Meet Julie Zener | Julie Zener Gallery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Zener | Julie Zener Gallery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie Zener | Julie Zener Gallery, how does your business help the community?
Art is crucial to our society — it is a modern-day archive expressed through an artist’s interpretation and creative vision. Whether it be a painting, photograph, sculpture, or mixed media, art captures the significance of present-day human behavior, current events, and often serves as a direct response to social and political moments.
Having been in the art industry since 1998 — as an artist manager, art dealer, and gallery owner — I’ve seen up close just how deeply art shapes the world around us. For me, the most significant social impact has been in cultural identity and in how art responds to defining moments, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or shifts in the political landscape. But art isn’t always about a specific event. Sometimes it reflects something far more personal — the deep emotions an artist carries and chooses to share with the world. These artists pour their innermost feelings into their work, inviting us to learn, explore, and connect on a much deeper level.
As a gallery owner, I also learned that curation itself is a social act — the decision of whose story gets told matters deeply.
At the end of the day, art doesn’t just reflect society — it influences it. And after nearly three decades in this industry, that’s what keeps me passionate about the work.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I chose to become an art dealer in my mid-20s to have a more flexible lifestyle and autonomy. As a working mother of three, my children have always been my priority — and my greatest catalyst for independence and success. I am most proud that I was able to balance time with them while building a career in the art world. It hasn’t always been easy, but I love what I do.

I also prioritize my mental and physical health, which gives me the inner strength to thrive in both my personal and professional life.

As an art dealer, my goal is to continuously enrich my clients with the best in aesthetics and service. I get the most joy from connecting a client with the right piece — understanding their needs, identifying artwork that enhances their space, and walking them through the process. I work with clients on digital renderings for art placement or offer onsite approval viewings to ensure confidence in every acquisition. Client relationships are everything to me, and my measure of success is simple — my clients need to be ecstatic about their art.

And when a sale is made, it’s truly a win on all sides. The client’s space is elevated, and the artist is validated — their work finds a home in a collection, and they are rewarded financially in a way that allows them to keep creating.

It is truly the most fulfilling work — selling a painting, curating a show, building collections for others. My advice is this: if you can find fulfillment in what you do, work is no longer work. It becomes a lifestyle. A way of being.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Are we talking LA or SF? I am third generation Californian, I love both! Favorite place to go in LA is a stroll down Abbott Kinney, the food and the shops are all so good! I love to stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am shouting out to Tara Schon. We co-curated the Red Bull Canvas Cooler project from 2012- 2014. We met and fostered the careers of so many emerging artists who are now very successful in their careers. In 2014, we opened our gallery, Zener Schon Contemporary Art”, in Mill Valley, CA. Together we curated some of the best art shows with incredible talent! I am so honored to have worked together and although we are forged our careers independent of each other, we learned so much and continue to work periodically on curatorial/art placement projects. I am looking forward to our next project!

Website: julie@juliezener.com

Instagram: @julie_zener_gallery

Linkedin: JulieZener

Facebook: Julie Zener

Image Credits
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