Episode 38 - Graham Wilson

I met Graham Wilson, the founder of Swivel Gallery in New York City, for the first time a few weeks ago at the Material Art Fair in Mexico City. I have been hearing positive news about the four year old gallery from a few art collectors recently and got curious how Graham functions in such a competitive market as New York.

I think once you hear his interview in Art Lovers Forum you will get a life lesson we all seem to forget especially in these turbulent times. Graham just does his own thing. While he does visit other nearby galleries to see what they are featuring, he sticks to his own premise of introducing artists from around the world to give collectors an opportunity to see new trends. He also exhibits forward thinking local artists who dare to explore and experiment.

When we walked into his Material booth we felt like we entered a different world from everyone else who was exhibiting art. Swivel had three dimensional work by artist Amy Bravo that made you stop, stare and wonder.  Her collaged canvases feature irregular forms where she combines graphite drawings with painterly techniques. These drawings evolve into paintings, embroidery, and assemblage sculptures.

We just had to buy one. My husband Eliot and I like abstract expressionism art that expresses our desire to move into new worlds. We love living an alternative lifestyle. Our bodies are in their senior years but our minds are young, curious and open to new thinking. We kind of expressed that to Graham and he then directed us to a piece that we never would have picked on our own. It startled us a bit but we took a step back, stared at it for a while and then knew it symbolized all the risks we have ever taken.

Graham said he loves not being a typical gallerist that lets visitors navigate exhibits on their own. He enjoys giving opinions, making comments and getting feedback from collectors. We felt he instantly because a good friend. We are counting on him to let us know the most pressing themes of today, creating a platform for a global conversation and confrontation.

Graham’s early career in the art world was marked by a diverse range of roles that laid the foundation for his future endeavors as a gallerist. After moving to New York from Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 19, he began working as an art handler for Hauser & Wirth. He also pursued his passion for art by creating his own pieces. His innovative approach involved shredding failed canvases, soaking the remnants in mineral spirits and paint stripper, and then weaving and wrapping these fragments into textured tableaux. This unique technique garnered attention, leading to a pop-up show in Brooklyn that sold out, establishing him as an emerging artist. However, his years working in a gallery and helping to establish a wide range of successful artists, made him realize that was his first love.