Milwaukee, WI -- One of 12 American Cities Considered Tops in Fine Art! One Area Art Gallery Gem Stands Out the Most -- The David Barnett Gallery
- Lynne Kornecki
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Climbing these stairs to the formal front entrance feels like an elegant step back in time. Visitors must be buzzed in. From the moment you enter the grand foyer to wandering through the various beautifully appointed rooms filled with sculpture and art, touring this gallery is an absolute MUST for artists and patrons alike.
Surprisingly, Chicago wasn't named in this prestigious ranking. However, there's a good chance this laudatory assessment can largely be attributed to one amazing art gallery and its well-respected owner -- the DAVID BARNETT GALLERY, 1024 E. State Street. Milwaukee's outstanding recognition was collaboratively compiled by ARTPLACE and The National Endowment for the Arts.
David Barnett ranks right up there as one of the most incredible art gallery owners I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Brilliantly knowledgeable about the art world, the back stories he shares about his inventory as well as his experiences painting, curating, collecting, and running a gallery over six decades are mesmerizing. Recently, he very generously gave me his time during my visit regaling me with wonderful anecdotes of his global adventures traversing the art world and meeting famous, and not so famous, along the way.
As a young man of 15, he knew that somehow art would be his future and began investing in original work to collect and resell. At the age of 19, he opened his first gallery in the basement of an apartment building on the Marquette campus and operated from that location for 19 years selling student artwork and more.
When he learned that the opulent, Victorian, Button mansion (his current location) built in 1870 by Doctor Henry Harrison Button turned businessman, was for sale, he purchased it in 1985. This house, alone, is a gem to visit, not to mention all the glorious artwork David has collected inside that includes Marc Chagall, Tom Ferderbar, Reginal K. Gee, Ernesto Gutierrez, Wassily Kandinsky, Daniel Klewer, Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec, Tom Shelton, Cathryn Ruvalcaba, and David's own work.
With originals by Miro and Andy Warhol to his oldest piece painted between 1650 and 1672 (Abraham Willemsens' oil on canvas, "The Fortune Teller), there is something here in 2D and 3D for everyone, and at every price point. What's more, he changes out exhibitions regularly keeping inventory fresh and interesting.
"The Fortune Teller" -- price upon request.
David says his most celebrated piece currently in his collection is by Kees Van Dongen known for the Fauvism -- an avant garde style of painting and an art movement that emerged in France at the beginning of the 20th century.
So, how does David build the collection in his gallery?
"I choose art that moves me personally," he replies. "I have to love it, or I won't bring it in. I also look for work that is currently undervalued in the marketplace. The art world is fickle, diverse, and always changing. However, I see the next biggest trend will focus on abstract."
Giving Back...
David's eye for talent and the next "big thing" have served him well. And to make sure he's also giving back, he is involved in the non-profit ARTIST RESOURCE TRANSNATIONAL which emphasizes the value of creativity in a global community. Its mission is to preserve artists' legacies. They catalogue artist estates, provide resources for living artists, and share visual culture through exhibitions and online. More information is on David's website and at ArtistResourceTransnational.org
If you're in the Milwaukee area, make time to visit this gallery -- it's well worth the trip!