Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Kearney.
Edward, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
A long-time lover of the arts, I’ve had the privilege of growing up in such a vibrant and colorful world. Early on, I’d frequent The High Museum and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with my mom, and forever became enamored with the Arts and Music culture. Any chance I could get to be immersed in that world, I hopped on. From picking up musical instruments myself to penning many works of poetry, to even volunteering at Emory’s Schwartz Performing Arts Center for years — I had to be apart of the Renaissance.
Additionally, having always held leadership positions in college and beyond, one thing became evidently clear — I love bringing people together, and experiencing everything I can out of life, making an impact every chance I can.
Upon graduating college and joining Corporate America, I accrued the knowledge and skill set to take a chance on myself, and create a company in my eyes; thus Southern Heights Investments, LLC., my private equity form was conceived.
From there, I still craved an itch to further explore my creative side and really get back to my creative roots. Being blessed with a multitude of friends and peers who possess great talents with their respective mediums, I saw an opportunity for my love of business and art to collide. In the early part of 2018, I started Kanvas Art Group, an art group aimed at bringing people together, celebrating local artisans, and bringing fine art to the masses in an approachable manner.
The beauty that I saw in Kanvas was the fact that our purpose is to not only promote and aid these artists in their pursuits but to equip the artist with the business acumen to further drive not only their marketability but profitability as well.
As I said, I want to make a difference and have an impact on any and everyone I meet, so it’s been a fun ride to get to this point.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Far from a smooth road. Unbeknownst to most, prior to my starting Southern Heights Investments and Kanvas Art Group, I had left a very stable and profitable career in the logistics industry to take a chance on myself. Though we ended up where we are today–with still worlds to go–there was a period of about seven months in which I was not working, scraping together every bit of saving and resources I could.
As a young adult, it was hard. It was very tough to stay positive, not knowing what the future held, battling depression and anxiety on the daily.
Despite the hard times, I attribute that period for such exponential growth for myself and the company. Because where I struggled, I prayed and I found a routine to keep myself sane in a sense. For instance, I would force myself to go to the gym–to stay fit mentally an physically–as well as force myself to read more books, as well as even follow a devotional to steady my thoughts.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Southern Heights Investments and Kanvas Art Group story. Tell us more about the business.
Southern Heights Investments, LLC. is a private equity firm in which I use as a vehicle to invest in companies and entrepreneurs alike that need investments, consultation, or even an introduction within my network.
Kanvas Art Group is the company in which I’m most proud of. Serving as the Creative Director, I have the honor of hosting shows and tapping into the vibrant, budding art community that Atlanta has to offer. Kanvas Art Group serves as a facilitator for local artists, specializing in promoting and networking through various outlets. Driven by events such as A Night Amongst the Artists and Artists on Tap, Kanvas works to create diverse avenues for artists to showcase their talents. With this increased exposure, artists have greater opportunities to penetrate the art community as a whole.
Providing a platform and a forum to expand on artists’ talents, Kanvas offers a host of services such as: Etsy and Shopify Business Management, Artist Marketability and Outreach Assessment, as well as Artist Features and Artist Sponsorships. Kanvas aims to equip the artist with the business acumen to further drive not only their marketability but profitability as well.
What sets us apart is the fact that we offer artists a multitude of services, so that whether they work with us once or many times, they’re confident and knowledgable to forge their own paths.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can’t say I believe in luck; however, I’m very much a believer in serendipity.
I’ve certainly been blessed, though I believe that one creates their chances in life, and positions themselves accordingly. If you carry yourself with a positive sense of self and a desire, the rest kind of falls in line — like John Cusack taught me, serendipitously.
But now that I’ve said that, let me knock on some wood real quick.
Contact Info:
- Website: Southernheightsinvest.com
- Phone: 678-575-7588
- Email: edwardlkearney@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddie_kearney/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddielkearney
- Other: https://kanvasartgroup.com/
Image Credit:
Jake Zerkel
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