James Makin

  

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An Art Dealer.

What did you become?
An Art Dealer.

What's your official title?
Director; James Makin Gallery.
Director; Port Jackson Press Australia.
State Chair (Victoria/Tasmania); Australian Commercial Galleries Association. (ACGA)

What's your background - how did you end up here?
Skilled at art growing up. Life drawing, sculpture etc. knew many artists and art dealers growing up. Love art. Studied a Bachelor of Fine Art at Monash University. (grad 1999). Employed as a fine art auctioneer and art consultant at Leonard Joel Auctioneers. (2000 – 2002). Employed with Port Jackson Press Australia, 2003, Director from 2004. Established James Makin Gallery, 2006. Elected State Chair for ACGA 2008. Commenced a Masters in Arts Curatorship at Melbourne University, (2008 – Current)

How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?
I am an Art dealer, I act as agent, manager and promoter for contemporary artists, holding regular exhibitions of their work in which I hand pick and curate each exhibition. As a director of my own company I also run a small business, employing staff and controlling finances, budgeting, business planning and development.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?
Check emails and meet with staff regarding ongoing and rising business. (coffee in hand)

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?
Get up; breaky; read news over coffee, check emails; check phone messages; walk around gallery and look at exhibition; meet with staff, discuss business matters; check on leads; pending sales etc; more coffee; meet with clients over phone, email or in person; lunch; more correspondence; talk to one or more artists; more coffee; go to gym if no art related event to go to after work; Dinner; bed.

Who or what in the arts world most inspires you?
Larry Gagosian

What's the toughest challenge you've dealt with on the job?
Expanding to a larger more beautiful gallery during the GFC. And surviving the GFC, with ongoing successful exhibitions. Generally running small business.

What's the best piece of advice you were ever given for your career?
If you survive the first 5 years you will do ok. And trust your gut instinct.

What are the top three skills you need in your particular role?
A good Eye.
Human Relations. (ie good interpersonal skills, eg staff to staff and to clients and to artists)
Business management and planning ability.

What's the best thing about your job?
I am surrounded by beautiful things all day and I am living the dream, doing what I love.
The phone call to an artist that you have sold another piece is also a great highlight!

And the worst?
Office paperwork

If you had to sum your working life in a word or phrase, what would it be?
“Don’t wait for the light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself.”

Tell us something unique about your gallery.
James Makin Gallery has a unique personal warm approach to its artists, clients and friends. As a son of an artist, I understand very well the importance that the dealer serves in the life of an artist. My goal is to bring to the professional world of Art a new perspective and approach where the artist comes first. Connoisseurship and keen eye are necessary to hand pick each work that will be exhibited, ensuring the art collectors always get the best that is available.

In my design for the existing gallery, the goal has been to achieve a warm inviting gallery where artists and clients alike feel the gallery is an extension of their home, welcome to stop in and stay - Visit and enjoy. Closing the gap between commercial galleries and institutional galleries/museums. Increasing the educational aspects by artist talks and lectures about all facets of art and art collecting, not to mention the ever-expanding art reference library.

James Makin Gallery is a natural light filled sawtooth warehouse in the Collingwood arts precinct. Polished concrete floors, museum standard lighting and custom built walls, a flowing exhibition venue allowing for one large or two smaller shows at one time. There is a movable wall to give each exhibition a difference. With a focus on curatorship of each exhibition the aim is to challenge the viewer with every time they visit the gallery. Whether it is to view one or both of the current exhibitions, listen to an artist talk, dig through the stock rooms, James Makin Gallery is one of the larger contemporary galleries in Melbourne specifically designed to promote art and artists.