We recently connected with Kristin DeAngelis and have shared our conversation below.
Kristin, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I knew I was on the path to changing my career long before I left my corporate job… I have to say, I am not a fake it person. I am not faking anything. It is not true to who I am. I do my best to get the experience so I can make the best decisions possible.
I spent years in various sales and marketing roles – most recently in consumer package goods – fragrance and cosmetics. I flew around the country calling on Walmart, Target and then a bunch of smaller retailers out in Nebraska and Wisconson. Then one day, my husband and I inviested in a commercial real estate property. And he was like “.. and now you can open an art gallery..” He forgot that I don’t do anything halfway. So with my full time, flying around the country 60+ hours a week job, I kick started my foray into a being a Gallery Director/Art Dealer and founded 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace.
I said yes to everything related to what I was doing. I thought, if I can get the experience, then I can be confident. So I said yes to every opportunity that came my way. There was always something to learn from marketing to working with artists to hanging work to speaking to a journalist to creating labels to negotiating a sale… to talking about sale tax. Which I did more than talk about art.
I had the opportunity to leave my corporate job with a severance package… and that only lead to more yes… so with that free time, I opened up my door to be an art educator at my gallery and launching my Young Masters Art Class. I opened exhibitions at my gallery, hung shows at local offices, taught children in community centers, curated shows in lobby spaces, took a role as Deputy Director at Art Fair 14C… I was exhausted…. but I was confident that I could do what I was doing where I was doing it because I spoke with experience. And I knew people. So if I was ever unsure about something… I was always one step away from learning how to do it.
And all this led to the moment that the Director of Mana Contemporary, Kele McComsey, came up to me and said “Why do I see you everywhere I go in Jersey City?” I laughed and said “…because I have three businesses that I am running. Why do I see you?” Then he was asking if I could come in and to talk about some help on a project at Mana. I recall thinking I was so tired the words he was using was like Cheerios being thrown at my forehead – just bouncing off without sinking in. I kept smiling and nodding.. confident I would figure it out later. I must have impressed him somewhere as he ended up offering me a full time job as Director of Community Outreach at Mana Contemporary where I have been for 2 years.
Every single day there is something that I am learning. But I love that.I don’t really think about my confidence or self-esteem much. I am still hungry to learn more and have more exciting experiences!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have drawn and painted since I can recall… I recently found a photo of my winning my first place blue ribbon at a community fair…. I was in pigtails… While I went to university partially for art… I am self taught in much of what I have been working on lately… Which I think has been a thread of my career… If I don’t know how to do it.. I am determined to learn.
My journey to where I am has been at times conventional, comical, dramatic, but as I try to never let an open door close on me, a good part intentional. When asked for a brief bio, I usually lead with that I am a seasoned art business professional with over 12 years of experience as a Curator, Art Dealer, and Art Educator. In 2016, I founded 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace, curating 25 exhibitions featuring diverse local and international artists and initiating the Young Masters Art Class. My freelance Curator roles included collaborations with prestigious Jersey City spaces like SILVERMAN Buildings’ lobbies. As Deputy Director of Art Fair 14C for two iterations, I expanded opportunities for artists, increased public access to fine art, and revitalized under-recognized arts areas.
Since March 2022, I have been the Director of Community Outreach at Mana Contemporary, facilitating engagement between the local and NYC metro community and the art exhibitions and artists within the building. With a background in art, over 30 years of marketing experience, and a proven track record in art sales, I see myself as the essential support, ensuring artists reach their next career milestone while recognizing them as the rock stars of the show. I welcome you to see and meet our Mana Studio Artists during our next Open Studio on Sunday, May 19th!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Take a leap of faith – I am usually inside the excel spreadsheet cell… I had to do something I would never think of doing and just be secure that it would be alright. Or I would know when it would not be and have the understanding I could change it.
Say yes to everything – big or small or all at once. This leads to exhaustion, but first hand experience with everything. I am not fake it to you make it person. I want to just want to learn how to do it. And quickly.
Talk to everyone/Listen to those who have experience – find out what does that person do, why do they do it, what experience do you need… you learn about skills that you want to have, what you may need partnership on and what you all and all out cannot afford not to give it to a professional.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I am overwhelmed, I know that I took on too much at once.. but I know that will push me to learn and give me the experience I need – and want. So I take a deep breath… Usually I clear my entire desk and re-organize it. That helps settle my brain. And helps me prioritize. I am forever writing to do lists. I pull out the most recent messy list and organize it to be what I need to get done before the end of the day. I highlight those items. And I shut off everything else to get those done. Each completion, no matter how little, calms me down and gets me focused. It removes the overwhelmed feeling because I am indeed pushing towards the finish line.
When I am in this mode of taking baby steps, I know I am on the path to do something of meaning. Hopefully it is with a bit of grace.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.deangelisart.com
- Instagram: @kjdeangelis @107bowersgallery @young_masters_art_class @manacontemporary
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-j-deangelis/
Image Credits
Alexis Rotter (inside gallery) Jennifer Brown (? – JCAST) William Spencer (front of gallery)
