We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mindy Solomon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mindy below.
Alright, Mindy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I had been teaching art for a number of years as well as making my own work. Simultaneously I had been collecting art and my interest in collecting and telling stories with art became almost obsessional. It was at that point I decided to pursue a career in operating a gallery.
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
Mindy Solomon Gallery specializes in contemporary emerging and mid-career artists and art advisory services. The gallery represents artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, and video in both narrative and non-objective styles. The gallery program explores the intersection of art and design through an ongoing dialog between two and three-dimensional objects, while embracing diasporic voices. Utilizing the gallery space as a platform for inventive exhibitions, museum visitations, and public lectures, Solomon invites a sense of community and aesthetic enrichment.
Solomon established her gallery in 2009. She is a founding member of PAB (Progressive Art Brunch) an association of a select group of Miami Art Galleries. She is active in the Miami arts community and serves on the steering committee of the Women’s International Committee at the Perez Art Museum. Mindy Solomon has dedicated her life to the visual arts as a practicing artist, educator, advocate, and collector. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Studio Art and Art Education from Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Art, with additional course work at Ursuline College in Ohio, Lacoste School of the Arts in Lacoste, France, and the Tyler School of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I opened the gallery in 2009- right after the 2008 financial crisis. I had no idea what to expect. I preserved through the economic downturn, ultimately selling the original location and moving to Miami in 2013. It was the first time I had lived alone in my adult life having gotten married at 22 and raised 4 kids. My husband ultimately moved down and joined me full-time in 2015 which was wonderful, but in 2018 he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer. He managed to make it almost two years- but sadly succumbed to the disease. Through it all, I kept working- focused on supporting my artist, employees and business in general. It became my therapy, My husband always believed in me and stood by me and it is important to me to always honor his faith in me by continuing to build a legacy for my family through my business,
How did you build your audience on social media?
I was very new to instagram when I first began “posting”. I try to upload an image everyday and utilize stories as well. I occasionally incorporate small elements of my personal life because I believe it puts a “face to the name” and humanizes the business. We have been able to broaden our business through this medium as well as find interesting artists to work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: mindysolomon.com
- Instagram: mindysolomongallery
- Facebook: Mindy Solomon Gallery
- Linkedin: Mindy Solomon
- Twitter: MindySolomon
Image Credits
Head Shot by Monica McGivern Installation shots by Zachary Balber Photography