Meet Geoff Collins | owner and founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Geoff Collins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Geoff, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The driving force behind 83 Gallery’s success is the collaboration with our artists. Without their contribution, I would be standing alone in a featureless room with blank walls. Our ongoing goal is to continually raise the bar. Witnessing the success of fellow artists inspires us to strive for more. The success behind the 83 brands is that we are selling more than just art; we are selling opportunity, and we want to make that opportunity as unintimidating as possible.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At 83, we strive to provide a platform for independent artists to showcase and sell their work. We encourage artists to believe in themselves and their work, and we firmly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to have their work displayed in a gallery. Our approach is all about supporting artists, and we are not driven by profiting from their talent. We operate on a sliding scale and offer flexibility with our rates because we want to foster an environment where artists can thrive and grow alongside us. Our goal is to provide opportunities for success and growth, and we welcome collaboration and community involvement.

One of the things that we take immense pride in is witnessing an artist’s journey of growth and their emergence as a significant figure in the Columbus art scene. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness an artist receiving awards, securing grants, hosting solo exhibitions, and making sales. It’s a surreal experience to stroll down the street and come across one of the artist’s vibrant murals. The best part is being able to connect with artists who are unapologetically themselves – it’s just so cool.

83 Gallery has achieved success by supporting artists’ growth. One thing that always stays in the back of my mind is that if you want someone to produce, you have to produce ten times as much as them. Everything we are doing to help our artists grow, I am doing the same thing. Was it easy? I feel like everything is easy if you put enough work into it. For example, if you ask a professional skateboarder if a kickflip is easy, they will say it’s easy, but only because they put in the work.

In my experience, gaining the necessary experience to help a business grow can be quite challenging. One important lesson I’ve learned is the importance of trusting in oneself and acknowledging that the journey doesn’t end here. Additionally, I’ve come to understand the value of stepping back and approaching tasks one at a time, as well as trusting others with responsibilities. If you want something done fast, do it yourself, but if you want something to last, do it with your friends.

The one thing that I want the world to know is that we throw parties and that the party is always better when you are here.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many great spots in this city and so many art shows that you can throw a dart and you will always land on a show that will blow your mind. If it was a long week and I had all the time in the world, I would start by stopping in at 934 Gallery for some amazing art, then pop over to the Dallas to catch some local music. I would also stop in and say hi to our friends over at Studio 18 for any one of their events. After that, I would do a drop-in yoga class at Wild Goose Collective and then head over to 700 Bryden to pop into one of their figure drawing classes. At the end of the week, I would bring some out-of-town friends and watch their faces light up as they see the murals in the alleyways. I would probably stop in at Parlor Suites and get a new tattoo, then head to Dirty Dungarees and check out some of the hardcore shows. I would also stop at every food truck along the way and then take my dog for a walk in Franklin Park.

The one spot in Columbus that deserves a spotlight is BrickBox Studios. Briden Cole Schueren is amazing, and more people should know about him.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to Isabel Francis Borngue for her invaluable contribution to the gallery’s growth. She consistently embodies a positive forward-thinking and professional approach, steering the gallery in the right direction. I’d also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Emily Morgan for her unwavering support, bringing her family into the gallery, and always being there to listen and assist. We also love Josh Arnold, Sophia Peck, and Leah Reynolds and joleanna Bare for their extra hands and constant encouragement And, of course, I am incredibly grateful to the Franklin Park Apartments for providing me with the opportunity to expand 83 Gallery by offering the first floor of their building. @la.mona.isa, @lovelybutdead, @josh_arnolds_world, @lpreynolds @joleanna_designs

Website: https://83galley614.com

Instagram: @83gallery614

Facebook: 83 Gallery

Image Credits
83 Gallery