Our Story
"How did the two of you meet?" It's a question I get asked often — and this one has a bit of a "full circle" quality to it.
Daniel actually has roots here in Minneapolis. Back in the mid-1970s, before Florence, before the Academy, he taught etching courses at Atelier Lack. Mary Pettis was one of his students — the two of them became close, spending time together before Daniel eventually left for Florence to build the life and career that would become his legacy.
Years later, Mary and I were in Barcelona for an international exhibition when, by chance, she and Daniel reunited for the first time since Minneapolis.
That's how I first met him. As we were talking, he mentioned, almost in passing, that he needed someone like me to help him with his artwork. I didn't think much of it at the time.
Six weeks later, I ran into Daniel again — this time at the Figurative Art Convention in Miami, in November 2017. He said it again: "I need someone like you." And this time, I said, "Instead of someone like me... how about me?"
We met again later that same day to talk further. One of the first things I told him was this: if he was looking for a New York-style art dealer, that wasn't me, and we should stop the conversation right there. But if he wanted to work with someone who cared about what was at the heart of who he is as an artist — why he paints what he paints — then we should keep talking.
We talked for over two hours.
By the end of it, I suggested something a little unconventional: I would fly to Florence, on my own dime, that February, and we'd talk further. If it felt like the right fit, we'd move forward together. If not, I'd walk away, no hard feelings.
So I flew to Florence and spent the weekend with Daniel and his wife at their home. By the end of that weekend, we were signing papers.
It's been an honor ever since.
~Jen