Since Laura Rathe Fine Art opened its doors in the Dallas Design District almost seven years ago, they have been one of our favorite go-to galleries. Between their exquisite array of contemporary art pieces and their impressive range of exhibitions + programming, they truly cover all bases. Not to mention, with their team's 60+ combined years of experience in the art world, you really couldn't find a more well-equipped group of experts to guide you through your art collecting experience. Read on to learn more about LRFA Dallas + what sets this local leading contemporary art venue apart.
Tell us about the background of Laura Rathe Fine Art and how the Dallas Design District gallery came to be.
Our owner, Laura Rathe, was actually thinking about opening her second location in Vail, Colorado and reached out to our now gallery director, Janice Meyers, to help her start this next venture. Having been in the Dallas art scene for over 20 years, Janice encouraged Laura to explore having a gallery in Dallas instead. After visiting the Design District, Laura decided that it would be the perfect place to open her new location and LRFA Dallas was born!
What do you enjoy most about having a gallery here in the Dallas Design District neighborhood?
The Design District has expanded and grown so much in the past seven years that we have been located on Dragon Street. The community of galleries has grown and strengthened, with many art walks and events that promote the gallery community as a whole. The Dragon Street Gallery Third Thursday Art Walk is the newest event in which the galleries have come together and created an inclusive art event. We love that the Dallas Design District has really become an established destination for Art and Design.
What types of art + artists can visitors expect to see when they visit LRFA’s DDD showroom?
Here at Laura Rathe Fine Art, we represent contemporary artists working with a variety of media. We focus primarily on mid-career artists that are passionate about their craft and are producing the best works within their medium.
What would you say sets the LRFA Dallas gallery’s offerings and/or experience apart from other local art galleries?
The LRFA team has over 60 combined years of experience in the art world, offering expertise and knowledge in assisting clients with selecting the perfect art for their spaces. We also offer consulting and art advising services and have formed lasting relationships with our collectors who come back time and time again.
Word on the street is that Hunt Slonem’s “Wonderland” exhibit, currently on view, is absolutely awe-inspiring. Tell us about this exhibit + about LRFA’s relationship with the world-renowned artist.
We have had a great response to this show! Hunt’s work invokes a sense of whimsy and joy that really speaks to a lot of our collectors. He and Laura have worked together for about 5 years now and have a great relationship. We have done multiple large scale commissions with him, as well as 6 solo shows between Dallas and Houston. This show really focuses on an overview of his entire repertoire, including his new Bayou series and portraits of Abraham Lincoln. For such an accomplished artist, Hunt still loves forming personal relationships with his collectors and has come to every Texas exhibition to meet his LRFA collectors and patrons of the Dallas art community.
Are there any other can’t-miss current and/or upcoming exhibitions we should mark our calendars for this fall/winter season?
We are so excited about our Fall/Winter season! Our next show, Beyond Boundaries, will open October 12th and features mixed media artist, Nina Tichava, and Sculptor, Matt Devine. We also have shows coming up with Texas mixed media artist Meredith Pardue November 23rd, and to kick off the New Year we are having an exhibition with world-renowned Chinese artist, Zhuang Hong Yi, January 11th.
Complete this sentence: “No gallery experience is complete without _______________.”
Fabulous Art!
Next time you're in the DDD neighborhood, most definitely dedicate time to stop by + take in all that LRFA Dallas has to offer. And, if your schedule allows, be sure to catch "Wonderland" before it wraps on October 5, or pencil in time for one of their other upcoming Fall/Winter shows, each of which promises to impress.
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