T
oday we’d like to introduce you to Donna Wilcox.
Hi Donna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After acquiring several of Akiane Kramarik’s paintings in 2018 and 2019, Belóved Gallery co-founders Lewis and Kirsten Cirne began asking about the availability of the Prince of Peace. After months of inquiring about its whereabouts, the painting finally became available for acquisition, and they purchased this long-lost masterpiece in November 2019. Immediately following, the Cirnes and I began working on a plan to reach out to museums and galleries across the U.S., exploring the options for exhibiting this world-renowned painting of Jesus. Captivated by the supernatural account surrounding its creation and astounded by the hope the painting inspires, we knew the Prince of Peace was meant to be shared with the world. Little did we know that a pandemic would shut down the world just a short time later. We knew we couldn’t let the painting out of our care and oversight, so we held off on pursuing plans to exhibit it in a large metropolitan area. So, we waited for God to show us His plan. By January 2022, Kirsten and Lew dreamed about creating a space where a million people could have their own experience with the Prince of Peace painting, thus amplifying Akiane’s universal message of unwavering faith, unconditional love, and eternal life. A few days later, Belóved Gallery, a non-profit private operating foundation, was formed, and construction started on a physical space to exhibit the Prince of Peace and nine other originals painted by Akiane between the ages of 8-16. In January 2023 – just one year later, in honor of God our Creator, we completed Belóved Gallery, and the inaugural exhibit, Akiane: The Early Years, was born. It would happen to be the 20th anniversary of the painting of Prince of Peace. Over Easter weekend of this year, we opened to the public and have had over 15,500 guests tour Belóved Gallery since then. Every week, guests journey from around the world to Marble Falls, Texas. They have come from India, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Israel, Abu Dhabi, the Philippines, England, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, China, Japan, Greenland, and more, not to mention the guests from all over the United States. In addition, three more of Akiane’s original paintings were added to the exhibition in October.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, the road to creating and launching Belóved Gallery was incredibly smooth, considering we have never opened an art gallery. Miraculously, we met every deadline along the way, and our vendor partners, from art framing to tile laying to brand development, were all on board with our mission.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I lead Belóved Gallery as Executive Director and CEO, which puts me at the helm of overseeing the entire organization. My experience in business and non-profit arenas prepared me for this endeavor. Over the years, I have worked on several start-ups and turnarounds, which taught me to be fearless and not to count the hours put into a project. I love entrepreneurial work, so leading this start-up was pure joy. Both our start-up and now our operational teams have been excellent. I am so proud of how everyone worked together to see it unfold, and now it serves so many people worldwide. Belóved Gallery is the only public exhibition of Akiane Kramarik’s works worldwide, so my team and I are set apart because of the importance of the stewardship and curation of these paintings.
What does success mean to you?
At Belóved Gallery, we define success when our guests are moved and inspired by faith through art. Our mission is for every person who experiences the miraculous story of Akiane to leave the gallery with more hope, love, and peace than when they arrived. We aim for one million people to see the Prince of Peace painting face to face, free of charge.
Pricing:
- Tours are free of charge.
- Special community events are free of charge.
- The annual fundraising gala is sponsored and ticketed for 300 guests.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.belovedgallery.org
- Instagram: beloved__gallery
- Facebook: Belóved Gallery
- Twitter: @beloved_gallery
- Other: Vimeo – Belóved Gallery
Image Credits
All images are credited to Belóved Gallery.
