First time art buyers are often told to "buy what you like", but how do you know what you like?  Without question, Chicago is one of the best places to go to find out! I recently visited Chicago’s fabulous Art Gallery District and found a plethora of galleries adorning the streets of this former warehouse district.   

Buying art can be a bit overwhelming at times, whether you are a beginning collector or have much experience. To overcome any intimidation you may have regarding fine art we suggest spending some time talking with the gallery owners. Byron Roche is a perfect example of someone who believes that education is an important mission of any
gallery and he enjoys spending time with beginning and experienced
collectors.

Formerly a musician, Byron Roche has been in the gallery business for 20 years and has a genuine appreciation for the creativity, uniqueness, and quality that comes with every piece he displays. This was evident as he spoke in detail about each individual artist and the process and materials involved in their work. He has a selection of artists who’s individual styles complement one another as well as giving the buyer an eclectic mix of modes to choose from.

My personal favorite were the Metal Leaf Paintings by artist Paul Hunter. His work is absolutely awesome, bringing an elegant minimalism in a contemporary capacity to the discerning palette. "Sanctuary" is actually done with white gold, aluminum, and acrylic on canvas to exploit the different colors and reflective qualities.

These imaginary landscapes have been the subject of his work for 10 years and by defining where the horizon line, sky and water, light and shadow, meet the earth, the spectator can witness the passage of time through the light of day. Similarly, this changing light through the course of the day  dramatically alters the luminosity of the painting and luminosity is the underlying theme in all of Hunter’s work.

The work of Paul Hunter is exactly the type of art Byron Roche is attracted to; images that interact to the viewer’s eye to create optical effects. Architectural Digest adds:

"The result of this aesthetic is work that reflects a striking degree of technical proficiency that is also often labor intensive to produce."   

Roche obviously has an eye for beautiful and original work as well as a love and passion toward the work that he shows. This was surely evident in our visit to his gallery this past weekend as he educated us on the artistic processes and steps involved toward creating a genuine appreciation for art.