Art in the Here and Now

New gallery emphasizes the latest avant-garde

Ricky Echegaray’s view of retirement was a bit different than what some might envision. “I didn’t want to be an old fart who only went from one cruise ship to another,” he says.

So when he decided to retire in 2020 after a career in advertising, it was time to figure out the next stage of life. The 55-year-old native of Puerto Rico opted to open an art gallery, and Art-e A Gallery of Now was conceived.

And then there was COVID. For two years, Echegaray, who now lives in Dunwoody, researched art, artists and locations until he was able to open his Miami Circle space in late November. The location appealed to him with its presence of 15 premier and prestigious galleries. “There is a sense of seriousness here that you’re not a pop-up store,” he says. A collector himself, Echegaray put thoughtful research into the warren of vignettes that pop with color throughout the 1,300-square-foot space. “This is a completely unpretentious gallery where you can see what’s happening in the world in pieces of art,” he says.

Part of the reason for having a public space was purely practical.

“I’ve been buying and collecting art for a few decades now, and I ran out of walls in my house,” he says.

“When I ended up with two storage units full of art, I realized it was time to monetize my passion.”

At the same time, Echegaray says his research revealed some important information. After visiting galleries in Atlanta, he noticed a new movement of art was rising, with more interest in cutting-edge contemporary works, and the prices were rising along with it. “Other people were taking this new art seriously, so I started studying and buying that type,” he says.

Now, Echegaray has established his gallery as a stand out for having a broad collection of artists such as Banksy, Klint and Kaws. While those names aren’t exactly newcomers, they represent a style that’s hard to define but beginning to attract considerable attention, says Echegaray. “I don’t want to label it contemporary or street urban graffiti; it’s art that’s happening now and how society is expressing itself, and how these artists are expressing themselves as well.”

Echegaray also prides himself on having an enviable inventory of modern master works. “If you’re looking for a Warhol or Haring, I might have 13 pieces when some galleries might have one or two,” he says.

The often abstract, uncategorizable works he features may not have mass appeal, Echegaray says. He’s even had to explain the allure to his son. “He told me, ‘I could’ve painted that in kindergarten!’ But it’s important to understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And sometimes a painting that’s just dots of different colors or 10 lines across a white canvas can be worth $100,000 because the artist has established a reputation.”

The gallery is also home to superstars, including several Picassos and a six-figure Warhol, alongside pieces by English artist Damien Hirst, French street artist Mr. Brainwash and Puerto Rican Eduardo Cabrer. Expect to see an increasing number of local artists in the near future.

“I’ve spoken to many artists that are happy they’ll have a place to show their work and be taken seriously,” Echegaray says. “I want to recruit more. They need a place and a voice, and this is it.” n