Courtesy Emily Amy Gallery.
Emily Amy Gallery announced this evening that it is closing after a five year run. The owner, Emily West, is leaving to take on a new role as director of Anne Irwin Fine Art. The surprising news follows a strong close to last year’s program including Ashley Anderson’s Shinobi Marilyn, a curated show of artists from the Oxford American’s Visual South issue, and Jennifer Cawley’s latest exhibition to name a few. West wrote in her closing announcement:
“As I am sure you can imagine, the decision has been very difficult for me, as the gallery has been my life and my dream for the past 5 years. The gallery has accomplished great things and I am very proud of the artists that we have shown, the shows that we have exhibited and the friends and clients that we have gained along the way. You have all helped us to grow the gallery in wonderful ways and for that, I will forever be grateful.
“Although it is with much sadness that I bring you this news, it is also with joy and optimism that I look toward my future. Recently, I have accepted a new position as the Director of Anne Irwin Fine Art on Miami Circle. I am honored and pleased to be able to continue my mission to bring artists to the Atlanta community through my new directorship. I certainly hope that all of you will come visit me at my new home with Anne; I cannot wait to introduce you to her and to our new stable there. Keep an eye out for many of my artists who will, in the coming months, be represented by Anne Irwin. I am thrilled to be able to have a new home in the Atlanta Arts community and to be able to push forward with new artists, exhibitions and special programming in this next chapter of my career.”
While this marks yet another closing in the Atlanta gallery community, the arts seem as strong as ever in many ways. Last month marked the strongest return of Atlanta galleries and artists to Art Basel Miami Beach in several years, and newfound support of Atlanta by the Rauschenberg Foundation suggest that things aren’t all that bad.
