A Life in the Making: The Journey to Opening Our Gallery
Opening this gallery wasn’t a spontaneous decision—it was the fulfillment of a long-held vision. What many may not know is that the story behind our gallery begins decades ago, with a path shaped by creativity, risk, sacrifice, and a dream that started long before I ever became an artist.
It’s a story that includes the first person to ever acknowledge me as an artist—my husband, James.
James grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, immersed in a community where art was a part of daily life. As a teenager, he wandered through galleries owned by his friends’ families and developed a quiet but persistent vision: he wanted to become an art dealer. That led him to study art history at the University of New Mexico, fully intending to pursue a career in the art world.
But, as it does, life took a turn. James moved to Los Angeles and carved out an impressive career in film and television, producing major shows and working with top-tier talent. It was there that we met—two creative people at a crossroads—and together we chose a different path. We opened a yoga and spin studio in Silverlake, embracing a new kind of creative community. It was vibrant and fulfilling, but once our first child arrived, it became clear that we needed to realign our priorities.
We moved to Dallas—my hometown—seeking a slower pace and stronger roots for our growing family. During that time, I started making art for our home. It was personal, intuitive work created out of necessity and curiosity. To my surprise, it resonated—first on Instagram, then with collectors and interior designers around the world.
As the momentum grew, James stepped in. Eventually, he left his career in entertainment to represent my artwork full-time—a leap of faith that meant our entire family now relied on me to create and on James to sell. It was one of the boldest moves we’ve ever made, and it changed everything.
What James brought to this chapter was invaluable: the ability to communicate the story behind creative work. His background in film made him an incredible storyteller, and his experience working with talent gave him a unique empathy for artists. He understood the emotional and professional complexity of creating—and he brought that understanding to every client interaction, every sale, every conversation.
Over time, James began to realize that our collectors didn’t just want one piece of art—they wanted an entire environment of meaningful work in their homes. That realization, combined with a growing network of artists and collectors, sparked a new idea: what if we opened a gallery?
Stephanie Breitbard, had been selling my work to her San Francisco based clients for years. As a long-time gallerist herself, she became a trusted source of advice in this arena. When we shared our vision for a fine art gallery in Dallas—one that represented a global group of high-caliber artists—she saw the opportunity to partner with us. After 12 months discussing what this partnership would look like, James and Stephanie decided that is was worth it. Together, they began to bring this dream to life.
This is the part of the story where I breeze by the long hours of searching for the perfect location, discussing legal details for partnership, back and forth conversations about artwork, artists and don’t forget the journey of a logo! Why is that such a hard part of opening a business? The “build out” plan, cost and timeline and very important details of lighting, artwork suspension systems, receiving artwork from all over the world in time for an opening— all the while developing a very important relationship with our new business partner.
Opening this gallery is a full-circle moment. It brought James back to the dream he first had in Santa Fe—and it’s allowed him to use every skill he’s built over the years in service of something deeply meaningful. Working with Stephanie has been enlightening, educational and very exciting. Her knowledge or art and her connections to so many different artists have been the key to opening a well rounded gallery. It’s also elevated my own career, giving me the honor of being represented alongside mid-career and blue-chip artists in a space that champions intentional, high-quality work.
But what I didn’t anticipate was how personally inspiring it would be for me to witness James in this role—not just as my partner in life, but as a partner to other artists.
One of the most powerful parts of this journey has been listening to James talk with the artists we represent. I often overhear him on Zoom calls, asking thoughtful questions about their process, their struggles, their inspiration. He listens with deep empathy—because he understands. He knows what it feels like to chase creativity, to navigate uncertainty, to bet on yourself. He has witnessed his wife first hand walk this path.
As an artist, listening to these conversations has made me feel less alone. Through James, I’ve come to know the stories of painters, sculptors, and fellow creatives who face the same doubts and breakthroughs I do. These connections have strengthened me. They’ve inspired me. And they’ve played a huge role in the creation of my newest collection. The energy and vulnerability of this artist community—brought together through our gallery—has breathed new life into my work.
James has inspired me for years to lean fully into my identity as an artist. And now, through the gallery, he’s created something even more powerful: a community of artists who inspire each other. A space where collectors come not just to acquire art, but to understand it. To connect with it. And to carry those stories into their homes.
If you’re in Dallas, I invite you to visit the gallery.
Come meet James.
Ask him about the artists.
Listen to the stories.
Once you hear what’s behind the work, it becomes nearly impossible not to feel connected to it.
That’s the magic we’re honored to share—and we’re just getting started.
VISIT THE BWFA GALLERY WEBSITE TO VIEW OUR ROSTER OF ARTISTS AND SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT!