At the end of 2020, longtime gallerist Richard J. Demato decided it was time to make a change in his business. The dealer, whose RJD Gallery was in the Hamptons, New York, took a hard look at how the art market had been affected by the onset of the coronavirus—many galleries were temporarily closed and in-person events limited or cancelled—and found that establishing a new gallery format was the way to go. He decided to close his Hamptons location and relocate to Romeo, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and son, but also has staff work remotely from New York to cater to multiple markets and collectors.Inside RJD Gallery’s 227 N. Main Street location collectors will find works from artists such as Kris Lewis, Aneka Ingold, Andrea Kowch, Dean Mitchell and more.

“With an upward trend in online art purchases, galleries can now serve their customer base best with both a physical and virtual gallery. We took the next step and brought our gallery to rural Michigan. Romeo, with its tree-lined streets and historic buildings, has a charm reminiscent of the small cities and towns one finds throughout the Midwest and New England,” Demato says. “As in most of these small towns, Romeo boasts an energetic group of creative and sophisticated residents who dare to think outside the box, and in this case, outside of the traditional four walls of a gallery. They have been very supportive and are very excited for us with our moving into the Village, with two large spaces filled with art no less.”Gallerist Richard J. Demato, at right, with Weston Weiss, gallery manager, at RJD Gallery’s new space in Romeo, Michigan.

Continuing with the gallery remotely from New York is gallery director Joi Jackson Perle, who will be able to “provide back office assistance seamlessly and in real time.” She says, “It’s been a terrific experience and one that can be adapted to many companies. The pandemic has been and continues to be a formidable challenge, but humankind has risen to the occasion to find opportunities for new, creative and constructive ways to conduct business, and to live a fruitful life.”

In December 2020, the gallery acquired the space at 227 North Main Street and opened its doors after renovations on February 4. Its second, larger storefront will be at 135 South Main and will open in April. The locations will allow the gallery to highlight its roster of artists in a more focused way, as well as provide more storage and space. Along with future in-person events, the gallery will be expanding its virtual exhibitions.Collectors admire limited-edition prints available from Andrea Kowch while following the social distancing and safety protocols.

The 227 North Main Street location showcases its mainstream offerings, and many of the artists who will be featured in the space have been represented by the gallery for 10 years. Collectors will find artwork from Aneka Ingold, Mihaela Atomei, Andrea Kowch, Stefanie Jackson, Jesse Lane, Kris Lewis, Dean Mitchell, Tor-Arne Moen, Yana Movchan, Rachel Moseley, Katie O’Hagan, Frank Oriti, Jantina Peperkamp, P. Smallwood, Lesley Thiel, Phillip Thomas, Armando Valero and Tyler Vouros.

The soon to open new locaton will exhibit the  edgier, more contemporary art as well as expanded sculpture offerings. It also will allow the gallery to display larger works by all its artists. Among those who will have their works on view regularly in this space will be Salvatore Alessi, Mary Jane Ansell, Juan Béjar, Margaret Bowland, Rick Garland, Jack Gerber, Geoffrey Laurence, Grant Gilsdorf, Fatih Gurbuz, Pam Hawkes, Matt Martin, Christina Petterson, Jorge Santos, Daniela Werneck, Stephen Wilkes, Donald Roller Wilson, Stephen Wright and Daniel Esquivia Zapata. New sculpture from French artist Véronique Guerrieri and UK sculptor Beth Carter will also be shown.RJD Gallery in Romeo, Michigan, is housed in an 1839 building with a beautiful brick façade.

At the galleries in Romeo, RJD has expanded its staff to include gallery manager Weston Weiss. He says, “I’ve worked closely with art for several years and entering the gallery side of the art world has been an incredible and rewarding experience. Within the first week of opening our doors, I sold a stunning, unique piece to a lovely gentleman in Vienna. Prior to being offered this amazing opportunity to manage the new Romeo galleries for RJD, I worked in the custom framing business where I designed and produced frames to complement my client’s art and personal style. I’ve always thought of it as part craftsman and part designer, it’s really an art within itself. I guess you could say I’ve gone from telling stories of how the frame can enhance a work of art, to telling stories of how the artwork can enhance your life.”Dean Mitchell, On Guard, acrylic on canvas, 10 x 15"

Weiss continues, “Being surrounded by so much creativity and talent is a refreshing change of pace and the magic is only compounded by the picturesque surroundings of charming downtown Romeo, where watching the snowfall on Main Street feels like you’ve stepped straight out of a snow globe. An art instructor once told me that ‘anything can be art if we can find the beauty in it,’ and that’s always stuck with me and helped define the way I see the world. I’m so thrilled and excited to help future collectors find something beautiful from RJD Gallery to call their own.”

Currently at the 227 North Main Street location, visitors will find the ongoing show Home is Where the Art Is, featuring the first exhibition of works from its roster of artists. Pieces can be viewed in-person Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Collectors also can schedule private video meetings to view artwork that is available.Tyler Vouros, Lila (Eurasian eagle-owl), charcoal and water on mounted paper, 90 x 56"

“Once the world emotionally and financially recovers, people will feel more comfortable about spending money on non-essential items again. Now too many are struggling, and living day to day, as best they can. We saw a severe retraction in our business in 2020, but we already see a small recovery, and in the last few weeks, sold and shipped art to Scotland, Berlin, Vienna/Austria, New York, Florida and Canada,” says Demato. He adds, “The balance and stability will come back. People love art, it feeds their souls and emotions and enables them to cope better. Walking in your home, or business environment, surrounded by art that touches your heart, and mind, enriches and prolongs your life.”  —

RJD Gallery
227 N. Main Street
Romeo, MI 48065
(586) 281-3613 • www.rjdgallery.com

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