Today we’d like to introduce you to John Vlahakis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us John. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Over seven years ago, the former gallery owner (at that time it was called Sunday Afternoon Gallery) approached me about buying the gallery. She was retiring, and I had just had my own one man exhibition at that gallery. We struck a deal and I became the proud owner of a gallery. Had no clue to what I was doing upon buying it. Fortunately, one of the employees of the previous gallery, an artist in her own right, joined up with me and became the gallery manager. We did a name change and evolved the gallery into a fine art one representing artists from around the U.S. and Canada.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The art world is a funny finicky business. There is no rhyme or reason to the business. We have no busy season, but we’ve experienced quite a few down ones. Sales of art have remained steady over the past few years. We’ve come to learn on any down turn in the economy we are the first to suffer. We wish there were more people collecting art, then just looking for art to match the paint on their living room walls. Chicago’s art community seems to be changing, and unfortunately, we do not see it for the better.
Please tell us about ZIA Gallery.
We represent living artists who have become quite accomplished on their own. We will only represent artists who provide us with an exclusive representation within a 50 mile radius of Chicago. Our art is more contemporary, and we represent artists who work in different mediums. From paint, sculpture, and photography. We have a great cross section of contemporary work that most anyone will find something they can fall in love with.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Playing every day outside, and only coming home for dinner when I absolutely had too.
Contact Info:
- Address: 548 Chestnut Street
Winnetka, IL 60093 - Website: ziagallery.net
- Phone: 847-446-3970
- Email: john@ziagallery.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziagallery/
- Facebook: facebook.com/ziagallerychicago
- Other: http://ziagallery.tumblr.com
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