“This is a time for us to celebrate with, and to say thank you to, those who have collected from us for so many years,” says Southwest Gallery director Bob Malenfant. Southwest Gallery is preparing to celebrate reaching a major milestone with an event focused on a central commitment: to continue to bring the best of the best in fine art to clients. To commemorate five decades of serving North Texas art collectors, the gallery will host a lively two-day celebration and art show.
Step inside Southwest Gallery and you are instantly entering a world of beauty and wonder. For years, the gallery has provided the expert art collector, the art novice and everyone in between access to a vast selection of fine 19th- to 21st-century paintings and sculptures. As one of the few galleries in the metroplex with such an extensive selection of art, the gallery is known for having an exceptional variety for clients to choose from.
Housed in a 16,000-squarefoot showroom near the Galleria Dallas, the gallery exhibits and actively represents the work of 100 exceptionally talented artists, but offers work from over 400 artists in an array of art styles. Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass Gallery occupies a spacious corner of the gallery and presents the work of more than 350 contemporary glass artists, showcasing a variety of intricately designed jewelry, goblets, architectural pieces and many other finds.
The anniversary event will begin on Friday, September 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The evening will include live music, food, an opportunity to meet with featured artists and access to the knowledgeable gallery staff. The event continues on Saturday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass Gallery will also be taking part in the festivities, highlighting beautiful glass sculptures, vessels and decorative works that guests can add to their personal collections.
A unique element of the celebration is the artist show, with up to 50 gallery-represented artists expected to attend. “Each artist is creating a special 25-by-25-inch painting for the anniversary show,” says Malenfant. “These exclusive paintings will be offered at 50 percent off. If guests would like to purchase one of the paintings from the artist show, there will be a drawing held for each one.”
The artists attending the celebration have a long-term relationship with the gallery and frequent buyers will be familiar with their work. “To be able to meet their favorite artist and to possibly buy a piece at a great value is a real opportunity and is our way to say thank you to our clients for all of the business they have given us over the years,” says Malenfant.
Artists attending the celebration include impressionist John Pototschnik, known for painting a naturalist expression of everyday life, as well as realist painter Matthew Grant, who depicts rugged Western lifestyle and majestic wildlife. Also attending will be Tom Dorr, a noted Western painter who creates realistic images of the modern- day cowboy, along with wildlife painter Robert Fobear, who uses nature as his muse to express of the world around him.
Southwest Gallery has built a strong reputation over many years and is proud to be part of the Dallas art community. All of this makes the 50th anniversary and upcoming celebration quite an exciting event for the gallery and its clients.
“We hope the celebration creates an overall atmosphere of excitement for living with art,” says Malenfant. “We want our guests to have a great time enjoying the music, the food and access to the artists, but most of all, we want them to leave after having a warm experience with us—we’re happy that they have been collecting from us for all of these years.”
Leslie Chatman is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle and culture content. Find out more on her blog: popgoesthecity.com.
