Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Fisher.
Hi Paul, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My entry into the art world began around 1985 when I got to know Dale Chihuly. He purchased a 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk11 drophead from me, the one that Tippi Hedren drove in the Hitchcock film “The Birds”. Interestingly that tied together most of what would become the central themes of my life: art, vintage cars, birds, rare species conservation, and travel.
Dale said he wanted to create the “Lake Union Aston Martin Museum ” and wanted me to help him put together a collection with each model from post-war to present. I wound up traveling the globe with Chihuly right through the 90s, selling his artworks and working alongside him on his major projects. Dale introduced me to the great curator Henry Geldzahler, who became a friend and mentor, and in the early 90’s I traveled with Henry internationally as a Cultural Attaché for the U.S. Information Agency.
I established my gallery in 1990 when Dale Chihuly loaned me the money to buy the Flamingo Building, a historic building close to the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach. Jane Holzer recently purchased it from me. Jane is like a big sister to me and she has been a consistent influence and supporter my entire career.
I curated hundreds of exhibitions there and have been featured internationally in magazines, TV, & documentaries. Chihuly introduced me to Bruce Helander in 1986: “I want you to meet my former boss at RISD, he’s the most creative man you’ll ever meet”. Bruce became my best friend and I followed his gallerist style: highly established and renowned living artists, blue-chip modern and contemporary masters, and remarkable emerging talents all mixed together.
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?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. In June 2001 my wife and I bought a house close to the gallery using all our savings and then some, but I knew if I could hang on until November when the Palm Beach gallery season started I would be OK. Around this time founded Juried Art Services and and I knew even with my flagship client, the Smithsonian it would be an expensive patent process and a couple years before it made money. However, September 11 2001 stopped the art world and my income for a couple of years, and that made it extremely difficult to hold onto my building and house. Just when I finally recovered from that, my building was severely damaged by a hurricane, but luckily most of the damage was from water and mold and the millions of dollars of Chihuly’s glass sculptures were unharmed. There’s a terrific young artist and animator Jason Fleurant who contacted me when he was just starting his career. He was surprised I responded very quickly to him from Tokyo and wanted to meet him. That’s one of those things you can do if you’re in a good position that actually takes a small amount of time but can be huge for someone. I’ve gotten more than my share of lucky breaks and I’ll give them whenever I can.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Paul Fisher Gallery?
I am most interested in contemporary art and Pop Art. I was lucky to start my career with Dale Chihuly because he taught me everything and showed me the world. Now I work with just a few artists; Jordi Molla is center stage, (pun intended) and Bruce Helander, Joseph Conrad-Ferm, and Karl Momen are the main focus. Jordi and I had a phenomenally successful NFT series he created and I think digital art bonded to real-world art is the most exciting thing in the art world.
I’m not interested in whether digital and NFT art will disrupt anything. I really don’t think it will replace anything, I think it’s just another thing and it’s a great thing. My first NFT project I partnered with a brilliant young guy named Rambino Our first venture into this was a huge success and we really took our time to produce the next one because now that bar is a lot higher. Rambino he comes from the world of producing and has been creative director for some of the biggest hip-hop and rap artists It’s great collaborating because we each bring different things to the table when we’re brainstorming, we’re both a bit sharper, focused and passionate about the work.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
There’s a terrific young artist and animator Jason Fleurant who contacted me when he was just starting his career. He was surprised I responded very quickly to him from Tokyo and wanted to meet him. He has since enjoyed great success and mentored others. I’m always delighted when he quotes me as a mentor and some of the things I told him.
Primarily, never wait until you have your shit together to do something. Just begin, that’s the hardest part. And “Don’t say you want to be an artist, you make art. You’re an artist. The good news and bad news is that means it’s your job and you go to work whether you want to or not. And you do all things that aren’t fun because it is your job and you take it very seriously”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paulfishergallery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulfishergallery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulfishergallery/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBAavZQT4458-v1GESWtqFMZC24Whive_&si=fhsPb_2OQd-vJu3E
