Show Preview | Legacy Gallery: 25th Anniversary Show

Scottsdale, AZ
Legacy Gallery, March 8-11

C. Michael Dudash, At One With His World, oil, 24 x 36.

This story was featured in the March 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art March 2013 print issue, or get the Southwest Art March 2013 digital download now…Or better yet, just subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!

Jinger Richardson remembers 1988 and the early days of Legacy Gallery, when it featured 10 artists in a 2,000-square-foot space. Today the gallery, which she co-owns with husband Brad Richardson, represents more than 120 artists in a sprawling 17,000-square-foot space. This month Legacy Gallery celebrates its 25th anniversary with a show of works by 47 prominent artists. “We have asked the artists for all-new, major works,” Jinger Richardson says.

John Fawcett, War Stories, oil, 30 x 40.

The celebratory show opens with a reception on Friday, March 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, March 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., the gallery hosts a talk by western painter R.S. Riddick, followed by a demonstration by sculptor John Coleman from 1 to 4 p.m. Other gallery artists participating in the show include award-winning western sculptors and painters such as G. Harvey, David Mann, Nelson Boren, and C. Michael Dudash as well as classic still-life, figurative, and landscape artists such as Laura Robb, Mary Qian, and Robert Peters.

Some of the artists with works in the show, such as Robert “Shoofly” Shufelt and Gayle Nason, are celebrating close to 25 years of being with the gallery. For Nason, the gallery has been a major factor in her success as an artist. “Legacy represents only high-quality artists,” Nason says. “This pushes me to be the best I can be, and I try harder with each painting. I have evolved a lot faster being represented there. It’s really a privilege to show my work side by side with the gallery’s amazing artists.”

G. Harvey, The Land of Faith and Freedom, oil, 30 x 24.

For Jinger and Brad Richardson, the gallery’s name has special significance. Jinger’s parents owned a prominent gallery on Main Street in Scottsdale in the 1960s. As a youngster she met artists such as Mehl Lawson, and as a teenager she worked in the gallery, helping with the packing and shipping of paintings. These days she is a second-generation art dealer, carrying forward her parents’ legacy. The Richardsons’ daughter, Janell Grady, who is the gallery’s marketing director, represents the third generation. In addition, the Richardsons say that the word “legacy” has another meaning, referring to their clients who purchase original artwork, a treasure that will be passed down to generations in their own families.

According to Jinger Richardson, some of the secrets to the gallery’s success over the years include knowing what customers are looking for, carrying quality art, and building strong personal relationships. Brad Richardson agrees, emphasizing that the couple’s lasting relationships with artists, employees, and clients have made all the difference between success and failure. “It would be easy for Jinger and me to say we worked hard and point that out as a reason for our success or survival. But I have seen a lot of other gallery owners work very hard and not be able to survive,” Brad Richardson says. “There are some core business principles that we have had in place for many years—good locations, quality art, good staffs, and good marketing plans. Even with all those things, Jinger and I feel fortunate—we have put forth the effort and feel God has chosen to bless it.” —Bonnie Gangelhoff

contact information
480.945.1113
 www.legacygallery.com

Featured in the March 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art March 2013 digital download
Southwest Art March 2013 print issue
Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!