Today we’d like to introduce you to William Braemer.
Hi William, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is William Braemer I am an artist and the director and founder of Art Fusion Galleries I was a long journey to get where I am today living my dream.
My father was a successful businessman in NYC… where I grew up … he knew I loved art and was talented, but he also knew that most artist don’t make it in this competitive art world. So, he strongly suggested I pursue another path, business of any kind… I followed his suggestions (had no choice lol)
I went to F.I.T and got an associate degree in Buying and merchandising Love fashion and felt it was a good fit… wasn’t long before I was working at Macys as an assistant buyer in women’s shoes… when I was offered a buyers position less than a year… I quit… That job almost gave me an ulcer… I enrolled in a culinary school and took several business courses at NYU
I figured the plate was the canvas and the food was the paint… I graduated top of my class, soon after packed my bags, and off to Europe to continue an apprenticeship abroad… worked in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, France… ate the best foods, learned culinary skills from top chefs at the 5-star hotels. But my favorite thing was to go to the artists colonies in the various cities and sit and just watch the artists at work… My dream
After living in Europe about four years, I decided it was time to put my culinary skills to work… I hoped on a plane and decided that the Island of Puerto Rico would be a perfect place for me to live, Speaking Spanish fluently did help.
I secured a job as a sous-chef at one of the best hotels in Condado hotel and Casino, right on the beach… perfect…
In the meantime, I networked met lots of business owners and affluent people, within one year of arriving I established a catering business and invested in a local bar (people love to drink on the islands)
Year two I opened a second catering business one was tailored for large events the other for more intimate groups, oh yes and a second bar… worked 24/7 for the next 3 years… 5 years total and I was ready to move on so Miami in the late 80s was starting to show promise, I had good background in hospitality so I decided to sell everything in San Juan and come back to the mainland Miami South Beach in 1989 was a transition in progress new European investors, Gianni Versace, at the news café getting construction started on his villa on the beach and I wanted in… I purchased one very large hotel on Washington Ave and when I got the figures on what it would cost to renovate and open doors I out it back on the market 3 months later made I pretty nice return on that one,
Then proceeded to buy another and in the middle of renovating I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse… I saw my light and realized that I was going to finally pursue my artistic career.
I told my father of my plans he said now you have a very good business background and the money to back your dream You can do whatever the hell you want… lol so I did.
I began to pain and do sculptures and exhibited in several galleries and art fairs… was not please at the treatment I received from galleries so in 1999 I opened up a small gallery in the Miami design district… it was the wild west then … not Rodeo drive on steroids as it is now… I started Art Fusion Gallery in 2000 then in 2003 it became Art Fusion Galleries I expanded to a 3500 space in the design district showcasing over 30 emerging artists from around the world and still had my small space two doors down… I was there for about 13 years, then moved to mid-town to an 8000 sf space showcasing over 60 artists and my own work, was there for around 5 years then realized I wanted to downsize not getting any younger and I’d been working for 30 years nonstop.
Then moved over to Wynwood and here I am living my dream 20 plus years making art and helping emerging artist fulfill their dreams
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?
We artists are egocentric with inferiority complex. digest that it’s never a smooth road in any business and art business is no different…Market crash, Zica, Covid… hurricanes, sewer breaks in 20 years the list is long…
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do abstract paintings, impressionistic painting, mixed media painting, and coin sculptures… I work in many different mediums. I’m most proud of every piece I do, I put my heart and soul into every piece. They are my kids…
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The diversity, the art, and the weather, the fabulous skyline the list is long…The thing I like the least I can’t say cause I don’t like to talk politics… lol
Contact Info:
- Website: artfusiongalleries.com
- Instagram: artfusiongalleriesmiami
- Facebook: artfusiongalleries
- Youtube: artfusiongalleries198
