An Interview with Lee Smalter, Curator & Owner of The Smalter Gallery

The lovely folks over at CanvasRebel recently profiled owner and curator of The Smalter Gallery, Lee Smalter.

Lee discusses their mission and vision for The Smalter Gallery, their transition from “art appreciator” to “gallerist,” their experiences working with Fernando Luis Alvarez, their background in social work, and more.

Lee is candid about their early life, their love of the Kansas City art scene, and their desire to bring something new to the community by making The Smalter Gallery a different kind of art gallery experience:

When I opened the gallery, one of my most important goals from the start was to create a space more welcoming and comfortable than any other gallery space I had been in. A majority of the galleries I’ve visited, especially prominent for-profit spaces, are intimidating to visitors unfamiliar with the art world. Knowing this, I chose the location on 39th street because it was in a tight knit, community focused neighborhood and also outside of the crossroads art district, which attracts more experienced collectors.

I cherish the moments when someone comes into the gallery and says it’s the first gallery they’ve been into. I’d like the gallery to be an advocate for bringing the art world at large those who think the art scene wasn’t meant for them. People still come in and apologize for “not knowing how to talk about art” – these are my favorite customers, and my aim is to reach enough people that eventually I stop hearing apologies and just seeing people enjoying themselves without feeling like they have to ask permission first.

Read the full, incredible interview at CanvasRebel.