Meet Kim Fonder | Art Gallery Owner and Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim Fonder and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?

1. I have to remind myself about this,but it’s crucial, take time out for yourself. Everyone needs the opportunity to recharge and renew.

2.   Relationships are the foundation of any successful business and life.  Nurture them.

3. Always do your best.

4. Eat well, get enough sleep, continue to grow and learn. Exercise.Walk outside.

5. Give back to your community.

6. In business, know how to keep score.. What gets measured, gets done.

What should our readers know about your business?
Exhibit opened in November 2008. Since we have been in existence we have hosted exhibitions of works on paper by internationally recognized artists such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Additionally, works by Kiki Smith, Carroll Dunham and many others. Exhibit is a gallery that represents artists from all over the globe. We have worked with large non profit organizations such as Domestic Violence Intervention Services to put art in their shelters that helps create an ambiance of calm and healing. We are very proud of those opportunities. In the gallery, we focus on artwork that focuses on texture and depth, often in natural and organic tones. When we started back then, abstract art was perhaps a bit more daunting to some clients. Initially we integrated the objects to show the dynamic impact with art. Our desire to show how art changes a space is something that clients appreciate about us.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Definitely make plans to visit the modern lifestyle Center we are housed in called Center 1 in Tulsa. While there I would visit SR Hughes for luxury furnishing, visit Oren for amazing cuisine, Philbrook Museum is the renovated home of Waite Phillips and has a renowned collection of all types of art. The Circle Cinema focuses on independent films and is a wonderful place to escape for a couple of hours. The Tallgrass Prairie preserve and Woolaroc in Bartlesville are gorgeous examples of Oklahoma living. While in Bartlesville, visit the Price Tower, built by Frank Lloyd Wright. A trip to Pawhuska, about an hour from Tulsa is a trip back in history.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I am grateful to so many people who have contributed to my success, but my clients, the people that believe in us and what we do are by far the stars. Specific interior designers who have used our service to provide artwork to their clients include many national designers including some AD 100 designers and architects.Our clients range from building entire estates to  clients who were doing a small room or just needed a gift for a sick friend and wanted it to feel special.  I am grateful to the mentors who spent time educating me about business, accounting, leadership, sales. These people spent countless hours helping me learn how to keep score in business. I owe them a great debt.

I’m also grateful to the gallery director who hired me initially to be an art consultant and gave me a chance to learn about this very fun and rewarding business.

Website: abersonexhibits.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhibitartandobject/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exhibit-by-aberson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/abersonexhibits

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Exhibitbyaberson

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/exhibit-by-aberson-tulsa-2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbDINhxo8HRrCcl5H9NWbfQ/videos

Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhibitartandobject pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/exhibitartandobject/

Image Credits
Tony Li and Lindsay Petersen