Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Scott King.
Hi Anna Scott, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My father owned a gallery in Atlanta during the ’90s, and I grew up in a family of artists. While art was always a passion of mine, it was not something that I originally considered as my career path. When I started college at Drew University, I originally planned on an economics degree and debating working in finance. My freshman seminar was an art history class, and after a semester, I knew that this is what I actually wanted to pursue. Since my school was so close to NYC, I was able to commute and work multiple gallery jobs. I received my BFA in art history and studio art with a minor in arts administration. While I enjoyed the hustle of New York, I knew I was a southern girl at heart, and moved back to Atlanta. I met my business partner Benjamin Deaton at a gallery job here, and when the idea was proposed to start a new gallery, I was immediately on board. Together, we were able to found Wolfgang Gallery in West Midtown.
Wolfgang Gallery is a contemporary art space located in Atlanta, GA that features mid-career and established artists. Our mission is to introduce a new foundation for discovering and supporting contemporary art by focusing on inclusivity and diversity within the framework of contemporary culture. We are centered on creating a community that connects exceptional emerging artists and collectors that extends beyond the confines of gallery walls. In September, we opened our inaugural exhibition, Virgo. Virgo is a multi-disciplinary group exhibition centered on the origin, mythology, and evolution of the astrological history of Virgo. The objective is to examine the heroine in an allegorical context with a representation of who and how they are personified in contemporary culture. Each artist creates their own perception of the narrative presented as an ethnology of meaning. It runs until November 5th.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a business from scratch is never easy. There are many bureaucratic hurdles to jump through. Luckily, we had the support of artists, gallerists, collectors, and more members of the Atlanta arts community on our side. As a co-founder, my business partner was a tremendous help in navigating some of the trickier parts of starting the gallery, such as the massive renovations that our space had to go through. We also relied heavily on a legal, and financial advisory from trusted Atlanta firms. Of course, I have to thank the artists for giving us a shot as a new gallery. Luckily Benjamin and I have worked in the industry long enough to have the right connections, but asking someone to place their work in an inaugural show is a leap of faith. A multitude of the works took months to acquire and countless negotiations.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As mentioned before, Wolfgang Gallery is a contemporary art space located in Atlanta, GA that features mid-career and established artists. Our mission is to introduce a new foundation for discovering and supporting contemporary art by focusing on inclusivity and diversity within the framework of contemporary culture.
We noticed a gap in the Atlanta art market. While Atlanta does have a thriving arts community, there was not a place that specialized in leading contemporary art. Atlanta has fantastic galleries for decorative work, street art, and local representation, but we wanted to bring in artists from New York, LA, and other leading art cities across the US and the globe. Wolfgang Gallery is focused on acquiring works that appeal to not only major collectors but also those who are interested in starting the collecting hobby. We aim to create a luxury experience, providing education, insight, and personal connection. For the artists- we want to sell not just their work but their career. Each artist is carefully chosen over a period of observance as we study their trajectory and evolution of the work. When we represent someone, we want to ensure the longevity of the art career; as opposed to simply flipping it for a quick profit.
What makes you happy?
Nothing makes me more happy than stumbling across a fantastic artist that I had previously never encountered. The excitement of seeing something new and innovative will never get old. The endless possibilities play in your mind as you dig deeper and deeper to learn more about the work. What might be equally as addicting is watching someone else have that experience. When we can show a collector a work that speaks to them and describes exactly what they were looking for, it is unbelievably satisfying. The first thing we tell a buyer after their purchase is “congratulations!” because it is something to be celebrated. Collecting art gets addicting, with every new work you bring in, there is a sense of pride, joy, and fulfillment. It may sound materialistic at first, but nothing brings intellectual curiosity and beauty to a home quite like a work of art. It is a conversation starter, a piece of beauty on a previously blank surface, a reminder of the things that drive us in life. I find myself happy when I am surrounded by loved ones over a good meal, with drinks and music, but while this is a “loud” form of happiness, bearing witness to a striking work of art is a deeply personal, quiet way of happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wolfganggallery.com/
- Instagram: @wolfganggallery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfGangGallery/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wolfgang-gallery-atlanta?uid=DcjMBqN7sWSLfjAh5wxcug&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
Image Credits
Image credits to Benjamin Deaton- Wolfgang Gallery director and cofounder
