Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jill Schroeder, Founder & Gallerist of grayDUCK Gallery, located in Austin, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own a contemporary art gallery in Austin, Texas, called grayDUCK Gallery. We mainly show mid-career and up-and-coming artists from central Texas. Everything from painting, sculpture, drawings, video, and installation work. I feel like everyone is my customer. Mostly I want to make sure that I present the best exhibition I can for each and every artist and provide them with whatever I can to give them a leg up on their career. I also want to be a space where everyone feels comfortable, especially the local art community. That community includes art collectors, art lovers, and curious viewers.
Tell us about yourself
I studied fine arts and art history in college and was a practicing artist out of college. I continued to produce art while working in graphic design, branding, and marketing. I was in the corporate world for over a decade, and eventually, work became my creative outlet. When I moved to Austin, I wanted to get back to my art roots. That's when all my experience in art and marketing culminated in running my own Gallery. To see the magic that is created in an artist's studios and how it is transformed in the Gallery is my motivation for running my business. My favorite part of the job is meeting artists, going to their studios, and talking about their processes. I get so energized after each meeting. I love looking at their work and discussing the way they see the world, the subtleties of the things they notice, and how they process information is always inspiring.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am so proud to have been accepted into the art community here, and the people I've met through this endeavor have become lifelong friends. When an artist trusts me to promote their work, I feel that I have succeeded.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I was going to say bookkeeping, but that's just my procrastination. I wait until the last minute to start working on it. Honestly, the worst part of running an art gallery is telling someone they are not the right fit for the Gallery and I won't be showing their work. Saying no is difficult, but it's necessary to know one's limitations and not overpromise.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would only say, create what you are passionate about. I opened an art gallery because I want to be a part of the Austin art community, meet artists, discover and show art and make the gallery experience comfortable for everyone. If you're starting a business just to make money, it's going to feel like a job. Do it because you love it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://grayduckgallery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grayDUCKgallery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayduckgallery/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grayDUCKGallery
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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