Incollect Magazine - Issue 9

74 www.incollect.com continue to play a central role in the development of the art market via auction houses and galleries. “It’s my opinion that women art dealers often bring a higher level of approachability to their interactions with both artists and their clients,” says Ronni Anderson of Anderson Contemporary Gallery in New York. She believes that the success of so many women art dealers today is because women dealers may differ from male colleagues in the way they do business. “My positive and open approach fosters trust, which I consider essential for success in the art business,” says Anderson, who recently shifted her focus from maintaining a physical gallery space to doing private art deals, studio tours, art fairs, and curatorial and collaborative projects. Valentina Puccioni, owner of Arco Gallery in New York, agrees with Anderson. “I believe that being a woman art dealer in New York City offers a unique advantage as the city embraces diversity and values innovative perspectives,” she explains. “Collectors and art enthusiasts who seek a more empathetic and personalized approach are often drawn to women in the art world. For me, this is particularly meaningful, as my focus goes beyond the transactional aspect of the art business — I’m deeply invested in fostering personal relationships with both artists and buyers. In this sense, being a woman art dealer is not just a distinction, but a strength that enriches my ability to connect and curate in a more intimate, thoughtful way.” Networks of women art dealers in the United States and Europe have not only sought to advance the role of women art dealers and artists but also support solidarity in art promotion. AWAD, the Association of Women Art Dealers, is a 15-year-old organization with more than 100 members internationally working to foster women dealers and support women artists. ArtTable, an American organization devoted to supporting women in the arts, includes numerous prominent women dealers, artists, and museum curators. Dorothy Solomon DSA Fine Arts Ltd., New York Dorothy Solomon has spent decades as a gallerist, art consultant and private dealer in art. Her practice frequently mirrors the process an interior designer goes through when decorating a home for their clients. “I believe art is a dialogue between space and spirit,” she says. “My philosophy is rooted in the idea that art is more than a decorative choice; it is an emotional anchor that ties together the elements of a space. With a curator’s eye, I strive to ensure that each work chosen for a space speaks directly to my clients’ hearts and reflects the essence of the art, client, and the space it inhabits.” Solomon views each project she works on as a “partnership” with her clients and their interests. “My role is to translate their vision into a cohesive, inspiring environment that is visually stunning, emotionally enriching as well as profoundly personal. Their satisfaction is my ultimate measure of success.” As an example, she recently worked with an interior designer for a female television personality, placing work by women artists in a New York apartment and a Connecticut country home. The work chosen for the New York apartment was “Autumn Flow”, a photograph by Mexican-American artist Brenda Perry-Herrera dealing with man-made environmental issues. For Connecticut, Solomon installed a painting titled “Synergy” by Canadian artist Vicki Smith that depicts the serene image of a woman swimming in an abstracted watery landscape, part of a series that uses water as a metaphor for memory and the remembered sensations evoked in viewing the paintings. Vicki Smith oil on canvas, Synergy.