This Kansas City Gallery is Taking Up Space in the Global Scene
Gallery Bogart was the only gallery from the American Midwest selected for the 12th edition of Salón ACME
Galleries and artists share a symbiotic relationship. Without artists, galleries will be out of inventory and hence, out of business. Without dedicated, forwarding, open-minded gallery spaces, artists rarely become able to breakthrough their existing circle to reach a larger audience on a more advanced scale.
As Gallery Bogart brings Mexico City-based transdisciplinary artist Héctor Dorantes to the prestigious Salón ACME in Mexico City, now is the perfect time to look at how a healthy, mutually-stimulating relationship between an artist and their representative gallery contribute to the growth of both parties, as well as the local communities they belong in.
In this interview, we brought in Miller Bogart, founder of Gallery Bogart, to talk about his decision in participating in Salón ACME this year, the common suspicion that art fairs are not worth the investment for smaller galleries and emerging artists, as well as his take on Kansas City’s art scene and its position in the international art world.
ATELIER: Can you expand on why it is significant for the gallery to participate in Salón ACME?
Miller/Gallery Bogart: Kansas City’s art scene has traditionally been less visible internationally than some of the other US art markets, despite having no shortage of commitment to the arts. When you travel to international art fairs, like Mexico City’s Art Week, you immediately get a feel for which markets have prioritized establishing themselves internationally, cities you would not be surprised to see: New York, Miami, LA, Chicago, etc. It’s rare to see a US market of Kansas City’s size represented.
By participating in Salón ACME, Gallery Bogart is able to bolster the visibility of KC internationally by fostering critical relationships with artists, collectors, and curators in the heart of Mexico City’s Art Week. It also helps inform future exhibitions for the gallery, that will ideally bring the vibrancy of the international art world back to KC.
ATELIER: What made you choose Salón ACME?
M: When I experienced Salón Acme last year, I was struck by how well the fair highlighted emerging voices and experimental visions. There was no shortage of immersive installations and well-conceived work. I was also struck by the absence of galleries from the midwest.
Unlike traditional art fairs with uniform booths, Salón ACME transforms the rooms of a beautifully worn 1900s mansions in Mexico City's Centro district into an immersive, imaginative space. This format allows artists to fully realize their visions in a historic setting, creating a truly memorable and intimate experience for viewers. When the gallery received an invitation to participate, it was an easy decision.
ATELIER: Anything else that supported your decision to participate?
Salón ACME's approach perfectly aligns with our goal of promoting contemporary Latin American art in innovative and impactful ways. The fair’s reputation as a hub for emerging and contemporary voices made it an ideal platform for Gallery Bogart’s international debut. The spaces at Salon ACME are not uniform and, instead, give each artist something different to work with. Our space, for instance, is long and narrow while other spaces have a small footprint with 30ft ceilings. Each space in the historic mansion provides the artists with inherent inspiration, making it a unique challenge. Hector Dorantes, the Mexico-city based artist we’re representing, has a clear vision for what he calls “total installations.”
By showing at Salón ACME, the Gallery is able to showcase Hector's unique & maximalist work in a setting that matches his energy.
ATELIER: There have always been this doubt on whether participating in a large, international art fair actually makes a difference/justifies the cost. As a gallerist, what would you say is the most important piece behind participating in a fair like this?
M: Investing in these fairs can be costly for the gallery, but we believe that investment will yield long-term results. Increasing the Kansas City market’s visibility and reputation, both abroad and at home. Also, traveling to see art isn’t an option for everyone. We hope that Gallery Bogart’s participation in opportunities like in Salón ACME can signal to Kansas Citians that its galleries and artist-run spaces are able to offer artistic value equal to that of larger cities or international fairs, without having to leave home.
ATELIER: Those are both extremely relevant and crucial points, and I really appreciate how you’re using your presence as the fair as a “signal” — which brings us to the next question — Where do you see Kansas City in the global contemporary art scene?
M: There are many people committed to building Kansas City’s art scene right now. This is especially evident where we are based, in the West Bottoms. Lots of hard work is being invested that the average Kansas-Citian might not even be aware of. We have a visibility opportunity.
Since its founding, the Gallery has been working to help highlight some of these efforts here at home. However, for Kansas City to truly establish itself on a larger stage, it’s crucial for its galleries and artists to also step outside of the city, when possible, and actively engage with national and international audiences.
