ACOSTA STRONG FINE ART
640 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 453-1825 www.acostastrong.com
Acosta Strong Fine Art owners John B. Strong and Carlos Acosta have been fixtures in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for more than 20 years. Specializing in both historic Western art and noted contemporary artists, the pair has had their pulse on the market. While the historic art part of the business has been lucrative, since changing the name to Acosta Strong
Fine Art over five years ago, the pair decided to add noted and emerging artists to the gallery’s programming.
Over five years, they have helped develop the careers of several artists, some of which have become successful and continue to be exclusive to the gallery. These artists include Jim Jennings, Jack Dunn and Robert Reynolds. In addition, the gallery has added more established artists to its roster, including Edward Gonzales and Evelyne Boren, who have an incredible following that has added a new group of collectors to the gallery.
“We felt it was important to mix the old and the new; frankly that’s what we both like to collect as well, and it was important for us to sell not just what was lucrative, but more importantly, what we love,” says Acosta. “I also noticed that our historic collectors were getting a little older and they would tell us that their kids weren’t interested in their art—so what that told us—was that we also needed to change our business model if we wanted to compete for the younger collector.”
He continues, “We invited new artists to bring a fresh, bright, bold and new perspectives—frankly a younger and a different voice to the gallery. These new artists are still painting high-quality and beautiful Western landscapes that go well with our historic collection, but we can offer these pieces at a less intimidating price point to the new collector, and so far, I believe it’s working. We have a vibrant, more sustainable gallery.”
May 1 to 13 the gallery will host a show for Spanish artist Gonzalo Martin-Calero, with an opening May 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. Then, May 20 through June 1, the exhibition Color and Rhythm – Jack Dunn will take place featuring his fauvist pieces.
“We felt it was important to mix the old and the new; frankly that’s what we both like to collect as well, and it was important for us to sell not just what was lucrative, but more importantly what we love.” — Carlos Acosta, co-owner, Acosta Strong Fine Art