The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter Alex Farkas, Artist & Gallery Director: The Genesis & Journey of UGallery
ποΈ In this episode of "The Truth in This Art," host Rob Lee interviews Alex Farkas, co-founder and gallery director of UGallery. They discuss Alex's upbringing in an artistic community, his education, and the inception of UGallery. Alex reflects on UGallery's evolution, from supporting student artists to curating established and emerging talents. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling, human connection, and adapting to online trends in the art market. Alex also offers advice to artists on perseverance and finding the right gallery fit. The conversation touches on personal growth, the significance of showing up, and the value of understanding one's audience, whether in art or business.
Episode Content:
- Introduction and Background (00:00:00) π Alex Farkas introduces himself and shares his upbringing in an artist community, his education, and the inception of UGallery.
- Influences of Upbringing on UGallery (00:04:34) π©βπ¨ Alex discusses how his mother's work ethic and self-funding influenced his approach to UGallery's growth and sustainability.
- Human Connection and Art (00:14:54) π¬ The importance of personal connection in the digital art marketplace and the role of storytelling in connecting people with art.
- Discovering New Artists and Ensuring Success (00:19:25) πΌοΈ The process of discovering new artists, including early challenges and the shift to recruiting artists online, and the importance of quality photography for success in the digital art market.
- Finding New Artists and Referrals (00:21:02) π Alex discusses the process of finding new artists, including online searches, artist referrals, and a call for art.
- Marketing Efforts and Gallery Redesign (00:24:49) π’ Alex discusses the shift towards marketing efforts, the gallery redesign, and the focus on creating and sharing content.
- Understanding the Customer and Measurable Marketing (00:31:25) π The importance of understanding the customer, marketing efforts, and the shift towards measurable marketing strategies are discussed.
- Transformations in the Online Art World (00:37:45) π Alex reflects on the impact of online businesses like Amazon, changes in art buyer expectations, and the need for continuous improvement in the online art market.
- Advice for artists in finding success (00:45:03) π‘ Suggestions and advice for artists to improve their art-making process and find the right platform for their work.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace the power of storytelling and human connection to succeed in the art market.
2. Adaptability to online trends is crucial for the evolution and growth of art platforms.
3. For artists, perseverance and finding a gallery that aligns with your work are key to success.
4. Understanding your audience is essential in both art and business for personal growth and engagement.
Website and Social Media Links:
Website: www.ugallery.com
X: @FarkasForNow
LinkedIn: Alex Farkas
If you enjoyed this insightful conversation with Alex Farkas and want to learn more about his work and UGallery, please take a moment to visit their website and follow them on social media. Your support makes a huge difference in promoting the arts and the artists featured on UGallery.
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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
- Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
- Edited by Daniel Alexis
- Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
- Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
- Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
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