Gallery Spotlight: Kennedy Contemporary

Gallery Spotlight: Kennedy Contemporary

There is a new gallery in town. Kennedy Contemporary is based in Newport Beach and showcases emerging and established artists. Headed by Victoria Kennedy, who has strong roots in Orange County, her new gallery intends to break down traditional barriers by focusing on accessibility and connecting collectors with art that will enrich their lives. The Kennedy team also will support the community at large, by hosting educational events, partnering with nonprofits, and offering consultation services. The OC Art Blog had a chance to inquire more about Victoria’s background and programming for her new space.

Victoria Kennedy

Why don’t we start by having you tell us a bit about your art background and how Kennedy Contemporary came about?  

Hello! My name is Victoria Kennedy,  owner of Kennedy Contemporary. I grew up in Orange County (CdMHS Class of 2009) and pursued a B.A. at Stanford University in Religious Studies and a minor in Art History, focusing on medieval and early modern history and art. 

However, it wasn’t until after college that I became more familiar with the contemporary art world through working at an art gallery in Park City, UT. I found it thrilling to connect with our represented artists and share their stories with our clients. This experience led me to a Masters in Art Business from the Claremont Graduate University and then Saatchi Art, where I was the Associate Curator for just over three years. As a young, online art gallery, Saatchi Art provided me with some invaluable experiences – such as traveling to art fairs around the world, selling to a range of clientele, and working with international artists. However, I missed the personal connection of brick-and-mortar galleries, finding I was looking at a screen more than I was looking at art!

Kennedy Contemporary was born from a desire to further the conversation surrounding contemporary art in Orange County and showcase a variety of artists, some of whom have never exhibited previously in Southern California.

How would you describe your program? What is the local/regional/national mix of artists you show?

We represent twelve artists – ranging from emerging and established (including two international artists). For a few of our local artists – like Elyse Katz and Heather Zusman – we are their first art gallery and excited to help introduce their works to the art world. For others – like Chris Gwaltney and Michael Kessler – we are joining the ranks of established galleries who represent their works and bringing a youthful perspective to these seasoned artists’ careers

I was always familiar with Laguna Beach as being the art hub for the area, but it wasn’t until returning later as an adult that I felt I could contribute to the conversation. Utilizing my experiences in the international art world, I wanted to create a space showcasing noteworthy contemporary artists for an audience that is sophisticated and eager for distinctive artworks.

Can you tell our readers why you chose Orange County as the location for your gallery rather than Los Angeles for example?

Yes! I chose to open Kennedy Contemporary in Orange County because the demand for art is here. I think many (especially in Los Angeles) disregard Orange County as a market, but the reality is that our local clients want art that will not only bring beauty and joy to their lives, but also have the potential for appreciation in value. 

I live in Costa Mesa with my husband, and we also appreciate the work/life balance (especially not commuting!). There’s a lot of exciting restaurants, coffee shops, and small businesses that are thriving in the area, and we are thrilled to be part of this community. 

What do you imagine will be some of the positives of being located in Orange County? Do you imagine any difficulties?

We have already experienced a lot of positives from being in Newport Beach as we are close to many of our clients. When we were first looking for leases, it was incredibly important to provide an accessible space where we could host events for our local community. Especially in this post-pandemic world, we are eager to utilize the space and host art openings and engaging events throughout the rest of this year.

I imagine that the gallery will face some obstacles, but for the most part we have been overwhelmed with the positive response from our clients and community.  

Do you have plans to participate in any art fairs this coming year? Do you feel art fairs are important?

After over a year of not attending art fairs, I am itching to get to one…! Yes, art fairs are definitely important and they’re a great way for regional galleries (like us) to showcase our artists to a broader range of clientele. The downside is that art fairs are also a massive undertaking and financial risk for a young gallery. Our primary focus at the moment is to continue establishing ourselves in the area. We’ve only been open for six (!) months, but perhaps in a year or two we will consider participating in some fairs.

Switching gears, what advice do you have for artists based in OC who have yet to find gallery representation? How should they focus on marketing their artwork?

There’s many ways that artists can market themselves. First and foremost – don’t underestimate the power of having a robust and coherent web presence. A good website (with great images!) is invaluable and is often a client or gallerists’ first impression of the artist. 

Instagram has been a great way to keep track of artists I’m potentially interested in working with and it is used as the gallery’s primary marketing tool. The primary users of Instagram are 30 – 60 yo’s (often female), which is our target market. Use Instagram as a way to brand yourself and connect with your peers, galleries, consultants, and buyers. 

I think the most successful artists I know are those that understand their own market. They have a strong brand identity, know who their target audience is, and they hustle. They sign up for multiple online art galleries, participate in art fairs for independent artists, and they establish a strong local in-person network. I truly believe that in the modern art market, an artist doesn’t necessarily need a brick-and-mortar gallery to be successful. A gallery is just one of the many ways that an artist can showcase their works – and some are more suitable to the gallery environment than others.

Do you have any advice concerning etiquette that artists should adhere to when communicating to galleries? Should artists resist the urge to contact an art dealer out of the blue, or is a certain amount of boldness OK?

There is definitely an etiquette to consider when reaching out to galleries and art dealers/art consultants. Most galleries will not want you to bring in your art or even a physical art book showcasing your works (PDF’s or websites are the primary point of discovery). If you do plan to visit a gallery, make an appointment with the owner or director rather than just walking in. 

As an artist, you have to have a certain amount of boldness (and thick skin!). It doesn’t hurt reaching out to galleries via email with a PDF of works or link to a website. Search for galleries who showcase similar artists with a comparable price range (ie, don’t submit to a realist gallery if you’re an abstract artist). Similarly, there are many art consultancies and dealers who specialize in a particular field – find those that are relevant and send them an email. 

We aim to respond to every artist who emails us with a submission. Although we are very discerning about who we represent, we are always interested in hearing from local artists and considering them for consulting projects. 

We are excited to see what you have in store for the Orange County scene this coming year. In closing, is there anything you would like to say about your gallery or any future exhibitions we should look out for?

Next we are excited to present Permission to Descend, a solo exhibition with Los Angeles-based artist, Joseph Justus. The opening reception for the exhibition will be on July 15th from 4-7pm in partnership with California Love Drop to raise awareness for the charity started by co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, Wing Lam. We ask that all guests RSVP for the July 15th event through Eventbrite at this link.

Kennedy Contemporary

Tel.:(714) 519-6297
Address:
2043 Westcliff Drive
Suite 102
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Email:info@kennedycontemporary.com

Chris Hoff
Chris Hoff
chrishoffmft@gmail.com

Chris Hoff started the OC Art Blog in 2004 as a way to build community and promote the marginalized but dynamic Orange County art scene. Chris is also responsible for the Hoff Foundation, a private arts foundation formed in 2008 with a commitment to and passion for the arts. The Hoff Foundation plays a significant and unique role in the development of the arts in Southern California by providing quarterly grants to artists and/or art organizations that are based in Orange County and/or Long Beach. As of January 2012 the Hoff Foundation has distributed over 30k in grants. Chris’ day job is with Chris Hoff Counseling (www.drchrishoff.com), where he provides counseling services for individuals, couples and families. Chris can be reached at chrishoffmft(at)gmail.com

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