November 18, 2015 | Culture
Baldwin Gallery owner Richard Edwards reflects on 22 years of art in Aspen.
Rorschach by Marilyn Minter, 2011.
Fine arts front runner Richard Edwards, along with his late partner, Harley Baldwin, opened Aspen’s Baldwin gallery in 1994 to showcase artists of both national and international renown. Here, the 59-year-old Englishman discusses aspen’s ever-expanding art scene, and how town is attracting more art aficionados and collectors than ever before.
What was the art scene like in town when you first opened, more than 20 years ago?
There had been a few previous attempts to present interesting contemporary art in Aspen, but by the time we opened, there was nothing much happening commercially that would attract collectors. They all bought elsewhere.
How has the scene changed?
it was always our goal that our program be viewed in a national and international context, as well as in a local one. Aspen art buyers see work from galleries all over the world. They appreciate the vibrancy of the collecting world in Aspen, but only buy here if the right work is available. The scene has changed in that there are now galleries that have risen to fill gaps in the market, such as to deal in multiples or in secondary market works. And there are tons of collectors here now. It became a lot more competitive when people were exposed to the fact that there was great art in the houses here.
What can we expect from Baldwin Gallery this winter?
We have a full winter schedule of great exhibitions, but our next show features new hyper-realistic paintings and richly colored photographs from Marilyn Minter in the show “Pretty/Dirty” (November 27 through December 21). Minter is the subject of a touring museum retrospective currently at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, which then travels to other venues, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Her work is an investigation of glamour and beauty, which is perfect for Aspen! 209 S. Galena St., 970-920-9797
