Art with a Personal Touch
HW Gallery makes art dealing a family affair
Pairing art collectors with that perfect piece is what the owners of Naples’ HW Gallery do best.
For almost 14 years, art dealer Lauren Greenough has been living her dream of directing and curating original works with her daughter, Emily Greenough, in a beautiful space that’s all their own. Located on Third Street South in Naples, their gallery stands out in the neighborhood by bringing a more intimate approach to the “art” of selling art.
HW Gallery—named after Lauren’s father and avid art collector Harry William—is the place where other connoisseurs can find exactly what they’re looking for, often with the help of Lauren, who has a seemingly innate appreciation of art and décor.
Her longstanding history with the arts has taught her the importance of owning a piece, and, just like a matchmaker, she assists customers in finding the right one for their own personal spaces. Art enthusiasts from all over the world have discovered Lauren’s talent—many of them returning to the gallery for more experiences with her.
“My mom has a keen eye for good, quality art and understands how to rearrange rooms around an original piece,” Emily says as she uses her electronic tablet to dial her mother into our conversation.
At times, Emily continues, Lauren will ask inquisitive buyers to return to the gallery after she has rearranged the art and furniture to suit their tastes, so they can get a clearer vision of how pieces may work together in tailored settings. “They are astonished at how amazing everything looks,” she says.
Lauren is now virtually connected to our conversation, but she is actually miles away in Brazil tending to other business endeavors, including handling works from Southwest Florida-based artist Marcus Jansen’s solo exhibition at the Roberta Britto Galeria de Arte.
During moments like these, when Lauren is not at HW Gallery, the carefully selected inventory inside still represents the Greenoughs’ personal styles. Original items include contemporary artwork by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Mark Dickson, Darryl Pottorf and Marcus Jansen; each piece displayed in an eclectic way. Some items hang against crisp white walls, while others rest carefully against pedestals and each other, allowing visitors to leisurely sift through each for that one, captivating find.
In addition to selling a mix of works by emerging local artists and master creators, HW Gallery is also one of the exclusive US retailers for British fragrance line Illuminum, which launched in January of 2011. Multiple scents are available at the studio for sampling.
“We only sell things that we like and try to stay away from the negative,” says Lauren, adding that art collecting should be an enjoyable and happy experience. Because creations at the gallery mean so much to the Greenoughs themselves, they want probable buyers to feel deeply about them as well. Sometimes, this means letting customers try a piece of interest at home before finalizing a purchase.
“We want to make sure the customer feels comfortable with the piece before they decide to make the commitment [of owning it],” says Lauren. This trial period allows for a not-so-common opportunity for customers to get acquainted with a masterpiece, which is delivered and hung at the desired personal location, thus fortifying a trusting relationship between the seller and the buyer.
“That same good relationship we have with our customers, we have with our artists,” Lauren adds. These strong bonds can help enrich Southwest Florida culture on a grander scale as well. For instance, a few years back, Lauren convinced internationally renowned Brazilian artist Romero Britto to donate a sculpture entitled The Big Temptation to Florida Gulf Coast University. HW Gallery has also been involved in a number of charitable events, including a fundraiser that was held at the late Robert Rauschenberg’s home and studio on Captiva Island, which benefited the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
Years of dedication and passion for the arts have contributed to the Greenough duos’ success with the gallery, where clients are the focus. Art is, and always will be, an essential component of humanity, and HW Gallery allows guests to peer into the souls of fine art masters through their one-of-a-kind creations.
Every collector can appreciate the significance of owning an original piece. Acquiring one in an inspiring and stress-free environment, like the space maintained by the ladies at HW Gallery, can make the experience even more worthwhile. David Acevedo is a visual artist, curator, former gallery owner, art writer and current manager of the Union Artist Studios in the Alliance for the Arts Campus. He has a degree in visual arts from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.