Abstract artwork on the wall in the main image is Heather Robinson’s Geometric Whimsical Art (read Her Interview, 02/2024)
Where Are You From?
My family is from Puerto Rico, I was born in Michigan, and I currently live in San José, Costa Rica.
Where do you long to live (reality or fantasy)?
In reality, I’m quite happy with where I live but I suppose in a fantasy I’d live in a secluded cabin in the mountains.
What inspired you to pursue your current profession?
For a long time I actually didn’t imagine myself owning a gallery. But long story short, I noticed a gap in both sides of art collecting during my time working in other galleries. Artists had trouble breaking into the industry because so few galleries worked with emerging artists and would give them that first opportunity to exhibit or be represented.
Then on the buyer’s side, I saw people interested in collecting but who weren’t yet ready to jump into a 10k investment. My solution was PxP Contemporary, where I exclusively work with emerging artists, often giving them their first exhibition, fair, or gallery experience. Then for collectors, I started with all price points under $2,500 and have since expanded to almost all of our available works being under $5,000.
How has the work you do changed and evolved over the years?
This past year was one of significant change! I became a mom in November of 2024 so I’ve been working in the pockets of time between taking care of my daughter. Everything is much more streamlined as I only have time to focus on the must-do, top-priority tasks every day. It’s been an adjustment, but it has also helped me let go of a lot of ‘busywork’.
I’ve shifted a significant amount of time away from producing social media content as it just hasn’t had the return it once did. My exception is LinkedIn as I have seen growth there. I’ve also been working a lot on growing our presence on Artsy. Otherwise, the other change is how I approach fairs. I keep learning each time I do them so I like to think I’m getting better at planning for the next one.
What is the most unexpected/strange/exciting thing to occur over the years in your line of work that you still think about today?
The strange are too many to count so I’ll go with unexpected and exciting. I’ll never forget when we sold our first painting before the gallery was even open! I thought it was a test and had to check multiple times to confirm it was real.
What advice would you give an artist starting out (young, middle-aged, old – any age) who wants to be a professional artist?
Don’t take criticism from people you wouldn’t take advice from. Actually, I could make it even more broad than that. Almost everyone will have something to say about you being an artist. Take it all with a grain of salt even if they’re experienced. There’s a lot of noise.
Trust your gut, do you, keep going.
What do you wish more artists understood about the business side of working with a gallery?
I’m a great saleswoman but I’m not a magician. I need the basics like quality photography (ideally now video too), a brief statement about your work, craftsmanship, and timely communication. I’ve seen many sales killed by a lack of one or more of these…
What qualities do you look for in an artist when considering representation or exhibition opportunities?
I keep it simple:
They’re a match for the gallery aesthetically
They’re a match for the gallery in terms of our price range
They’re professional to work with
What is your favorite quote?
It blew my mind when I learned that the full quote is “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” It was validating as someone who jumps around between projects and learning new skills.
“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
What are you listening to or reading right now?
Sia’s Christmas album.
What is the one statement you could give to your younger self that you would give anything to go back and relay to them at a pivotal moment?
I honestly can’t think of one. Things happened as they were meant to and I’m grateful all of it eventually led me to where I am today.
This industry thrives on collaboration and support. While it’s both beautiful and challenging for gallerists, curators, and artists alike, having strong allies can make all the difference. Is there someone you’d like to acknowledge for their support and impact on your journey?
My business partner Kat, 100%. Having peers and colleagues is one thing, but a true ‘ride or die’ in this industry is more challenging to find. Someone who you can cry or vent to when needed but who also cheers the loudest when you win; finding that has been one of my greatest successes.
We have a thing for oversharing...
New artist interviews, articles, books and more!
As an art collector, what is the last artwork you purchased?
A small ceramic macaron sculpture from the Affordable Art Fair Boston.
