Shantay Robinson
For this blog post, I spoke to Art of Noize Gallery owner, Adrian Ferguson. He offers his insight about the arts in DC., as well as tips for artists and art collectors. The gallery is located in the Petworth neighborhood, tucked away in an enclave. Known for its comparatively affordable art, Ferguson makes the art of independent artists accessible to a community of art lovers often overlooked by other galleries. Art of Noize is the 2022 DC Mayor’s Office winner for the Award for Excellence in the Creative Industries.
Shantay Robinson: What’s your background? What brought you to opening an art gallery?
Adrian Ferguson: Well, I had a career background in procurement, acquisitions to be exact. So, it wasn't specifically art related, per se. But I had a background in writing and negotiating contracts. And I would say, while I was in that field, for many years, my friends tend to be artists and creatives. I have a family full of artists, visual and performing artists. So, I've always kind of been around it or it's just in my DNA, so to speak. When I decided to start Art of Noize, what led up to that was at the time, there really weren’t a lot of transformative Black spaces in DC at the time, around 2015 and 2016. In Washington, DC, there was a lot of these, and still is today, very traditional type of art spaces. In DC you're going to a gallery. It's a gallery period, you know. I just wanted to create a space that was flexible and affordable for a lot of the local artists community here, and it's great.
SR: How would you describe your role as a gallerist?
AF: I'm avidly always on the phone with collectors, potential collectors. You know, I just got off the phone with some collectors about some work that we have in the gallery, scheduling appointments for people to come in, see the work, looking for future art shows. Also, seeing if the artists I work with will be a good fit for collectors. Sometimes it's working with several businesses in DC, that are outside of the gallery space and art space, to get artists working to increase more visibility. So, those are kind of the things that I do. I also work with my curator to make sure that artists are telling succinct stories, telling stories that make sense. Sometimes, when you hear exhibition ideas for the first time, they don't always make the most sense. And it's helping others kind of flesh out their voice. And, so, we help them tell succinct clear stories with their art.
SR: What's the most exciting part of owning a gallery?
AF: I would say meeting the people. Meeting people and helping artists to articulate and discover their voices. I'm privileged and honored to be able to be a place where people can tell their story and be heard and be seen. And that kind of drives me in the morning to be able to provide space because we all have noise to make. And the Art of Noize is becoming that space, thankfully and prayerfully that people will look to artists of all calibers and all mediums. And that's what I love about it, that they feel at home in creating that space.
SR: What's the most challenging part of owning a gallery?
AF: For me, it's just developing that collective of people who are going to come every show and support. That is one of the more challenging aspects of running the gallery. And, you know, this economy has really impacted the art. A lot of people, given the current state of the economy, don't have that disposable income right now. And people don't have the funds to spend. A lot of people may not have that right now. So, those are kind of the things that I think are the most challenging. How do we continue to develop a reputation for ensuring quality art and acquire collectors and art that people want while being affordable or not breaking their pockets?
SR: What’s some advice you would offer art lovers who want to purchase art, especially in this economy?
AF: I mean, if you connect with an artwork, you will find a way to have it. And I think it's important that, not all galleries do this, but specifically like us, we offer payment plans, and payment plan options. I'm willing to work with you. Whether you may or may not have it all at the time you want it. And I think the price is always going to be a factor. But you shouldn't let that intimidate you from not getting the piece.
SR: Why do you think art is important?
AF: Because it tells us the story of our time and our society. It pushes conversations forward. Conversations are sometimes uncomfortable. But these are conversations that we need to have.
SR: What is some advice you offer artists when approaching the gallery?
AF: One of the biggest pieces of advice, I will say is, have a portfolio. Have somewhere that you can direct people to look at a body of work outside or beyond social media. I think that’s a very important piece of advice that artists don’t know.
SR: Why did you name your gallery Art of Noize?
AF: Well, it was actually a group. I'm a music lover slash nerd, by the way. So, there was a group back in the day called Art of Noise. And as is just the most famous song being “Moments of Love.” One day, I was, doing some tasks and Art of Noise “Moments of Love” came on the radio. And I was like, hey, that'd be a cool name for my business. And I always liked the song, I think the name of the group is interesting. So, I made my gallery Art of Noize. I mean, noise artistically. And even people who don't even consider themselves artists, we all make noise, and we all have noise to make. And I believe that artists make noise visually or through sound. You have people in this town, in DC, who are political and activist. And their noise is community based and elevating and bringing awareness to issues improving people's quality of life. So, we all have noise to make, in our own individual respective ways.
SR: Overall, what made you want to open a gallery?
AF: To be able to have a place where we can make noise and people can make their own noise. A gallery 20 years ago was not even in the forefront of my imagination. But I felt like there was just a need to have a place for art in the city that will fill the need for the emerging scene. And that's why I wanted to create a gallery.
SR: Okay, how often do you have open mic nights and who is invited to perform?
AF: Our open mic is a monthly event that we do at Art of Noize. There's an open mic for vocalist, MCs, as well as instrumentalists. And our session is called Sessions. We created Sessions in the spirit of what DC used to be. There were a plethora of music venues and open mics, and we wanted to kind of take back culture here in DC. To give room and a platform for poets and vocalists. And for people to come try out new material in front of an audience. The ideal person that comes to Sessions is an artist. You know, the ideal person is also somebody who's in art and appreciates it. People come to Sessions to hear music, they come to see the current exhibition, and a lot of people come and at the end of the night, they end up getting an artwork to take with them.