Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ryan James. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ryan , appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Since I was a young child, I’ve always dreamed of opening my own art gallery. It all began with my elementary school art teacher, Mrs. McGee, who saw the spark of passion in my eyes and encouraged me to pursue my love for art. Her unwavering support gave me the confidence to believe that one day, I could turn my dream into reality.

Trips to the Walker Art Museum with my parents during my youth further fueled my aspirations. I was exposed to an incredible array of artistic styles and movements, and those experiences left a lasting impression on my creative soul. Though I recognized that I lacked the inherent talent to create art myself, I developed a deep appreciation and understanding of the power that art held to express emotions and ideas.

With Mrs. McGee’s encouragement and the inspiration from the Walker Art Museum guiding my way, I set forth on a journey to find my place in the art world. Opening an art gallery became my ultimate goal – a space where I could share the brilliance of various artists with the world.

The road wasn’t easy; it demanded unwavering dedication, financial risk, and a network of artists willing to collaborate. But my passion for art and my unwavering belief in my dream kept me going through the challenges. Seeking out gifted emerging artists and established figures, I curated exhibitions that celebrated the diversity and ingenuity of artistic expression.

My gallery quickly earned a reputation for showcasing exceptional art and supporting artists in their creative journeys. I aimed to foster an environment where artists felt valued, cherished, and free to explore their talents without hindrance. With dedication, perseverance, and an unyielding love for art, I transformed my childhood dream into a thriving reality. Today, my art gallery stands as a testament to the power of following one’s passion and a reminder to the world that art can touch souls and inspire greatness.

Ryan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My first gallery location opened in February 2011 in the City of Bellevue. I went in very naïve on how to run an art gallery and this location closed very quickly in a few months. After, I did a complete rewrite of my business plan and what I wanted to focus on as a gallery. This culminated in the re-opening of the gallery in August of 2011 with a new location in the City of Kirkland. Our new gallery’s focus is on contemporary abstract arts. I limited the number of represented artists to 15 vs the 48 we originally started with in February. Limiting the number of artists, I represented allowed me to really partner and work one on one with these 15 artists to create new series and develop a body of work that can be shared with our clients.

I have built a reputation in our area as the go to place to acquire abstract artwork. We offer a range of services to aid in clients purchasing artwork. From home consultation to delivery and installation. One thing that has greatly set up apart from other galleries in the area is we have developed an Artwork Rental Library. This allows potential buyers to checkout an artwork for three months and live with it in their home before they make a buying decision. You’re not required to purchase a work; we have several clients who enjoy having new artwork in their home and they continually rent new pieces.

I am most proud of the work we have done to foster new emerging artists. We help and advise them on how to build a selling career in the art world. Many of our artists have been with us since we first opened, and those relationships mean the world to me.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

In gratitude for purchasing an artwork, we embrace the tradition of expressing our appreciation through a gesture as beautiful as the art we present. As a heartfelt thank you for their continued support, we take delight in working with a local florist to send our clients exquisite and carefully crafted flowers, symbolizing the blossoming relationship between us.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my business partner, Jessica Kravitz in 2014, three years after the gallery opened. Jessica is the Founder of an arts non-profit in our area, VALA Arts. I reached out to VALA to partner with the gallery on an exhibition we were putting together called, Ekphrastic Assimilations. Over the time of planning the exhibition we really hit it off with our shared love of art and community. After the exhibition concluded I asked Jessica to join me at the gallery as a full partner. We now have been working together for 9 years and it has been so wonderful to share this journey with someone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ryanjamesfinearts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanjamesfinearts/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanjamesfinearts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-james-turok/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rjamesfinearts
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ryan-james-fine-arts-kirkland-2
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