Spotlight on a Maverick Brooklyn Gallerist and her Artists
Gallerist Tanya Weddemire and the artists she represents—including famed Haitian-American Guy Stanley Philoche, who’s known for his provocative pop art and commitment to the artist community through his charity and mentorship—are making waves. Tanya’s promotion of Black artists is at the forefront of her business and has paid dividends. We are honored to feature them in the summer issue!
Enjoy this informative conversation between George Wayne, our editor-at-large, Tanya and Guy.
GEORGE WAYNE – Inform us of your heritage and your early interest in the arts, plus
your experience leading up to this notion of the ‘visionary Brooklyn gallerist.’ Do you deserve the accolade?
TANYA WEDDEMIRE – I was born in Jamaica and came to the United States at age 11 and fell in love with art while working for the amazing designer Mary McFadden. I then decided to go back to college, Philadelphia University, where I studied art as a minor and design as a major, along with corporate branding. After leaving college I worked in the interior design field for major brands such as Natuzzi Italia, Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn, where I fell in love with interior design as well.
After working in the corporate sector for quite some time, something within me said it was time for me to start my own business. Visiting art fairs just before the pandemic, I saw that there was a need for representation and a need for sharing artist narratives, especially around Black and brown artists, and that’s what led to the inception of the Tanya Weddemire Gallery.
GW– It must be a brave New World : “Industry City” is a Brooklyn neighborhood GW has never heard of. But then again, what do I know? Where is this cool Brooklyn nabe where the Tanya Weddemire Gallery is located?
TW– Industry City is between Sunset Park and Prospect Park, a city within a city really, and I’m happy to own space and be able to bring new traffic to this wonderful hub.
There are about 700+ companies within this campus and it’s a great melting pot that infuses art with with shopping and dining. I believed that it would be something unique, something different. I have one of three galleries in Industry City and because it is now a Mecca for a plethora of things I felt like this was the brave thing to do. We have been really successful in building a clientele.
GW – Colorful, vibrant, post-millennial portraiture seems to be a particular milieu to the visual narrative of your gallery.
TW– The works that we show are super colorful in composition and also colorful in story. It is very important for us to share that regardless of where we have been or how we may have gone through life‘s journey that there is still a beautiful story to be told. So showcasing colorful portraiture as a staple, or you can call it a recipe for success with our mission, is on spot.
GW– In particular, the standout work of Guy Stanley Philoche. Discuss the intent of the artists you choose to represent.
TW– The thesis behind each artist I’ve chosen to represent first starts with the person themselves, the beautiful character behind the canvas relatability to cross pollinate within the artist work and the artist themselves. For example, Guy Stanley Philoche’s beautiful series titled “Give Us Our Flowers” is about something that many of us Black and brown people haven’t received. So to really own and pioneer this series has brought him a lot of success.
When you look at Gregory Saint Amand, whose “Playtime” series is phenomenal, you will see that he takes you back to the nostalgia of his childhood days in Haiti. Many of us his kids from a Caribbean background spent our holidays summers in our native country, and that’s where we draw from our culture.
Serron Green, with his “Invisible” series, talks about Black identity and how it is so important for us to be seen rather to be invisible because we have led to so much of today’s cultural vibrancy. And then, my newest signed artist, Moses Salihou, who is from Cameroon, brings a dynamic mixture of portraiture and abstraction with oil on canvas, utilizing this beautiful, scraping heavy brush technique.
GW– Do you consider yourself the post-millennial art dealer as a disruptor? If so?
How?
TW– I consider myself to be an art dealer, gallerist, Black woman, curator, mom and sister with a whole new perspective on what gallery culture and art buying process should look like, by making representation matter.
It is important that in this journey we illustrate that art is for everyone to acquire, and for everyone to share in the education of it and the nostalgia of it all with emotions.
I sometimes consider myself a disruptor in a really good way because I am thinking outside the box and bringing in my many years of experience from a retail design art background to really create this customer-centric program around buying art.
GW– Which artist in your cabinet would you consider the next art-world phenom? And, why?
TW– So all the artists that I represent should definitely be a part of the new art world phenomenon for several reasons. Because I know who they are, I see their passion for their work and also the story and the magnitude of the work that they bring that is solid and high quality. But if I was to pick one person out of the group, I would definitely say Guy Stanley Philoche. He is the more seasoned artist on my team and he has a phenomenal body of work from his early days of entering New York City, believing in himself and really driving it all the way to the top. He has created a name along with a story around his works. He also sets an example for many other artists to follow.
GW– Plans for ‘The New Season’ – September 2024 – include what for The Tanya Weddemire Gallery?
TW– September 2024 will be very busy for the TWG. At the beginning of the month we will be participating in Art on Paper, which takes place at Pier 36 in Manhattan. Guy Stanley Philoche, Gregory Saint Amand and Serron Green will all be in that show. And then in the second half of September, TWG will also participate in the Affordable Art Fair for the second time. Works by Moses Salihou and Candice Tavares, plus three Ethiopian artists, will be there.
GW– You’re a gal born in Mo-Bay, Jamaica, so tell us how that early youth shaped your ambition for the arts.
TW– The girl from Montego Bay has shaped me to be the person who never stops believing in yourself and to keep going. I was blessed with two grandmothers who were fighters. I spent a lot of time with Joyce Binns, my grandmother, and called her the Jill of all trades. I would watch her plant her garden and work in her chicken farm and she was also a seamstress. She had nine kids. My aunts and my uncle and I would watch how hard they would drive, so that was a great platform for me to see what it is to have determination and to know that you can overcome anything. My grandmother Ivyline Fleming is also an activist in Montreal and she has fought for many years for immigrants to have equal work and equal pay along with fair housing. I’ve just been blessed to see my family do really great things and I’m sure that is where my energy, and that burst of ambition comes from.
GW – Tell us about your working philosophy.
TW – The Tanya Weddemire Gallery is a vital resource for and representation of the arts:
A beacon of light to a pathway of Cultural Caretaking and diversity beyond the confines of our environment. Our mission is to deepen the value and importance of art in our community by exploring various bodies of work with thoughtful, steady and careful curation.
GW– In sum, expound on your gallery philosophy and narrative and what the blueprint for the Tanya Weddemire Gallery will be in Q1 come 2025.
TW– The blueprint for the gallery is very simple: gallery culture, artist development, and being customer-centric with our clients.
We want to make art accessible to every single person. We want to formulate payment plans so that those people will also be able to purchase that art. We want to be able to foster great relationships with artists. We want to also make sure that every investment counts, every single moment that we spend with an artist, whether it’s an attack or cross-pollinating with another brand, that the value is seen, and that the recognition for the work is understood.
In retrospect for Q1, 2025 I do see us going back to the West Coast and working in the L.A. market and then looking forward to working in the Chicago market as well. In addition to that there will be some solo shows for each of the artists on my roster of artist representation; and we will continue to ensure that we normalize the art-buying process. We want everyone to see that it’s everyday people that are making these purchases, and that that can be you, too, so that is one of our biggest philosophies: that art is for everyone and not just one particular group or sector or demographic of people.
GW – What inspires you to paint?
Life serves as the driving force behind my artistic journey, with each phase inspiring a unique expression on canvas. The current series, “Give Us Our Flowers,” emerged from the profound impact of losing a close friend. In contrast, earlier works like “Untitled” explore the vibrant juxtaposition of colors drawn from the dynamic imagery of New York City. The “No Comment” series was a response to the silencing of accomplished women in their professional and personal lives. Life, with its many contrasting layers, resembles an onion that must be peeled back to reveal its core.
GW – You’re very connected to the artist community, especially to artists who aren’t yet as successful as you commercially, can you explain how you help them and your motivation for doing so?
GP – I have a deep appreciation for emerging artists, as I was once in their position, benefiting from the guidance of great mentors who motivated me. Now, I strive to give back in my own way. I conduct talks and welcome artists to visit my studio. Recently, I was honored with an honorary doctorate and had the privilege of delivering the commencement speech to the class of 2024 at Paier College of Art, where I completed my undergraduate studies. Sitting on that stage, looking into their faces, and reminiscing about my own time in their place was an extremely humbling and surreal experience.
GW – Tell us about your latest series. What was your inspiration for that?
GP – My latest series pays tribute to those who have come before us and, importantly, to those who are still with us. Traditionally, we reserve our expressions of gratitude and appreciation—the giving of flowers—for those who have passed. This series challenges that norm by celebrating and honoring individuals while they are still here to witness it.
The inspiration for this series is deeply personal. A year ago, I lost a close friend who passed away young. As I stood among mourners, I was struck by the repeated sentiment of regret: so many wished they had expressed their love and appreciation while he was still alive. Struggling to process my own sorrow, I turned to painting, my natural outlet, and just like that, the series was born.
This body of work is a heartfelt expression of gratitude to those often underappreciated—mothers, children, families and others. Each piece is adorned with flowers, symbolizing the recognition and appreciation we should extend to those around us every day. The series serves as a reminder to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions and presence of our loved ones while they are still here to receive it.
GW – You’re a Haitian-American, can you tell us how that influences your work?
GP – My influences are from every day, my roots are ingrained in my everyday life. I think often of my family while painting and where I came from, especially with the current series, “Give Us Our Flowers,” as I try to celebrate all those still with us today.
GW – What’s next for you?
GP – Next up is the Hamptons Fine Art Fair in July. I’m constantly contemplating new series, though it’s not something that can be forced. Inspiration strikes from various sources—conversations, articles and everyday life. The shape of a tree, the act of people-watching, and the myriad details of daily existence all serve as catalysts. Art, after all, is omnipresent, found in the everyday objects and mediums surrounding us.
GW – Who are your collectors?
GP – My collectors are both individuals new to my work and repeat longtime collectors, corporations and fellow artisans who possess a discerning eye and a profound appreciation for art. They are not just passive admirers of what’s visually presented on the canvas but engage deeply with the layers of meaning behind each piece. These collectors see beyond the surface, interpreting the subtleties and complexities embedded in the artwork. They value the thought process, emotions and narratives that drive each creation, making them true connoisseurs of the art world.
Pull Quotes
Gregory Saint Amand:
“Tanya is an engaging soul; she has a keen sense of visual language and how it should be digested in a landscape of great work. She is committed to your vision and helps you showcase it and share it with the world in providing a great feeling for the shows and venues we have done. She has the right pulse; the gallery is great, the energy is infectious, curation is top notch and the work is being seen and collectors are responding strongly.”
Daijia Canton – Creative Coordinator at Tanya Weddemire Gallery:
“Working with Tanya is a constant reminder of your exceptional abilities and the significant value you bring to any environment. I aspire to emulate her leadership style, which seamlessly integrates strength and compassion. Tanya possesses the unique ability to cultivate environments that acknowledge and nurture your skills in a way that makes you feel supported and empowered.”
Tatianna Mack – Art Liaison at Tanya Weddemire Gallery:
“Working with Tanya has been truly a joy. Tanya’s deep commitment to her community and the well-being of those around her is evident in everything she does. She not only seeks personal success but also actively fosters an environment where everyone can thrive. Her unwavering support and dedication have made it a privilege to work under her leadership, and I am continually motivated by her example.”
Briana Thompson – Gallery Intern at Tanya Weddemire Gallery:
“Tanya is a breath of fresh air in the gallery industry. She recognizes the potential in all of her team members and provides a nurturing environment for them. She engages with the community with sincerity and compassion. I am incredibly inspired by Tanya and grateful to be a part of her team.”
SERRON GREEN:
“For me, Tanya’s tenacity is by far one of her biggest assets. Her energy, effort and work ethic is unmatched. It’s one of the main reasons that I chose to work with her. Her passion for the arts, better yet, the artist, is something that cannot be overlooked. She, and her entire staff are definitely among the best experiences that I’ve had working with a gallery owner or curator.”
