Meet Michele Hembree | Art Dealer

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

Hi Michele, how do you think about risk?
Fortunately and unfortunately, I’ve always been a risk taker. It didn’t serve me quite as well when I was younger because the risks were uninformed. I have always felt the urge to take a chance, and roll the dice. I don’t believe there is any other way to live. Even when the risk does not work out the way I hoped, the thought of what if, would kill me a slow death. I see most of what I do in business as experiments rather than risks. I’m always “all in”.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My business MGH Discovered Art, specializes in “undiscovered”, original, 20th century, American art. I scour the country to find collections from artists whose work has been hidden in the shadows of attics, storage units and family estates. Most of these artists have a lifetime of work that for whatever reason never made it out into the public. My job is to tell the artist’s story, preserve the art, assign a value and bring it to the people.

In the beginning it was hard to gain the trust of buyers and the families I work with but over time the proof was in the feedback and reviews that I was getting. The satisfaction from the families that I work with gives me the motivation to keep doing what I am doing.

I’m not a typical antique/vintage dealer in that I don’t sell or represent art that has been sold before. This is challenging because I really have to get the value of the pieces right. There are no auction results or sold comparable to base pricing on. I am creating the market for these pieces.

A huge accomplishment of mine was that I was named in Forbes as a “Next 1000” entreprenuer in 2021. It was during the lockdowns and I was living in NYC. All shows and in person events were cancelled. I needed to find a way to stay creative and show some work. I created gallery walls using magnets and walls in the city, hanging pieces on storefronts (Balanciaga, Webster Hall and a graffitti filled wall). It was a huge honor to be recognized for thinking outside of the box.

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?
I think about this all the time because being a Texas transplant most of my family and friends live far away. We would rent a pontoon boat and spend a day on Lake Tyler or Lake Palestine.
I live out in the country so just hanging on deck watching the neighbor’s horses graze and enjoy the warm breeze. Drive the country roads to Pat Gee’s BBQ. Head over to True Vine Brewery and listen to some live music outside. We would make sure to have a meal at Prime 102 on the square in Tyler. Drive out to High Hill Farm, spend the night in one of their little cabins, and the have the most delicious brunch. At some point we would take a stroll through the Azalea district in Tyler and admire the beautiful homes and gardens and end up at the Plaid Rabbit (a cozy speakeasy) in Downtown Tyler.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I love the quote, “Choose people who will say your name in a room full of opportunities”. I moved to East Texas in Dec of 2021. One of the first people I met was Callynth Finney. She is a local photographer and I hired her to photograph art for me. I told her I was new to the area and didn’t know anyone. She immediately offered to be my friend. Her openness and willingness to reach out was amazing. Especially after moving here from NYC where that kind of friendliness just does not exist. Not only is she super creative and talented photographer but she is a light in every room she steps in. She has introduced me to so many people in the community and was the one that said my name to “Shoutout DFW”! I am lucky to now call her a great friend.

Website: www.mgh-art.com

Instagram: @mgh.discovered.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/M.G.H.discovered/

Image Credits
Ava Hembree Taylor Webber Apartment Therapy