Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Garel
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
GAREL FINE ART was born out of my passion for collecting contemporary fine art and the need to create a vibrant new art destination for art lovers in the South Bay. My journey up until this point can be traced back to my high school teacher in Toronto, Canada, who introduced me to the works of Warhol, Lichtenstein and Picasso. I vividly remember having an intense emotional reaction looking at their art and I was instantly obsessed. Art was not in the forefront of my upbringing, my family were immigrants from the Philippines and they were focused on their careers and adapting to their new environment and culture. My younger brother, Sonny, however, showed an early talent for drawing. I was fascinated, how, at the age of 8, he could draw three dimensional characters that looked like they would leap off the sketchbook at any moment. These experiences started my love affair with art.
The path to becoming a small business and gallery owner in Manhattan Beach was more circuitous. I became a teenage single mother in my senior of high school, started modeling and acting to support my young son, moved to Hollywood, got married to an amazing saver of a husband, Matthew. He would reluctantly accompany me on museum dates, gallery openings as I completely immersed myself in the art world. I volunteered to teach art in schools, of and on, for 20 years. In 2014, I took a leap of faith and became an artist and I was thrilled to find out that my works immediately resonated with the art collectors in my community. I then became a muralist and painted commissions, as I grew my collector database. Art is an integral part of my being and by opening a new contemporary fine art gallery that champions local, emerging artists alongside blue chip works, I hope to evoke the same passion for art collecting in those that might see it as intimidating and unattainable. I believe art is a natural mood enhancer, it promotes dialogue, it engages and unites; living with art is a luxury that is accessible for all art lovers and budgets. I am excited to bring a different lens to the art community of Manhattan Beach.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I conceived the idea of opening my own art gallery two years ago. Family emergencies delayed the process and it took another six months to find the perfect location. The main obstacle I faced where high rents in the areas I longed to be. In the end, this barrier to entry actually became a blessing, the GAREL FINE ART gallery is within walking distance from my house, where I already have an established collector base and a strong community presence. I hope to hire a marketing specialist and run paid ads with future sales. Adjusting to better time management and running our social media accounts are the two areas I am learning to enjoy navigating.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an art gallery owner/curator and art consultant. I specialize in guiding new art collectors in their quest to use art as an investment. I am proud to be able to work in a sector that I am most passionate about and especially grateful, as a Filipina small business owner to be able to create more opportunities for under represented artists in an untapped market such as the South Bay.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My amazing local community of collectors welcomed me with open arms, when I first started painting where Kim Riley of RILEY ARTS immediately sold my works in her gallery, located in downtown Manhattan Beach.
George Schmeltzer and the Hermosa Murals Project and The City of Manhattan Beach kickstarted my pivot into becoming a muralist.
Rhonda Le and the team at Hamilton Selway were kind and supportive in guiding my husband and I into the world of art collecting.
However, in 2014, it was a 10 year old Blake Klade who discovered two of my unfinished paintings in the upstairs playroom of my home that kickstarted this whole journey. His father, Ken Klade was the founder of the Hermosa Fine Art Festival in Hermosa Beach.
Ken came by to pick him from a playdate with my son, Trenton Garel and Blake encouraged me to show my works to his Dad. Initially, I refused, but eventually relented and to my surprise, Ken insisted that I show the finished paintings at the upcoming art fair. I sold 5 pieces that week and my immersion in the art world began.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.garelfineart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garelfineart/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/garel-fine-art-manhattan-beach
Image Credits
JONAS WOOD
DELFIN FINLEY
ROY LICHTENSTEIN
JOANNA GAREL
MEREDITH DUBOIS
PICASSO
JASON LAWRENCE OLIVE
ANDY WARHOL
