-Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

It香蕉视频直播檚 a thundering, rain-filled day in April, but there香蕉视频直播檚 a peace and calm that hovers over on Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Homer Street. In a 3,000-square-foot space filled with stunning pieces of contemporary art, Jennifer Kostuik reflects on art and why people buy it.

香蕉视频直播淪ome buy it because they like the colours or texture香蕉视频直播攙ery surface things,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淭hey like how a piece of art makes them feel. For others it香蕉视频直播檚 because they have a connection to a particular work and can香蕉视频直播檛 get it out of their mind; they don香蕉视频直播檛 know why they love it, they just do. And some people like to meet the artist and hear the story behind the work. The art represents a change they香蕉视频直播檙e going through in their own life.香蕉视频直播�

As the owner of the gallery, which is celebrating 25 years in business this year, Jennifer sees herself as a broker, easing a customer香蕉视频直播檚 way through an art purchase. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 almost like being a psychologist,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚 know what my artist is saying and I香蕉视频直播檓 figuring out what my customer is looking for, even though they may not know it.香蕉视频直播�

A Canadian raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Jennifer studied art history at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, initially intending to be an artist herself. Early on she realized she didn香蕉视频直播檛 have the vocational drive to produce art full time, and felt she could better fulfill her creative process by promoting living artists. Post-college she worked in Toronto, learning about contemporary Canadian art before moving to Vancouver in 1996 to open her own gallery.

In 1997, her gallery opened with a collection of work by artists who had previously been represented in a gallery that had just closed. Those first years included a steep learning curve, Jennifer admits.

香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a formed relationship with those artists, and because I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know them and wasn香蕉视频直播檛 behind the ideas that inspired their work, I found it difficult to sell some of their art.香蕉视频直播�

As she began to understand the significance of choosing her own aesthetic and having meaningful relationships with her artists, Jennifer began actively pursuing artists she wanted to represent. She flew around Canada to meet them and perused artists worldwide. She was looking for art that spoke to her and that would resonate with her clients in British Columbia, as well as with new clients made through exhibiting in international art fairs in Miami, San Francisco and New York City.

香蕉视频直播淎s a gallery owner, I believe you need a good working relationship with an artist, like any business relationship, because art is very personal,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淎rt is an expression of someone香蕉视频直播檚 soul, the spirit inside of them. And you香蕉视频直播檙e representing someone else香蕉视频直播檚 career as much as you香蕉视频直播檙e furthering your own career. So, I worked hard at going after artists whose art I related to, who I wanted to represent, and who I felt I could work with.香蕉视频直播�

Today she represents 27 artists, ranging in age from 32 (Whitney Lewis-Smith) up to 72 (Stu Oxley). Just over half the artists are Canadian, while the remainder are from the United States, Europe, Mexico and Argentina. Just five of the artists are local to BC: photography artists David Burdeny, Judy D. Shane, Philip Jarmain, Whitney Lewis-Smith and painter Ghislain Brown-Kossi.

The price tags of art in Kostuik Gallery vary significantly, ranging from $650 up to $50,000 for the most expensive pieces. Jennifer香蕉视频直播檚 advice to buyers is that if you香蕉视频直播檙e buying anything over $20,000, 香蕉视频直播渁sk who the artist is and why their work is in that price range.香蕉视频直播� Anything below that number is within the average range, she adds.

香蕉视频直播淎rt is an investment, and I believe it香蕉视频直播檚 the best investment in any volatile market,香蕉视频直播� she says unequivocally. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a better investment than gold because it never depreciates, it always goes up.香蕉视频直播�

She cites the work of local artist David Burdeny as an example. 香蕉视频直播淗is photography is collected internationally and his market value has gone up more than 50 per cent since 2001.香蕉视频直播�

Jennifer has developed a knack for knowing what her local customers are looking for. So, when American artist William Betts recently offered to send her a selection of line paintings from the series he had first exhibited and sold successfully with her in 2007, she gladly accepted them.

香蕉视频直播淢y newer clients had never seen this series before and I had a collector of Betts香蕉视频直播� work itching for more, so I had a feeling it would fly,香蕉视频直播� she recalls. 香蕉视频直播淚t did. I sold six of his pieces in one week!香蕉视频直播�

Some gallery clients are personal art collectors, while others are corporate clients including CBRE Ltd, Concert Properties and Hollyburn Properties. Liquidity Wines in the Okanagan featured a collection of work by David Burdeny and Philip Jarmain.

Jennifer relishes her connections to her artists and watching their work develop.

香蕉视频直播淚 love forging new relationships with artists, and I really believe in what I do and in what they do. I believe having art in one香蕉视频直播檚 life is a need, a necessity, and that香蕉视频直播檚 why I do it,香蕉视频直播� she says.

The bonds with her artists are deeply personal, and many artists have become close friends. Often, the relationship is collaborative. The artists understand what Jennifer sees in their work, and sometimes even request her feedback on their new creations.

A collector herself, it can be hard for Jennifer to resist adding to her personal art collection.

香蕉视频直播淚 know what the best artwork is and it香蕉视频直播檚 hard not to buy the best of the best that you know your artists have made!香蕉视频直播� she admits.

As she reflects on 25 years in Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 art world, it香蕉视频直播檚 gratitude that Jennifer feels first and foremost.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a tough journey running a gallery in this city, but I香蕉视频直播檓 very grateful for being able to do what I do here,香蕉视频直播� she says, adding, 香蕉视频直播淭he past two years were the best I香蕉视频直播檝e had in a long time, perhaps because of the pandemic. People weren香蕉视频直播檛 traveling and weren香蕉视频直播檛 distracted by life, so they could focus on themselves, their homes and their office spaces. I had the opportunity to reconnect with clients I hadn香蕉视频直播檛 seen in years, and met new clients that finally had time to enter the doors of my gallery.香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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