We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Ousley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

It all started when I started as a photographer, where I captured images, requiring my technical, creativity, and composition skills and had my first solo art show my senior year of college I had experience curating gallery shows at my first art gallery, BOOM Studio in Columbus Park in 2003. I spent years representing artists and helping them market their artwork. I moved my studio to the West Bottoms and focused on my art representation business, BOOM Art and growing my photography business, BOOM Photography. My lease was about to end in the West Bottoms and I felt it was time to step it up and look for a new space with more exposure and accessibility. After searching countless spaces in downtown Kansas City, I fell in love in a raw space that used to be a car dealership and repair shop in the Heart of Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District. After years of real world preparation and converting this old automotive garage, along with my passion and love for art, MOD Gallery was born on October 2, 2009.

Artists from different walks of life have shown their artwork at MOD Gallery from realism, impressionism, expressionism, abstract art, music and dance. As a galley owner, my mission is to stay true with my goal that elevates, promotes, and gives great exposure to up and coming artists in the Crossroads Arts District. MOD Gallery is also an event space, that offers a venue for events such as intimate wedding receptions, to business conference meetings, musical events, dance performances, birthday parties and a flexible space for many other occasions.

MOD Gallery features local and traveling artists on our First Fridays events, essentially a monthly celebration of arts in bustling downtown Kansas City. Artists books their space months ahead of time to secure their spot in our gallery. Thousands of local residents and visitors fill the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City to enjoy our lively artful event and rediscovering the pleasure in art.

– Brian Ousley.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I earned my Marketing Degree at Missouri Western University in 1997. Directly after college, I worked for DST for a few years, and realized that my real passion and talent was in the arts, which led me to rejoin my photography. As an entrepreneur, my degree in Marketing has helped me learn business practices, standards and tools which prepared me to apply to real-world situations. I opened my Art Gallery named “MOD”, meaning “bold and free in style”.

MOD gallery has provided tools and exposure for hundreds of up and coming artists to help them market their craft and grow their talent, while giving exposure to our large audience to help them build and grow as artists.

Looking back as a young struggling artist, many people told me that I was crazy and it could not be done and turned their back on me. Because of my tenacity and vision, I worked day and night (multiple jobs) to fund building my gallery from the ground up. I am proud to say that we survived Covid and I am the still the sole owner of MOD gallery.

Brian Ousley
Head Ninja
MOD Gallery

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Transparency, consistency, providing quality events and helping nurture new and established artists.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.boommod.com
• Instagram: mod.gallery.space2
• Facebook: mod.gallery.space
• Twitter: mod.gallery.space
• Youtube: boommod
• Yelp: boommod

Image Credits
All photos by Brian Ousley of MOD Gallery