For our next Summer Spotlight feature, we’re heading out of the city and into the Hudson Valley, where Carole Perry runs Perry Lawson Fine Art alongside fellow AWAD New York/Tri-State Member Robin Lawson. Read on to learn more about Carole, as she tells us about her business and art world journey, her favorite work at the Met, and why Nyack is the place to be for Edward Hopper enthusiasts.
What is the name of your business, where are you located and when did you start?
Perry Lawson Fine Art, Nyack NY, 2023
What is your professional background?
I have an MA in Art History and I started my career in the Curatorial Department at the Guggenheim before moving to Nyack, NY, where I worked as Artistic Director and Curator at the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center for many years. In 2023 I opened Perry Lawson Fine Art with co-owner Robin Lawson.
What inspired you to take the leap and start your own business?
I’ve always loved supporting artists and putting shows together and a wonderful opportunity opened up when my business partner, Robin, and her husband purchased 90 North Broadway, an event and business space in Nyack that now houses our gallery.
What does your business offer, in terms of goods and services?
In addition to an active gallery program, we offer consulting services, which include acquisitions, art placement, staging, valuations, installation, and more.
What is your favorite part about being a Member of the Association of Women Art Dealers?
The opportunity to network with local New York AWAD members as well as the informative online workshops AWAD offers.
What was a recent highlight for you in your work?
It’s a thrill each time we mount a new show to see how it completely transforms the space, so I’d say our current show is the most recent highlight—every time!
If you could own any work of art, what would it be?
Well, it may not fit in my house, but I’ve always been drawn to Joan of Arc by Jules Bastien-Lepage at the Met. The painting has such nuanced imagery and there is so much to see, it’s calming and dreamy which contrasts the impending turmoil we know she’ll soon face.
What would you recommend to any art-lovers visiting your city this summer?
Right next door to our gallery is the Edward Hopper Museum & Study. It’s truly an essential place to visit for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of how Hopper developed as an artist.
Photo credit: Lisa Levart | LUSH Photography
Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage. Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art
