Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeffries Moore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jeffries, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I decided to start my own art gallery as a response to the rejection of my work being accepted into a gallery while I was living in New York. I love art and romanticized about the idea of having an exhibition in arguably one of the worlds greatest art cities. However, I was told many things- I didn’t look like an artist (apparently the gallery owner felt that all artist should have a shabby unkempt look), my work didn’t have a singular focus, or the stories of the work that did was not something they were looking for, etc. Each experience was deflating. However, the perceived failures were not stronger than the drive of wanting to achieve success with my talent nor strong enough to demolish the value of what I knew I could bring to the creative space.
Also, in what has become almost cliche, my experiences were not failures, they were lessons learned and helped to spawn new ideas for the business wanted to create. For example, since I created work in so many styles each style could be represented as a new collection that I could identify with a pseudonym, similar to what many actors and musicians do today.
As the idea continued to evolve, I began to see where the market for my work would be. I began to ask the right questions and it slowly placed me on a path to discovery. There are so many artists but, I realized that learning how to speak the language of the buyers would contribute to my success.
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?
I consider myself a multi faceted creative. I studied architecture and worked as a production designer. I also studied fashion and have had a share in costume design for several projects. My career has given me experience in various aspects of the creation of various types of spaces and the components that create those spaces from furnishings, to textiles, to art. Understanding of all the components of a space gives me more understanding of how to marry art to a space. I’m also a world traveler. I have traveled close to thirty different countries around the world. These travels were a study in art language and culture and how these things shape the art of the people. It has given me a greater understanding of how art is expressed in so many different ways.
Having a broad career in the design world as well as my many life experiences has given me a creative language and vision that is versatile. In my business I don’t just consider myself a gallerist but, an art match maker. If I don’t have a piece that fits their space I work with clients to create something that is bespoke or custom for them.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
For most of my life there was not a large market for artwork by people of color in the mainstream as there is today. As well, with my cultural background people did not expect me to have an interest in classical art or things of beauty from the classical world. However, I have not allowed the misconceptions of others to change my interests or my drive to create a range of works in different styles. I feel that like Picasso, Frank Stella, or even Miles Davis, there is growth in versatility and versatility in growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://robinjeffriesgallery.com
- Instagram: @robinjeffriesgallery
- Other: Instagram @muotaji