Artist Advocate: Can you share the story of how you got started in the art gallery business?

Susan Powell Fine Art: I grew up in an art family in Washington, D.C., where my mother was a docent at the National Gallery of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art and my father was an artist. When I was just 3, my mother started taking my brother and me to museums, where we would stay all day. Among our first babysitters were gallery guards.

I got my first job at the Smithsonian and then moved to New York City to learn the auction business at Doyle Galleries, the third-largest auction house in New York. As head of the Painting Department, I started buying 19th- and 20th-century American paintings that I loved and thought were undervalued, and then I launched my own gallery in 1981. I was always interested in a career that combined art and business.

Artist Advocate: What strategies do you employ to keep your business healthy?


Susan Powell Fine Art: I think it is really important to find consistency in the artists you represent. I look to represent artists who want to put their best work out there. Building client relationships and customer service are essential. I frequently take paintings to clients' homes, as well as follow up with collectors' particular interests when new work comes into the gallery. I am always looking for new talent and focus on representational art that is grounded in classical traditions.

Artist Advocate: What is the best way to maintain excellent relationships with collectors?


Susan Powell Fine Art: The best way to maintain client relationships is to offer personalized service. I call or e-mail clients when new works come in that complement their collection or interests and work hard to fulfill their collecting requirements. I also let clients take paintings home on approval. We create a comfortable experience that is warm and friendly so collectors enjoy returning often to the gallery. Our collectors also like to visit our website www.susanpowellfineart.com weekly, to see new offerings and show updates.

Artist Advocate: What trends are you seeing in the art business? 


Susan Powell Fine Art: There is a great interest in realism with modern, contemporary themes. I am excited to see urban scenes selling outside the city in our Madison, Connecticut, gallery. Buyers are increasingly adventurous, and this is a new trend that I've noticed only recently.

Artist Advocate: Will the art gallery as we know it be the same in five or 10 years? Will everything go online?


Susan Powell Fine Art: 
There will always be a need for art galleries to show new talent and new trends. As important as the Internet is for reaching collectors, there is too much pleasure derived from experiencing art firsthand to think that a close, up-front experience with art will be replaced by a virtual experience. The two complement each other, and I'm interested in how I can further develop that.

Artist Advocate: What advice do you have for gallery owners who want to grow?



Susan Powell Fine Art: It is important to have a passion for the artists you represent and to develop a great stable of artists. Understanding customer needs and responding to them skillfully is a fun, daily opportunity. I treat everyone who walks through the door as a potential buyer.

Artist Advocate: What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in the art business?



Susan Powell Fine Art: Staying current and educating yourself by reading art periodicals and seeing as many exhibitions as possible to hone your eye are always important. Networking to find artists and clients is also important. Working closely with artists demonstrates your commitment to them.

Artist Advocate: If you were starting to collect today, what would you buy?


Susan Powell Fine Art: I have been in the business for 30 years, and I would buy the contemporary artists I represent.

Artist Advocate: Who are your personal favorite artists?