these three who align with our vision and mission.
In addition to the exhibition, in our back room, we will be featuring the work of Gallery Owner, Anne Neilson. ANFA would not be possible without her talent and vision! In conjunction with Et Cetera, we are celebrating the release of her memoir, The Brushstrokes of Life. Anne will be giving a talk and signing books during our opening evening. Our mission comes to life because of her story and we are beyond thrilled to celebrate this milestone.
For those that aren’t already familiar with ANFA, how has the gallery evolved, and what aspects have stayed true since the beginning?
The gallery has evolved by finally settling into our permanent location, which we moved into last summer. ANFA began in South End at Dilworth Artisan Station, but now we call South Park our home in the Shops at Governor Morrison. It’s which is truly a special spot, serving as a hub for interior design shops, our gallery, and more. We have also evolved by really honing in on the curatorial aspects of the gallery. We are so intentional about artists we bring onto our roster because we want to make sure they share the same values as well as bring something completely unique and powerful to our collectors’ homes.
Since day 1, Anne had a goal to open a gallery in order to give back to the community. Our mission has always been the same and will remain the same. We exist to be a lighthouse in our community and every month, we give a portion of our proceeds back to a selected non-profit. Non-profits we have donated to in the past include Samaritan’s Feet, St. Jude’s, Roof Above, The Art’s Empowerment Project, The Harvest Center, and many more.
What has been your favorite moment from the last 9 years?
This anniversary celebration will be the first anniversary in our new space since the move last Summer. Our new gallery may be a bit smaller in square footage, but it boasts high ceilings and bright natural light. Aside from that, our favorite moments are every chance we get to positively impact someone’s life. whether that be through helping connect a collector to a painting they fall in love with, through the inspiration of all our artists, through the healing of Anne’s artwork and books, or through making our donations to make a difference for a non-profit organization. Every moment seeing someone smile and being positively affected by our gallery is a favorite moment of ours.
Is there a particular artist that has been featured at ANFA that stands out to you?
I don’t think that it would be possible to pick just one of our artists. We have an incredible roster of just over 50 artists. Each and every one contributes something so special to what makes ANFA thrive in our community. We could not make a difference in our community and connect collectors to artists if it weren’t for all the hard work our artists put in in their studios every day.
What are you most proud of with ANFA?
I think this can also go back to some of our favorite moments as a gallery. Art transforms our everyday lives; it brings joy and inspiration into the home. It is one of the most impactful things that you could surround yourself with— not only is art a path to healing our minds and souls, but it is a way to curate our own stories within our homes. I am so proud every moment someone collects a painting from us and we get to take it off our wall and place in their home and collection. The happiness that exudes from both the collector and the artist is the most rewarding feeling. It’s pure unexplainable joy. Support living artists! It will make a difference in your life and theirs.
What are some other exhibits that we can look forward to and how should people that want to follow along ?
We love to constantly rotate our work and bring in new, fresh things. Up next we have a rotation of summer selections from mid-June through August. To stay in touch, please sign up for our email list through our website www.anneneilsonfineart.com and follow us on Instagram @anneneilsonfineart to see what is on our walls and coming into the gallery. We have so many incredible upcoming exhibitions that you won’t want to miss!
What do you hope to see for the gallery in the next 9 years?
I hope to see us grow a community ever larger than it is now. Double, even triple the size. Collecting and supporting original artwork matters and giving back to our community matters and we love having a like-minded community. This feels like we’ve only just begun to make our impact. I can’t wait to see how we continue to make an impact in the next 9 years.
Is there anything additional you’d like to share?
I’d love for people to know that anyone is welcome in our gallery. Often, I hear that people have been afraid to step in because it’s a gallery. this is a safe place for anyone, and we’d never want anyone to feel as though our space is intimidating. Art is for everyone, and everyone is welcome at ANFA. Anne Neilson Fine Art is truly a special place, and we are a small woman owned and women run business and we appreciate all the support we receive.
