We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Beth-Ann Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Beth-Ann thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Beth-Ann, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m from Long Island originally. I have always loved art and used it to cope after my father died of cancer when I was 12. Fast forward to high school- I got recruited by MICA and landed in Baltimore for undergrad and decided to settle here. Well, they don’t call it Charm City for nothing because I fell in love with Baltimore. The art scene is unpretentious and when it is pretentious it knows it! The people here are real, it’s diverse in pretty much every way imaginable, plus as an artist trying to “make it”, Baltimore has a much lower cost of living than NYC while still being relatively close.

In school I majored in painting and ended up interning at a decorative painting studio (Twin Diamond) and an art gallery (Schiavone Fine Art), both of which led to permanent jobs after graduating. When I got out of school I went to work full time at the decorative painting company but not long after the real estate bubble burst and jobs were slim-pickens. I lamented this fact over beers with the owner of the gallery where I continued to work part-time. That same night he hooked me up with my very first bartending gig and I embarked on a path that (in a convoluted way) eventually led me to open Night Owl Gallery, which is named for the late night lifestyle of bartenders.

A huge part of my mission at the gallery is to bring people together through art so the events that I host in person and online are very social in nature. I really think that making genuine connections with others is key to mental and spiritual well-being and also to sustaining creativity.

Now in its 7th year, Night Owl Gallery is relocating to the Charles North neighborhood in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District near Penn Station in Central Baltimore. We are expanding and adding studio spaces to our offerings to further support the stability and growth of artists working in the area.

The studios will be located on the third story above The Royal Blue Tavern on Maryland Ave and will range in size from 150 ft2 to 200 ft2. The space will also include a common lounge/creative co-working space, restrooms, a pantry, and an additional office/meeting room/classroom. The space will be designed with creatives in mind. The focus will be on community and collaboration.

As a working artist myself, I understand the unique challenges that we as artists face. My aim is for Night Owl Gallery to position itself as a catalyst for Baltimore’s creative economy and a vibrant center for art in the mid-Atlantic.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been through in-person events and collaborations with nearby brick-and-mortar businesses. One of the most successful outcomes has been through establishing a monthly art stroll. We call it the First Friday Art Walk and we participate in it with oversight from local community organizations. Over the years, this monthly art stroll has grown to be our busiest day of the month in terms of foot-traffic and sales. Guests are delighted by special events, live musical performances, readings, and giveaways. A lot of guests post about the event on social media so the event grows by capitalizing on personal testimonials and endorsements.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The thing that I think has helped me to build a reputation in my market is being consistent and not trying to make everyone happy all of the time. I stuck with my vision even when people told me I was crazy for trying to do what I do. Some of my most successful programming has started out with a “crazy” idea.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/bethannwilson
• Instagram: @bettypaints
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethannwilsonpaintings/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-ann-wilson-fine-art/
• Twitter: @Betty_battleaxe
• Youtube: @nightowlgallery5276
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/night-owl-gallery-baltimore

Image Credits
Side A Photography