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Terri Lew Bio/Statement
I was first introduced to the art world through my marriage to Zelman Lew the Artist. This was 40 years ago. Zelman was (and still is) a Surrealist and Photo Realist painter. I was his best and worst critic. I mostly loved his work.
At the age of 36 with 2 young children we started a small publishing business in the tourism industry. Zelman was still painting after hours and on weekends whilst I ran the business and the household. We created the most innovative tourist guide for the Gold Coast titled PointOut and later changed to Best Of The Gold Coast. It was a colorful, creative, sexy and informative high quality magazine with 3D maps, showing the visitors what was available on the Gold Coast and how to find it. There was no other publication like this in Australia! We took the market by storm and within 4 years we were the market leaders. 7 years into the business Zelman and I separated. I expanded the business and ran it as the sole director for the next 13 years until I sold it to a publishing company in Sydney in 2004.
This is where I gained my business skills.
19 Years ago and after I separated from Zelman I started collecting and buying art. I also discovered that I was developing my own taste in art and although I still appreciate and love Surrealism and Photo Realism, my taste in art changed as did my taste in fashion.
My academic background is basic. Most things I learnt in life came from hands on experiences and sheer determination to succeed. I don’t have a university degree in fine art, nor do I pretend to understand art on the intellectual or technical level. I just follow my instincts! This is how I buy art. I buy art only when I get a strong emotional response from looking at it. I either like it or I don’t! I don’t analyze it, I don’t try to find a story behind it and I certainly don’t like to be influenced by reasons to buy it.
Based on these principles is how I choose the collection for my gallery. The art that surrounds me in the gallery is the art that I would hang on my walls at home. It is therefore the art that I am happy to recommend to our buyers.
Of course I realize that not everyone shares the same taste in art as me and I guess that’s one of the reasons why we have other galleries with a diverse range of art to suit everyone’s taste.
As taste in fashion changes so is taste in art, as was in my case.
Art is no different, or at least, in my opinion it shouldn’t be.
I have a short story to tell you about one of my own experiences in purchasing art.
About 18 years ago, I bought a painting from a Gold Coast Gallery and it was the only painting that this gallery had of Robert Ryan. Robert was already working exclusively with Schubert’s and nobody could lay their hands on his work unless they bought it from Schubert’s. This painting must have been one of Robert’s earliest paintings left behind before Robert even contemplated his own success.
I didn’t know much about Robert Ryan then and I certainly didn’t know at the time (nor did Robert himself) that one day his paintings will carry such a high price tag for an Australian Contemporary Artist.
My gut feeling told me that I had to buy this painting. The Gallery owner was happy to “get rid” of it. I can tell you that this painting does not resemble any of Robert’s work as we know it today.
The morale to the story is obvious. I bought the painting because I loved it. I loved it from the moment I saw it as I love it today. What would this painting be worth today? I don’t know and I don’t care. All I care is that I enjoyed the painting all these years and I will enjoy it until the day I die. Was it worth it for this reason alone? Of course it was!
When approaching a decision to buy art, my advice is simple.
First you have to love it!
At the age of 36 with 2 young children we started a small publishing business in the tourism industry. Zelman was still painting after hours and on weekends whilst I ran the business and the household. We created the most innovative tourist guide for the Gold Coast titled PointOut and later changed to Best Of The Gold Coast. It was a colorful, creative, sexy and informative high quality magazine with 3D maps, showing the visitors what was available on the Gold Coast and how to find it. There was no other publication like this in Australia! We took the market by storm and within 4 years we were the market leaders. 7 years into the business Zelman and I separated. I expanded the business and ran it as the sole director for the next 13 years until I sold it to a publishing company in Sydney in 2004.
This is where I gained my business skills.
19 Years ago and after I separated from Zelman I started collecting and buying art. I also discovered that I was developing my own taste in art and although I still appreciate and love Surrealism and Photo Realism, my taste in art changed as did my taste in fashion.
My academic background is basic. Most things I learnt in life came from hands on experiences and sheer determination to succeed. I don’t have a university degree in fine art, nor do I pretend to understand art on the intellectual or technical level. I just follow my instincts! This is how I buy art. I buy art only when I get a strong emotional response from looking at it. I either like it or I don’t! I don’t analyze it, I don’t try to find a story behind it and I certainly don’t like to be influenced by reasons to buy it.
Based on these principles is how I choose the collection for my gallery. The art that surrounds me in the gallery is the art that I would hang on my walls at home. It is therefore the art that I am happy to recommend to our buyers.
Of course I realize that not everyone shares the same taste in art as me and I guess that’s one of the reasons why we have other galleries with a diverse range of art to suit everyone’s taste.
As taste in fashion changes so is taste in art, as was in my case.
Art is no different, or at least, in my opinion it shouldn’t be.
I have a short story to tell you about one of my own experiences in purchasing art.
About 18 years ago, I bought a painting from a Gold Coast Gallery and it was the only painting that this gallery had of Robert Ryan. Robert was already working exclusively with Schubert’s and nobody could lay their hands on his work unless they bought it from Schubert’s. This painting must have been one of Robert’s earliest paintings left behind before Robert even contemplated his own success.
I didn’t know much about Robert Ryan then and I certainly didn’t know at the time (nor did Robert himself) that one day his paintings will carry such a high price tag for an Australian Contemporary Artist.
My gut feeling told me that I had to buy this painting. The Gallery owner was happy to “get rid” of it. I can tell you that this painting does not resemble any of Robert’s work as we know it today.
The morale to the story is obvious. I bought the painting because I loved it. I loved it from the moment I saw it as I love it today. What would this painting be worth today? I don’t know and I don’t care. All I care is that I enjoyed the painting all these years and I will enjoy it until the day I die. Was it worth it for this reason alone? Of course it was!
When approaching a decision to buy art, my advice is simple.
First you have to love it!
I am committed to continue developing my vision of nurturing strong emerging contemporary artists from all over Australia & the world, to see them grow and prosper into a vibrant & successful industry on the Gold Coast
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and I look forward to continue serving you and bringing you art that will inspire you for the rest of your life.
Yours truly,
TERRI LEW
DIRECTOR
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and I look forward to continue serving you and bringing you art that will inspire you for the rest of your life.
Yours truly,
TERRI LEW
DIRECTOR
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Location map Ph 5554 5019 |
TUESDAY to SATURDAY
10am - 5pm
& by appt. |
19 Karen Avenue Mermaid Beach Gold Coast Q 4218 |
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