Meet Julian Bermudez | Gallerist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julian Bermudez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julian, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always wanted to work in a creative industry, and my original plan was to be an editor at Vogue. Instead, I found myself gravitating towards art and pivoting to becoming a museum curator. During my senior year at UCLA, I was hired by a museum in Pasadena. And, after years of creative frustration working for cultural institutions, I had a serious talk with myself about what I needed most. The answer was — and still is — creative autonomy.

So, I began working as an independent curator in LA and, luckily, I was able to curate a couple of really great art shows for Pacific Asia Museum. This was back in 2008/2009. By this time, however, The Great Recession had hit hard, and many non-profit organizations were making cuts.

I still wanted to curate art shows, though, and decided to take a different approach, and began curating pop-up exhibits for contemporary artists. The first two shows — held at Design Within Reach — were commercial successes. By the third show, to keep the momentum going, I knew I needed to secure a more permanent space. So, I decided to open a gallery. And, on May 26, 2011 on the 8th floor of garment building in DTLA, Bermudez Projects was born.

Despite starting as an emerging gallery representing emerging artists, it was the best decision of my professional life. Nearly 15 years later, I have accomplished so much. And, I’m nowhere near being done yet.

What should our readers know about your business?
The gallery’s programming is multi-platform, presenting dynamic artworks by the next generation of emerging and mid-career contemporary American artists – with a strong focus on Black, Latinx, Queer, and Women artists. Works by the gallery’s artists have been acquired by museums such as LACMA, The Neon Museum Las Vegas, the Museum of Latin American Art, the Palm Springs Art Museum, and others.

Our SPACELAND Biennial – originally conceived as the gallery’s first-year anniversary exhibit – has evolved into a multi-exhibit storyline continuing from where the last exhibit left off. We’re now in our seventh iteration!

I think what sets me apart from others is my drive to push the art of curating. Having my gallery has allowed me to organize museum-caliber exhibits bringing Blue-Chip Art into the space; and, still be daring enough to curate shows for art museums internationally.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love LA! I was born and raised here, and there’s so much to see and do. Definitely start with a morning walk up to the Griffith Observatory (the views of the entire city are amazing), followed by breakfast at Superba. Hennessey + Ingalls in the Arts District for some amazing reads, and then I would insist on going to The Huntington Library to experience both the Chinese and Japanese Gardens. And, for the quintessential LA experience: dinner at Musso & Frank Grill.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the love and support of my family and friends, and all the collectors who continue believing in me.

Website: bermudezprojects.com

Instagram: @bermudezprojects

Image Credits
Courtesy of the artists and Bermudez Projects, Los Angeles.