Meyer Gallery: Gateway to Park City Art
Photography: Timothy Thimmes
The Meyer Gallery owner finds cathartic moments while sweeping the sidewalk in front of her building in summer or donning snow boots to shovel her front walk for winter visitors.
Meyer’s parents, Darrell and Gerry Meyer, sold local artwork as a startup business before founding Meyer Gallery in 1965 in the elegant old First National Bank building at 305 Main Street. “Their passion for art grew as their knowledge and experience increased,” says Meyer. “Both of their offspring are committed to the art business, so I guess we liked what we saw.”
Having lived and worked as a caterer in Westchester County, New York for nine years, Meyer started packing her bags as soon as her parents announced their retirement. Returning to Park City and entering the art business was always in Meyer’s plan. “Viewing art in New York helped me appreciate why many big city people enjoy shopping for art in Park City. It is more complicated, expensive, unfriendly and urgent to art shop in New York. I prefer art shopping to be fun and relaxing. Customers should be treated like gold when they consider spending their hard-earned dollars in my [gallery].”
Meyer says that her gallery is the oldest gallery in Utah. The front entry of the historic building, which originally served as a bank, still houses a vault that stored silver miners’ savings. Today, the classy, high-ceilinged space offers an intimate backdrop for artwork that Meyer feels is appropriate for a mountain gallery in the American West. “Much artwork is well done, but more appropriate for a Miami or L.A. gallery. I don’t seek to be a New York gallery. But I am goal oriented about representing artists whose work has been acquired by important American museums or appears to be headed in that direction,” she explains. “Mostly, I am attracted to art that challenges me a little … art that is both beautiful and intelligently crafted.”
When Meyer chooses artwork to display in her gallery, she considers whether a piece is technically well done and asks whether the artist reveals his individual voice in the piece, and if that voice is relevant or beautiful. She questions who the artist is, what his credentials are and whether he is committed to an art career. “It takes a lot to impress me at this point in time,” Meyer confides. “If a piece impresses me, I seek out that artist. My staff and I travel nationwide [looking for art]. It is much harder than people imagine to secure artists whose work fits our criteria and is available for representation. Fortunately, we obtain most of the best local talent.”
Meyer Gallery artwork with a particularly Western flavor includes the sculptures of Dave McGary, “whose work is preeminent among contemporary sculptures depicting the early Native American, and is in The Smithsonian and many other museums,” says Meyer. The gallery also carries the work of Sherry Sander, whose wildlife sculptures have received the gold and silver medals at the National Sculpture Society, and is part of many museum collections. “In terms of cowboy depictionists, Meyer Gallery carries the etchings of Bob Coronato, whose skill in that art form is extraordinary,” says Meyer. Utah native Jim Rennert, whose sculptures Meyer Gallery represents, has recently “been awash in awards and accolades” for his “Men At Work” series, which translates the concept of sports as a metaphor for the competitive nature of business.
Regarding recent trends, Meyer says, “In my experience, war and economic insecurity creates its own trend in the art world. There is less of an appetite for dark and edgy pieces. [Instead], we gravitate toward art that inspires and comforts us.”
Meyer appreciates the authenticity of owning a brick and mortar store during the Internet era. She studies art produced nationwide and continues to believe that Utah, Colorado and the West offer some of the best artwork for the dollar. “In recent years, interest has increased for non-traditional artwork. That said, I think the Park City buyer is even more demanding about quality and price than many art buying regions,” says Meyer. “It is a good challenge for us to find high quality pieces at fair prices. Some art dealers price my artists’ work higher in other markets. They attribute it to higher rents, shipping expenses, etc. Whatever the reason, I like being the less expensive option.”
Meyer loves meeting and knowing her artists personally. “I learn so much from hearing them talk about their work and seeing them hustle around their studios. Being involved with artists makes for enduring relationships. Currently, the average artist in our gallery has shown with us for over six years.”
Tom Rugh, author of the book “Painters of the Wasatch Mountains,” describes Meyer as a “gateway to the art world.” “She provides people who visit Park City with access to younger artists as well as artists who are [well] established throughout the country. Not only does Susan Meyer sell contemporary art, she also promotes Utah and its cultural history.”
Carolyn Campbell is a freelance writer who has authored three nationally-published books and 800 magazine articles. She lives in Salt Lake City.
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