Traffic Jam Galleries
Working as an owner, gallerist and curator, Rebecca started traffic jam galleries from the ground up in 2010.
At its inception, Rebecca had been painting full time for nearly ten years and represented by galleries in four Australian States, Singapore, and Hong Kong, when she decided to open her own art gallery. The crux was traffic jam galleries needed to be modelled in contrast to the gallery format her works were currently being viewed in. It was important to Rebecca that an artist’s exposure was all year round and not just for the period when an exhibition was in play.
Rebecca purchased the property at 41 Military Rd, Neutral Bay Sydney and traffic jam galleries was opened over twelve years ago by the then Governor Marie Bashir, with over three hundred people in attendance including artists, friends, collectors, and well-wishers.
The gallery floor of the building is divided into two separate areas that can be connected to form one singular open space when required. One area is dedicated to rotating monthly solo, mixed, and thematic exhibitions the other provides all year-round exposure for the forty plus artists represented. A racking system accommodates up to a hundred plus works. There are 17 main road and laneway facing windows measuring 3.2 metres by 1.8 metres featuring weekly rotated two and three dimensional works.
The exhibition calendar is scheduled up to eighteen months in advance. The gallery also works responsively, picking up on market changes, new artists onboarding, and collaborations. There is the capacity to spontaneously incorporate pop-up shows, alongside formalised programming plus initiatives, that may involve community projects and impromptu thematic exhibitions.
Level one of 41 Military Road provides additional studio area for Rebecca and an extension of the gallery in the form of an oversized, commercial style kitchen where themed artist dinners are held.
Exposure to audiences outside of the gallery space is to Rebecca a very important factor in representing artists and their works. Artists are represented by the gallery through innovative and progressive exhibitions, initiatives, art fairs and digital platforms. Rebecca also develops relationships referred to as ‘Corporate Collaborations’ where artworks are curated and hung in large law firms and other institutions. These collaborations foster an additional appreciation for the artists’ works whilst simultaneously enhancing the work environment of the participating corporation.
The art exhibited at traffic jam galleries is constantly evolving as existing artists grow and develop their practice and new talent is brought on board. The approach is fresh and distinctly global. The art would be loosely described as contemporary and is responded to by collectors, appreciators, and those who are making their first art purchase. In meeting this diverse audience, a multifarious group of emerging, mid-career and established artists are represented. The works on exhibit range from decorative, through to explorative, confronting, challenging, thought provoking and collectable. Prices are reflective of this cross-section as it is important to Rebecca that the gallery is inclusive, relative, and approachable. Art forms covered include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, assemblage, installation, photography, and prints.
Commercial transparency is paramount for Rebecca, all prices are published, and specifically commissioned works do not attract a premium. Rebecca has fostered a wonderful, supportive team, that are independent and passionate about the art and the artists they represent. Some team members have been with the gallery since its inception. For Rebecca, facilitating a collaborative atmosphere is an underlying hallmark of the gallery. Understanding the clients’ needs, listening and discovering together creates a shared journey for the client, the artist and the gallery.
The gallery’s dynamic program hosts up to eight curated exhibitions a year, together with an aligned art space dedicated to mixed, thematic, and pop-up exhibitions, This showcases the diversity of styles, genres, and mediums.
The physical structure of the space is relaxed, simple and non-intimidating devoid of pretence and artifice. Alongside the exhibition area is a large racking system that encourages engagement and interaction.
Dependent on the exhibition at the time, the gallery can be many of the following – interactive, playful, serious, fun, eclectic, adventurous, inspiring, thought provoking, profound, light-hearted. The intention is that the experience delivered is informative and enjoyable.
