Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesùs Nùñez.

Hi Jesùs, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I originally hail from Spain, where I used street art as a means of self-expression during my teenage years. As I grew older, my passion shifted towards the culinary arts. This led me to a three-decade-long career as an executive chef and restaurant owner, working in many elite restaurants both in Spain and New York City. The New York Times once described my cuisine as “edible art” and even compared me to the famed Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali.

When COVID hit the restaurant industry hard, I returned to my roots as a visual artist, producing an extensive inventory of art in my home studio. After a year, I realized it was time to make art my full-time career. I began dreaming of opening my own art gallery. Having always been an entrepreneur, with experience opening restaurants and various businesses, I thought, “How hard can opening an art gallery be?” Things were going smoothly until Hurricane Ida struck Millburn. The flood destroyed many businesses in downtown Millburn, including my soon-to-be gallery space, which was now flooded and damaged. Just two weeks away from opening, I had to restart the building process. This was a significant setback, both physically and financially. After two months of reconstruction, I finally opened the doors to my first contemporary art gallery!

The next question was what kind of art gallery it should be. True to my style, it had to be different. My gallery stands out for its unique approach, committed to addressing the gender gap in the art industry. I decided to represent women artists and focus on local talent, though I also include some male and non-local artists to avoid extremes. My gallery is not just a space for art but a platform with a strong message and soul.

Can art help others? Absolutely. This belief is embodied in my “Love Always” collection, a charitable endeavor where I donate part of the proceeds to local non-profit organizations. This reflects my conviction in the power of art to make a positive impact on the community and society.

After two successful years running my Millburn gallery, which specializes in abstract art, I expanded my vision by opening a second location in Summit. This new space focuses on representational and non-abstract art, as well as fine art photography. As you can see, I have always been an artist, and with that comes a belief in oneself, no matter what setbacks life throws at you. I simply traded my knives for paintbrushes and brushes for running art galleries. What’s next? Stay tuned—this is only the beginning.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was born into a poor family, so starting from the bottom made things harder. My parents provided as much as they could to give me better opportunities in life. I was a bad student, so I tried a few jobs before finally settling in the restaurant business. As a chef with an artist’s heart, food became a different medium for me to continue being an artist. The restaurant industry is difficult, but with hard work, I managed to own a few restaurants and catering companies in Madrid. When I was 33, I moved to NYC and started from scratch. I had no family, friends, and I didn’t speak English, but I was able to open a few restaurants in the city. What happened after is in the answer before.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently own and operate two art galleries, specializing in beautiful art from professional artists at very competitive prices. Most of the artists I represent are women. I take pride in always trying my best, staying humble, being honest, working hard, and remaining a dreamer no matter what happens. What sets me apart from others is that I only pursue endeavors I am passionate about, allowing others to feel my passion as well.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t think I have just one favorite memory from my childhood, but here are a few that stand out:

Eating the cream on top of the milk pot after my grandmother boiled the milk three times to kill the bacteria.
Catching frogs in a pond on hot summer days.
Being inside my grandfather’s trailer full of grain after the wheat harvest.
Playing with the baby sheep.
One of my favorites: taking a siesta under the shade of a tree on a summer day, listening to the birds and nothing else.

As you can see, my childhood was very simple but incredibly amazing compared to the lives of children today.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jnunezgallery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jnunezgallery
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jnunezgallery/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@j.nunezgallery
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/j-nunez-gallery-millburn

Image Credits
J.Nunez Gallery