An Interview with Cheri Landry, Director of Gallery Imperato

What would you consider to be the gallery’s overall aesthetic?

Gallery Imperato is a contemporary gallery showing cutting edge work in a variety of mediums and styles. The artwork falls within a wide range of price points and the artists are both emerging and mid-career. For example, in August we are exhibiting the work of an artist who has had numerous shows around the world and whose work is included in museum collections.

What are some of the challenges of running a gallery in Baltimore City?

Well, Baltimore doesn’t have the best art market. I’ll show an artist who sells well in New York, but this doesn’t translate into sales here. Developing the right clientele is the challenge – Baltimoreans don’t really spend money on art.
Gallery Imperato has come under fire in the past for being a gallery within an office space. (William Imperato’s Wireless Communications has its home base here).

What are your feelings on the combination business/retail gallery model?

I don’t mind it because the space is unique. Without the office being there, the layout of the gallery would be much different. One great benefit of sharing the space is the sharing of resources – the accountant, the utilities, etc. There is a distinct separation between the gallery and business when there needs to be. At night, on weekends and during openings, the space is strictly gallery-oriented.
Your exhibition roster is booked thru the beginning of ’08.


How do you select which artists to show?

I base my selections on the quality of the artwork. Resumes don’t matter to me. It’s a bonus if an artist has a long client list, but it’s not a pre-requisite by any means.

How do you advise beginning art collectors?

A lot of the clients that come into Gallery Imperato are looking to purchase their first piece of art. In addition to perusing the current exhibition, I encourage them to browse our inventory book while I give them some background information on the artists and their artistic practices. I always encourage clients to purchase what they love – but often when a client realizes that art can also be an investment, it almost justifies the purchase for them.

What art/collecting trends are you spotting right now?

I don’t really see any trends. The art world seems very diverse right now.

What’s one thing you would like people to know about Gallery Imperato?

That we exist! We are in the Foundry on Fort Ave. –a ground floor space in a wonderful building, but not a location with a lot of foot traffic.

Gallery Imperato’s current exhibition, “Flora & Fauna,” runs thru June 16th.
Gallery Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11-7, and Sunday and Monday by appointment.
www.galleryimperato.com

Labels: Art, Baltimore City, contemporary, Fort Avenue

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