Meet Pamela Walsh | Gallery Owner and Art Advisor

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

Hi Pamela, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always dreamed of owning my own gallery! After working for another gallerist for almost 20 years, it was time to take those learned skills and set out on my own. I began to work as an Art Advisor helping private collectors source and acquire art for their personal collections. It was very different from the work I had previous done, which was centered around representing and exhibiting artists. I loved the work, but missed working directly with artists. Also, I found that being an itinerant advisor left me without an important aspect of my work that I was missing: space. Having a space allows you to build relationships and create a community and that was important to me. So, in 2019 I decided to take the leap and open a gallery. Now I am able to represent artists and dream-up outrageous exhibitions while maintaining my advisory work. Although opening a gallery 4 months before the pandemic hit was challenging, I feel perfectly aligned with my vision now; I know I am doing exactly what I was meant to do!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The art business has always been mysterious and opaque. I don’t think any business is easy, but the art business is widely known to be difficult. It is not just a business, but a vision you have that you hope others will appreciate. However, even the best laid plans do not always work! For me, owning a gallery is a pleasure and a privilege. I do not make art, but get to be creative, using all of the skills I have honed for many years, to bring forward art in a meaningful way. When it works, it is truly exhilarating. When it doesn’t work, you have to get right back on the horse and try again. I never give up. As Picasso said, “Inspiration will find you, but it wants to find you working.” When people visit my gallery, I hope they see a work of art that touches them or they have a conversation that moves them. Ultimately, I hope they leave wanting to return for more of whatever goodness they received. My gallery is MY artistic expression; it a is place where I want people to experience art and find connections that enrich their human experience.

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.
The Bay Area is a treasure trove of fun things to do and great places to eat. My gallery in is Palo Alto, which is about an hour from San Francisco and a mile from the Stanford campus. Being an art junkie, there is never enough time to see art, but the Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection at Stanford are great way to have a little art snack without spending the whole day at a museum. Palo Alto also has a small cluster of art galleries with strong programing and a diverse selection of artists all worth seeing. Wander down University Avenue to shop and people watch – don’t miss Romi Boutique on Emerson for their unparalleled curation of women’s clothing. Our neighborhood is brimming with great food – everything from coffee shops to haute cuisine. If you visit Palo Alto, you must have coffee at Coupa Cafe and when you are ready for a real meal, you will have to make the tough choice between several superb restaurants. My favorite choice is Zola + Bar Zola, a Michelin-mentioned French bistro with a California flair and delicious craft cocktails. If all of the tables are full, you might try Ettan, Bird Dog or Evvia – all with Michelin-mentions and always very busy! Afterwards, grab a glass of wine at The Wine Room, a cozy little wine bar on Ramona Street, just a few doors away from my gallery. If you want to top if off with something sweet, visit Timothy Adams Chocolates for exquisite handmade chocolate treats. All the while, you can enjoy Palo Alto’s charming Spanish Colonial Revival architecture designed by Stanford architect Birge Clark. My gallery is in one of his buildings dating back to 1929 and part of the Historic Preservation in Palo Alto, Worth a visit!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I started out in the art business, I looked for female mentors, but never found that person. However, I was incredibly fortunate to have 3 mentors who have guided me along my way. Franklin Bowles, owner of Franklin Bowles Galleries in SF and NY for almost 50 years, was one of my primary mentors. He taught me about the business, encouraged me to continuously reach for new goals and kept me engaged at FBG for almost 20 years. I was hired at Franklin Bowles Galleries by Dr. Jean Audigier who was the Vice President of the company, as well as a professor of Art History at the University of San Francisco. Working with Jean was like being in art history class every day. I learned the art of selling art from him and continue to use these lessons in my work today. He is also a close friend. Finally, I reconnected with Michael Schwartz, owner of Galerie Michael in Beverly Hills, toward the end of his life. He was a good friend of Franklin’s and a gallerist we had done business with for many years. When I began my work as an advisor, we worked together on several projects. He was my advisor and mentor as I began to navigate the gallery’s opening. Most importantly, he believed in me. He gave me the confidence and courage to take the risks required to start this venture. Sadly, he passed away in 2020, but he is with me everyday. I have been so fortunate to have great mentors and recognize their importance in my success. One of my missions now is to do the same for others, especially young women who want to find their path in the arts!

Website: www.pamelawalshgallery.com

Instagram: @pamelawalshgallery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamelawalshgallery