We were lucky to catch up with Shawn Vinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawn, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In May, I’ll celebrate 25 years since co-founding the Vinson Gallery on Decatur Square, six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Two years prior to that, I produced a pop-up show during the 1996 Summer Olympics, long before anyone was using the term ‘pop-up’. I curated a group show of artists that I was representing at the time, in a former print shop on Luckie Street near Centennial Park. That was one of many serendipitous events that has influenced my career.

I’d been working as a wholesale art rep for three years, calling on galleries, frame shops and design showrooms throughout the Southeast. The thought of opening my own gallery hadn’t really occurred to me. We set up shop for three weeks and met many interesting people from all over the world. That’s how I met Wayne Kline, who owned the Rolling Stone Press. He was a master printmaker who specialized in stone lithography and taught at the Atlanta College of Art. I learned a lot from Wayne and he became a dear friend. It used to drive him crazy when people referred to art reproductions as ‘prints’. Nearly thirty years later and I’m still explaining the difference to people!

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’ve been obsessed with photography for as long as I can remember, so I suppose it’s natural that I’ve enjoyed a career in the visual arts. I took Graphic Arts for four years in high school and was a photographer and promoter for my friends’ band. Had they signed to a record label, I might have ended up in the music business. Instead, they ‘disbanded’ and I got my real estate license when I was 20. I was taking karate and working part time at the dojo, helping with pr and events, where I met an art dealer. He hired me as an art handler and within two years I was on the road as a rep. I moved to Atlanta in 1993, the same year I met my wife, Ruth Franklin, one of the artists I’d been selling. She emigrated from England, which is how I became familiar with and started showing British artists.

In the past thirty years, I’ve co-owned and/or directed Vinson Gallery, Different Trains and, most recently, the Waddi in Inman Park. I’m also an art consultant for private, corporate and healthcare clients and provide cleared art for Georgia film and television productions. We’re a full-service operation, offering personalized, professional art services such as acquisition, curation, custom framing and installation. Whether someone needs framed pictures for an entire office or a nice painting to match the sofa at home, we can usually help.

I’ve had the good fortune to work with many fantastic artists and passionate collectors. My partner in crime, Ruth, is the hardest working artist I know. She’s in her studio before dawn, seven days a week, painting and drawing with admirable focus and determination. In addition to being an accomplished and respected painter, she possesses a wealth of art history knowledge and a keen eye for quality. That’s a major advantage when we’re considering new artists to represent. The salesman/artist partnership has been invaluable.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There have been a number of pivots along the way. When the internet evolved to a point that enabled people to browse and buy art online, I transitioned from traveling wholesale rep to retail gallery director. Then, the 2008 recession forced us to close our bricks and mortar space. I shifted focus to selling evidence-based art to healthcare facilities, assisting with art selection, framing and installation. Luckily, that’s also when the Georgia film and television industry began to really blossom and we started renting and licensing background art.

In 2017, I co-founded Different Trains Gallery. We were producing some notable exhibitions there until Covid arrived in March of 2020. Shortly thereafter, I was recruited as gallery director for the Waddi, an opportunity to move to a wonderful space in one of Atlanta’s great neighborhoods. Unfortunately, we then discovered that a zoning ordinance prohibited art galleries, shutting us down in late 2022.

I’m currently pivoting yet again, by investing much more time and resources into our online presence and a new website. We’re also exploring an opportunity to open a gallery on Atlanta’s bustling Westside. Stay tuned.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

It has always come naturally to me to promote talented and creative people. I’ve worked with musicians, a kickboxing champion, a boxing trainer and countless visual artists. I seriously considered photography as a career path when I was in my late teens, however, I’ve always felt more comfortable tooting other people’s horns. I continue to practice photography, both for the love of it and to promote my artists and business. My main driving goal is to get my artists’ work in front of as many eyes as possible, and to help people discover and acquire art that fits their style, taste and budget. Happily, that requires some creativity and I enjoy it.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://vinsonart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinsonart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VINSONart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinsonart/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VINSONart

Image Credits
Shawn Vinson headshot: courtesy of Amador Photo SCAD student show: courtesy of Shawn Vinson Shawn Vinson and Ruth Franklin: courtesy of VINSONart Shawn Vinson and Mayor Andre Dickens: courtesy of VINSONart Shawn Vinson, Dr. Fahamu Pecou and Dr. Will Draper: courtesy of VINSONart Shawn Vinson, Harry Underwood and Sanjay Patel: courtesy of VINSONart Shawn Vinson, Brandon Sadler and Eben Dunn: courtesy of VINSONart