Hagen’s Gallery- An Artist’s Haven

By: Katie Wildgrube
Posted In: News

It cannot be seen from the outside, a little treasure trove hides on the second floor of a Victorian-style office building on Bellevue Avenue in Newport, R.I. Paintings adorn the white walls, while sculptures and hand-blown glass sit upon pedestals and decorate shelves. It is a quaint, peaceful environment, with an almost museum-like atmosphere. One could spend all day admiring the fine pieces of art that bring the room to life.

Jessica Hagen is the woman responsible for founding this treasure trove, which is more commonly known as Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design. Hagen is originally from Woodstock, N.Y., but she went to Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a degree in arts and marketing. She said she has loved art from her earliest memory. As a child she spent her free time drawing, painting, coloring, and doing all kinds of arts and crafts.

“It was always what I wanted to do,” Hagen said. “There wasn’t really any question that I would be involved in art somehow.”

Before opening her own gallery Hagen worked at Sheldon Fine Art, a busy gallery down on the wharf in Newport for five years before taking time off to have children. She returned to work two years later at Station 29, an interesting art gallery located in a rehabilitated gas station on Spring Street. During her first year on the staff she doubled the gallery’s sales, but despite her efforts the gallery still had to close.

Hagen realized that the reason behind Studio 29’s failure was that nobody could ever find it, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. She bought the business, including the database of artists, from the owner of Studio 29 and opened her own gallery at 51 Bellevue Ave. in 2005.

“I didn’t even think about it,” Hagen said. “I just saw an opportunity. I like to think of myself as the queen of shameless self promotion.”

Rhode Island Monthly magazine recognized Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design as the “best new gallery” in the 2005 edition of “Best in Rhode Island.” Since then she has moved her gallery to the Audrain Building at 226 Bellevue Ave. and has learned what owning a gallery is really all about.

“It’s such a subjective thing,” Hagen said. “You really have to connect with the artist’s work to take it and make it look like something.”

Since opening the gallery, Hagen has expanded her exhibits to include not only work by local artists but work from artists all over the world. The gallery has continued to be successful and much to her surprise, it was recognized as Yankee Magazine’s 2008 Editor’s Choice for a top travel spot in New England. She had not even realized that somebody from the magazine had been in the gallery.

“It’s nice to get recognized,” Hagen said. “It feels good.”

Despite her success, Hagen said it has not become any easier. She said she is busier than ever, especially now with the recession forcing her to be creative. A year and a half ago she added her own handmade jewelry to the gallery as a profit center. Making the jewelry and running the gallery has been like having two full-time jobs, according to Hagen, but she said that it is terrific and she loves it nonetheless. She is also in the process of rebuilding her website, www.jessicahagen.com, to allow clients to purchase artwork online.

“We’re holding our own, but it is a scary time,” Hagen said.

The current exhibition that is being displayed at her gallery is “Fresh- New Paintings by Bill Chisholm.” Chisholm is a still life painter who brings a new aspect to his canvases by taking photographs of his subjects before painting them. This is his third solo show that has been exhibited at Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design, but he has also participated in three group shows. Hagen displays some of his work year round as well.

Chisholm said he continues to show his art at her gallery because he likes the way she runs things. She trusts her vision, which makes it easy for artists to trust her, according to Chisholm.

“Jessica is genuinely enthusiastic about what she is doing,” Chisholm said. “Plus she is able to sell work, and that is always a good thing.”

Outside of the gallery, Hagen is very involved in her community. She is a non-profit volunteer on the boards of both the Newport Art Museum and the Newport Historical Society. She is deeply involved with development and fundraising for both organizations. She is the co-chair of the annual “Wet Paint” fundraiser at the museum, which “challenges artists to create original works in a short period of time and donate them to the Museum for an exhibit and benefit auction,” according to the museum’s website.

“All the advertising and marketing is a huge undertaking,” Hagen said. “It takes up a lot of time, but I really enjoy it.”

Hagen is also the primary person who works on the annual antique show fundraiser for the Newport Historical Society. According to Ruth Taylor, Executive Director of the society, it was Hagen who was responsible for putting together the antique show for the first time four years ago. The board was cautious about trying something new and was not going to allow the antique show. Hagen called Taylor at home, even though they had just recently met, and asked for her help. She was determined to put on the show. Together, they convinced the board that the fundraiser would be worthwhile. Taylor said that the historical society made more money at that fundraiser than ever before.

“When Jessica is sure she’s right, she pretty much goes all in,” Taylor said.

Hagen said her proudest achievement is still the 2007 opening of the Yuri Gorbachev exhibit. Gorbachev is an international artist and the exhibit did really well. It brought a lot of press and put Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design on the map, according to Hagen.

Hagen likes to think of herself as very personable. She likes to stay busy doing the things that she loves. In her free time she takes tennis lessons and spends quality time with her children. She said she is grateful that running her own gallery has been going smoothly for the most part. Hagen said she is fortunate to have such great clients and be surrounded by such wonderful people.

“[Owning your own gallery] means you have to love what you do,” Hagen said. “I still feel so lucky that I get to do this.”