It was a dark and stormy night, but that didn’t deter more than 500 people from attending the grand opening of Square One Gallery at 4814 Washington Blvd. in the Central West End on Friday, April 26. They braved the weather to view the gallery’s debut exhibition, “Time After Time,” by Missouri artist Sage BarnesThe works in the exhibit, which ran through June 1, offers viewers a glimpse into Barnes’ creative process through a deeper study of his abstract-meets-street-art techniques, which are highlighted in neon blooms and popping, buildable layers on canvas to evoke the feeling of weightlessness and suspension.
Square One Gallery co-founder and local artist Ted Collier alongside co-founders and curators Max Berman and Tanner Steslow have worked with Barnes since 2016. In a rare move signifying a deep belief in the founders and the mission of the new contemporary gallery, Barnes agreed to his exhibition before the space was even secured
“I think we have a unique perspective in that I’m a working artist who’s still immersed in my practice, and Max and Tanner are coming from the viewpoint of curators who have worked in several galleries around the world,” says Collier, who is best known for his abstract paintings derived from observable patterns found in nature, ranging from subtle and monochromatic to bold and vibrant.
The founding trio first connected in 2019 in New York City for an art gallery exhibition curated by Steslow and Berman in which Collier was participating. They remained friends and collaborators and believed the atypically supportive arts community in St. Louis was worth investing in and enriching. The timing aligned in November 2023 when the curators moved from New York and Collier was itching to begin a new journey supporting fellow creatives in the area.
“It’s not so much as what was missing in St. Louis – we like to view this as an enhancement of an existing market and untapped potential,” Collier says. “We want to bring [in] the artists we are passionate about and have been working with in other cities and countries and contribute what we can to the already established culture.”
Square One sets itself apart from other traditional art galleries both in the art it showcases and its approach to fostering relationships with artists and curators. The gallery welcomes art across a diversity of mediums – quality and ability to engage audiences are the requisites for works exhibited in its space.
“The one thing we’d like to evoke is emotion from the viewers – taking art back to what ‘art’ truly is,” Collier says.
The gallery is open for visitors of all ages Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the gallery’s website and socials at @squareone.gallery for more information on the upcoming solo exhibition with St. Louis’ own Sarah Giannobile in July.
“One of the most profound things Tanner and Max said to me the first time we met at our NYC exhibition was after I thanked them for including me in this show, [when] they responded, ‘No, thank you, because without the artist … there would be no art,’ and that really hit home for me,” Collier says. “Being first-time gallery owners, it’s a dream come true every single day we get to work with artists who believe in us enough to allow us to represent their beautiful work.”
Square One Gallery, 4814 Washington Blvd., Suite 312, Central West End, 314-252-8571, squareonegallery.com
