We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Millen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I spent a long time (years) knowing that I wanted to figure out a way to be my own boss and run my own business. I knew that I wanted to peruse something that would make me truly happy on a daily basis, and I knew that meant something in the art world. I would get stuck on how long it would take to build something entirely from scratch, and worried constantly that I didn’t have the time or resources to build from the ground up. I was already a mother of three young children and was responsible for them.
I turned to someone I had known and respected for most of my life who I felt had accomplished what I envisioned as my dream job. I approached the gallery founder, Page Bond, about taking over her gallery upon her retirement.
Thankfully the timing aligned for both of us. With my acquisition of the gallery the artists that she had cultivated over the years would have someone to continue advocating for her work, and that I would be able to start on day one with a stable of respected artists. This foundation enabled me to hit the ground running from day one.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
A graduate from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Art History, Ashley’s love of art began as an undergraduate where she developed a deep interest in the work of 19th century European artists. While pursuing her coursework abroad in France, she developed an appreciation for the influence of historical art on contemporary culture. Upon graduating, Ashley accepted a role in a prominent European fashion house and embarked on a successful career in the luxury fashion world where she worked in roles ranging from buying, merchandising, and marketing. During this period Ashley continued to develop her visual vocabulary by becoming involved in the arts in New York, including as a member of The Apollo Circle at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as frequenting the rich landscape of contemporary galleries and art fairs in the region.
Upon returning to Richmond with her young family, Ashley reconnected with gallery founder Page Bond, who had been her neighbor while growing up. Page became a trusted advisor and educator to Ashley as she gradually built her personal collection. Over the next number of years Page introduced Ashley to several artists that she would go on to represent herself, notably David Douglas, Mac Ball, and Roberto Jamora. Ashley developed a deep admiration for Page as a curator and gallerist, leading Ashley to eventually seek an opportunity to acquire the gallery in 2023.
As the owner and director of the gallery, Ashley seeks to preserve and honor Page’s legacy by preserving rigorous curatorial standards. She seeks to represent serious, thoughtful artists with strong points of views and artwork that inspires. She is dedicated to supporting and promoting the work of the artists who have been represented by the gallery for years, while simultaneously exploring and seeking out fresh emerging talent. She has a particular passion for working with interior designers and is known for offering thoughtful partnership for artwork selection. Ashley is alo deeply committed to her role in the community and serves in advisory roles for The Richmond Ballet and The Valentine Museum.
Bond Millen Gallery is an art gallery and art advisory based in Richmond, Virginia known for thoughtfully curating and exhibiting a broad range of contemporary art. The gallery’s mission is to support and promote the work of living artists, introducing them to collectors and fostering a connection to the arts community at large. We represent a roster of 60+ emerging and mid-career artists, many living and working in the Virginia region. The gallery operates and exhibits artwork from our two locations based in Richmond where we host engaging events, conversations, and receptions. We have garnered a nationwide following for our curation of digital catalogs and online exhibitions, enabling us to connect with a wider audience of collectors.
We believe that art should challenge and inspire. We view our role as an important one to facilitate art collecting in a way that feels transparent, meaningful, and fun.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I took a lot of inspiration from a recent article about iconic galleriest Marianne Boeesky: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/marianne-boesky-interview-2621223-2621223
Marianne played an important role in shaping contemporary art today, launching many careers and constantly being on step ahead of the competition. She navigated the challenges of motherhood while growing an internationally renowned gallery. As a working mother of three it was so refreshing and inspiring to hear more about her story.
A wonderful quote: “Women can be great business leaders and also great mothers. These are reinforcing roles and they can be truly complimentary – and not at all mutually exclusive”.
This speaks to me because being a business owner can feel like you are taking care of a child. There are no days off and you can’t slack off for even a minute. I love when I am able to combine my two worlds and expose my children to art and what it means to work for what you love.
A great memory that I cherish was hosting my son’s second grade class for a field trip to the gallery. They were studying the James River and I happened to have staged a show by Louisiana artist Mac Ball depicting scenes along the river across the seasons. The children were able to perceive everything that they learned through a new lens and they still talk about it when I see them.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
For both artists and collectors alike I want them to know that I will always work hard for them. I believe I have built a reputation as someone who cares about what artists have to say and constantly seeks new and creative ways to show and place their work. It’s a constant cycle of seeing new work and shuffling through projects we are advising on to find the perfect fit. A lot of the work we do is like finding a needle in a haysack, but we love the thrill of the search and I think those who partner with us appreciate that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bondmillengallery.com/
- Instagram: @bondmillengallery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondmillengallery
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bond-millen-gallery
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bondmillengallery
- Yelp: https://www.facebook.com/bondmillengallery
Image Credits
Lucy Gilbert