The Julie Nester Gallery celebrates 20 years of representing emerging, mid-career and established contemporary artists from the United States and Canada this month.
It’s a feat for any business to hit the two-decade mark, but it’s even more of an accomplishment that an art gallery did so, especially when that gallery opened off of Park City’s historic Main Street. And that’s something that Gallery Namesake and Director Julie Nester doesn’t take lightly.
“For a gallery to be in business for 20 years is hard,” she said. “It’s not easy work, and we’re proud of it.”
The idea to open a gallery stems from Nester’s passion for art.
“I’ve been surrounded by art for many years, and I have an art degree (from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles),” she said. “I’ve also been in and out of the art business for over 35 years.”
Nester’s husband Doug Nester, the gallery’s co-owner, said his wife has a keen knowledge of not only the creative process, but also the ins and outs of running a business in the art world.
“She worked for a couple of galleries in San Francisco and worked as an art consultant,” he said. “She also worked on the wholesale side, so she had a pretty deep history and understanding of the business.”
The Nesters’ dream to open a gallery came true after moving to Park City from the San Francisco/Bay Area.
“I didn’t want to open a gallery there, but when we moved here because we wanted a change, I knew this would be a place where I could open one,” Julie said.
The Nesters opened in the parking lot it shares with Offset Bier and Red Flower glassblowing studio, near 1750 Bonanza Drive, after looking for spaces on Main Street.
“We didn’t find a space that we liked that fit within our budget,” Doug said. “So, we took a chance to be off of Main Street.”
By doing so, the couple knew the gallery would be built on a business model that would include a lot of outreach, according to Doug.
“We didn’t just want to sell to weekend tourists,” he said. “We wanted to have a national footprint.”
The first exhibit included sculptor Tor Archer, oil painter Marshall Crossman and photographer Thea Schrack, who are still on the gallery’s roster, Doug said.
Other early-day artists include multimedia artists Donna Mintz and Erik Gonzales and oil painter Stephen Foss.
“Julie had a vision of an urban gallery that was built on an aesthetic of two-dimensional and three-dimensional works that could fit in San Francisco or New York and not feel out of place,” he said. “That’s what attracted us to this area.”
After three years, the Nesters moved a few yards west into its current space, 1280 Iron Horse Drive.
“We’re the first gallery that tried to make a go off of Main Street,” Doug said.
Today, the Julie Nester Gallery represents close to 40 artists, including painter and sculptor Jennifer Nehrbass, Julie said.
“We came up with that number based on what we felt like we could represent the artists fairly in the way they deserve,” she said. “The artists we represent, and why we select these artists, is because we want to show a certain aesthetic. And we try to do a mix of painting and photography as well, because we show what we love.”
The gallery makes an effort to always show at least one work from each artist, and it has on-site storage that carries more works from the artists, Julie said.
“That way if someone sees a piece they like that is up, we can show them what we have in storage,” she said. “We also use our website as a tool as well.”
As the gallery and roster grew, Doug’s role also grew, Julie said.
“He has a background in marketing, so things worked out well,” she said. “At first, he worked at a different place, but as time went on, we found the gallery needed both of us to be here full time.”
Over the past 7,300 days, the Nesters have reaped the rewards and trials of owning its 3,200-square foot gallery.
“While there have been challenges along the way, the biggest was in 2008,” Julie said. “We had build out this place and finished it in July of that year, and it was great. Then in August (due to the economic crash), we didn’t sell anything.”
Still, the two kept at it because they felt a responsibility to their artists.
“The biggest reward for us is helping artists develop their work and selling their work,” Julie said. “The artists we represent are emerging, mid-career and beyond, and it’s hard being an artist. So it’s very satisfying to send a check to an artist.”
By nurturing their artists, the Nesters also provide services to their clients, Doug said.
“We have developed a solid client base, and a lot of them we’ve become friends with,” he said. “We’ll see them once or twice a year, and when they drop in, they’ll ask, ‘What’s new here?’ So we know we have to always show something that is unique and different.”
While the Julie Nester Gallery celebrates its 20th anniversary, the Nesters are looking down the road.
“When we started, we knew we wanted to bring more contemporary work to Park City, and I still feel like we are trying to push the envelope and show something that is different from everyone else,” Julie said. “We’re not going anywhere, but I would like to transition my role into finding different artists.”
Evolution is essential to the gallery’s success, Doug said.
“We have artists who have been with us for the past 20 years, and the power of our roster is how it has evolved to where it is now,” he said. “I feel like the quality is the best it’s ever been.”
For information about the Julie Nester Gallery, visit julienestergallery.com.