Read the full article by Marie-Elena Schembri at CapRadio and The Sacramento Observer
Selling art in Sacramento looks different than it used to. For veteran artist Tony Natsoulas, whose ceramic sculptures are in permanent collections at 18 different museums, including SFMOMA, the traditional market doesn’t hold the promise it used to, particularly in his hometown of Sacramento.
He is instead connecting with his fans and collectors in a more direct way, building up a personal connection. “I’ve got a nice fat mailing list, and I have a newsletter and I have an open studio twice a year and I sell through that,” said Natsoulas, who studied under famed funk artist and UC Davis professor Robert Arneson.
Sacramento’s art scene is a dynamic ecosystem, constantly adapting to economic shifts and social trends. At the heart of this evolution lies the art gallery — and while Sacramento has plenty of independent art spaces, museums and galleries, Sacramento’s commercial art galleries can be counted on one hand; not by the handfuls like other California cities with strong creative economies.
The question arises: Where do people buy art in Sacramento, and is it working?