Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Miles.
Hi Carolyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The business was founded in 1986 and is located in a beautiful space downtown in the old post-office building. We were part of a very active group of downtown art galleries and active in the business community there through RCGA and Downtown St. Louis Inc. After almost 10 years, the gallery scene began to move west, and we followed with a move to Clayton, where there was a developing, very active art scene. We had a very good group of galleries and received a lot of support from the city and also through the Chambers of Commerce; as the downtown Clayton area began to change, several of the galleries, including Atrium, migrated to the Central West End and developed a very active scene there for contemporary art. Eventually, as the market there began to subside, primarily due to the difficulty in getting clients from the county to support us, several of us moved again to Clayton and the city’s western edge neighborhood. In 2019 Atrium moved into the Dorchester at 665 S. Skinker, where there was also another active gallery. We have enjoyed our time here and feel that we are most convenient for our clients in the Central West End and other parts of the city and our clients in Clayton, Ladue, University City, and West County. Our proximity to St. Louis Art Museum is also a positive for us as visitors often will stop by the nearby galleries.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is disruptive to move as many times as we have, but we have always found opportunities to develop new clients. We have put much effort into retaining clients who frequented our previous locations. The Covid shutdowns were very difficult for us, and we suffered quite a loss of business during those 2- 2 1/2 years. Getting visitors/ clients to schedule in-person visits to the gallery has been challenging, although that is gradually improving. While we do some of our work online with various art sites, in-person visits are the best for selling quality art.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Atrium Gallery?
Since 1986, Atrium Gallery in St. Louis, Missouri, has presented works by strong regional and national contemporary artists. The gallery features paintings and sculptures with an emphasis on large-scale work. Represented are several artists of international origin – European and Latin American – and other artists who actively show abroad. Though a commercial gallery, Atrium has always emphasized education and has worked hard to present programs that help develop an appreciation of contemporary art and enlarge their experience with a diverse group of artists. Atrium maintained a large, on-site inventory of nearly 1,000 works by over 50 artists, including 2 and 3-dimensional pieces. Atrium is known for the quality of our inventory and our attention to all interested in learning about and enjoying contemporary art.
What do you think about happiness?
I am thrilled when I can help clients discover work that speaks to them and when they decide that they would like to take it home and enjoy living with it. I am very pleased when we can place an artist’s work in a corporate or museum collection. Also, although only a few of the artists we represent live in St. Louis, I am quite pleased when they travel here for an exhibition and can meet with our followers and collectors. Often this enhances the experience of the viewers and collectors, and I am so pleased to be able to make this connection for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.atriumgallery.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atrium_gallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtriumGalleryStl
