Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill McLennon. They and their team shared their story with us below:
McLennon Pen Co. Gallery was founded by Jill McLennon in March 2023 with a commitment of showcasing the work of emerging and internationally established artists. The gallery aims to present contemporary art that is exciting, poetic, and emblematic of the times while also placing the work within a historical context.
Prior to moving to Austin, McLennon spent thirteen years working in New York City for globally renowned commercial art galleries, Galerie Eva Presenhuber and Andrea Rosen Gallery, and Sotheby’s auction house in placing contemporary artwork in private and public collections, curating exhibitions, and supporting some of today’s most esteemed living artists in their career development.
The name of the gallery has been passed down from McLennon’s grandfather, who established a luxury pen shop in downtown Chicago that originally opened in 1934.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The gallery has been open for a little over a year now. There are several major collectors that live in Austin, but we are also focused on hopefully growing relationships with young collectors. It takes time and energy to help people get into collecting artwork in a responsible way, meaning making relationships with the galleries, artists, and institutions, acting as an art patron rather than a speculator. The art world is a club that a lot of people want to be in but that is hard to figure out how to access. We are trying to engage with people that have an interest in having a long-term relationship with the gallery and collecting.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Looking at the landscape of the Austin galleries, there are really not very many, and it is surprising really. But that is why I’m excited to be here. I am hoping that I can bring some cool artists to Austin, like how I brought Chloe Wise, Ryan Trecartin, and Borna Sammak down for my inaugural show titled “Just Friends.” Also, I can do some historical shows, like how in December 2023, I had a “Thomas Kinkade Winter Wonderland” show and had three extremely rare original works by Kinkade from his family’s estate. I hope to push the boundaries here in Austin and grow the scene in a collegial way with the other galleries I feel aligned with, such as Martha’s, Ivester, grayDuck, and Northern Southern.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Maybe just that there are always more costs for a show than you predict, so to try to stay frugal with expenses.
Pricing:
- Many shows feature works under $10k
- But we do private sales too that can go up to a few hundred thousand
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mclennonpenco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mclennon_pen_co_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-mclennon-a2426b67/
Image Credits
Rufai Zakari
Deborah Roberts
Jill McLennon
Amina-Toure
Patrick Quinn
Thomas Kinkade
Audrey Rodriguez
