Barnes, Molly

Long-time LA dealer Molly Barnes shares her advice for a successful art career including how to land gallery representation, creating artist-curated exhibitions, and the right way to build connections in the art world.

“What turns me on is an artist’s personality –the idea that artists can talk about the work. Often, artists are just too interested in talking about themselves rather than engaging in a dialogue about the art that they’re making.”

Molly Barnes has launched the careers of many artists throughout her decades-long career as a Los Angeles dealer and curator, including John Baldessari, Gronk, Mark Kostabi and Robert Cottingham. Barnes was the host of the radio program, Molly Barnes Art News, and is the author of three books about the art business, including How to Get Hung, A Practical Guide for Emerging Artists. Barnes also hosts “Molly Barnes Brown Bag Lunches,” a regular forum for artists in Manhattan’s Roger Smith Hotel.