10 Years On - Equine Art Is Still Alive and Kicking at Juliet Harrison’s Equis
By Nikki Alvin-Smith

When most horse aficionados find themselves spending time outside of the barn, their love of horses and the relationships they enjoy with the noble equine is often evident in their home’s interior décor.

Enjoying a view of a horse is always a good thing, be it on the wall or in the pasture or even better from the saddle. The view between the horse’s ears cannot be bettered. And like many other equestrians, my home is full of a variety of horse-themed collectibles, including fine art.

But galleries that specialize in niche markets, like the equine one, need our support to keep going or they will disappear and we’ll be left with awful glass mirrors with AI generated images and vacant works of unexpressive horses mass-produced by the likes of Wayfair and Target, with little to no keen artist’s eye or talented hand in their creation.

As a young teen and beyond, I have always cherished visits to art galleries to see the fine works of the masters of the day in national galleries. I’ve enjoyed visiting those touristy towns that yield ongoing exhibitions of the variety works of art across all genres that grace civic spaces and small private galleries.

I have spent many afternoons at the Tate Gallery in London, marveling at the works Gainsborough, Stubbs and Sargent and one of my personal favorites, Munnings. And when traveling for competition or to give clinics I always try and find time to visit major galleries, like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris or the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. I am keen to visit the Osbourne Studio Gallery in Belgravia, London on a future visit. It is one, if not if the leading, equine art gallery in the world.

I also love contemporary art like the works of Judy Widener, Morgan Cameron, and Bridget Grady that I have seen on this side of the pond.

The wonder of online shopping is you can shop anywhere, anytime. But there is something wonderful about seeing it in person.

As a daughter of an international award-winning artist and a painter myself, I guess my fondness for all things painterly is not too surprising. And if I’m not training, riding or teaching others how to enjoy horses, I’m writing about them! But that being said, I am not alone in the esteem for which I hold the art world and my ardent passion for everything horse in all its embodiments.

Buying art in person or online can be a rewarding experience. And supporting artists in all walks life, writers – sculptors – crafts of all types and their efforts and fruits of the labor of love that is the creative process is important to maintaining our heritage and better understanding the world in which we live.

It’s been nearly a decade since we checked in with Juliet Harrison, owner at one of the leading equine art galleries in New York State, Equis. Between the turmoil of the Covid pandemic and the recessions, life as an entrepreneurial business owner has not been easy in any industry, but the art world turns on its own axis. And so Juliet Harrison {JH} has discovered.

Here’s a check in to see how things stand today, at this horse art lover haven in Red, Hook, NY, neatly ensconced in a tiny village in the culturally alert Hudson Valley.
 

CH: It's been a while since we checked in with you at Equis Art Gallery. How are things going? Any highlights to share? Obstacles you've successfully overcome?

JH: It was most exciting for us to celebrate the gallery’s 10th anniversary last year. Knowing that in our now 11 years, we have been honored to offer some of the finest equine focused contemporary art from an ever-evolving group of internationally based artists. And that our collector base also continues to grow with happy buyers from around the world. The most exciting challenge is searching out new artists to add to our “stable”. And figuring out the balance of breeds, disciplines and styles of art that will speak to the variety of our collectors.
 
CH: What have you learned along the way? 
 
JH: Covid taught us how to engage more with our online fans. We continue to build on that while trying to find ways to bring more collectors to visit out brick and mortar gallery.
 
CH: What's your favorite thing about operating a gallery?
 
JH: It is hard for me to say whether I love my relationship with my artists or connecting with collectors more. I get excited by both. But there is nothing more exciting that hearing the happiness of customers when they receive the art that will now grace their lives.
 
CH: What are your most popular works right now? Anything trending in art types/styles/mediums?

 
JH: I will say over and over, what most draws people to the artwork at Equis, is that it is all about the relationship between us and horses. Not about a particular riding style or sport. The partnership we have with these most magnificent animals. That is what touches the Equis buyer.
 
CH: Do you sell anything other than art? I believe I saw other pieces in the shop?
 
JH: While the main focus of the gallery is contemporary equine art, we do carry some artwork by those artists, of other animals. Mostly livestock and a limited group of North American wild animals. In addition there is also a small number of vintage equestrian art pieces and objects. And a side focus in the collection is also vintage Native American jewelry turquoise and silver and objects. There are wooden Kachinas, pueblo pottery and some soapstone Inuit carvings as well.
 
CH: How have you navigated the huge rise in shipping/postage costs?
 
JH: At Equis we have offered shipping from the start. And have shipped to places as far away as Australia, South Africa and Moscow, Russia along with Europe, Canada and of course the US. While the collector pays the shipping cost, we endeavor to find the best and least expensive method where we can.
 
CH: What are your current hours? Do you have any help in the gallery? 
 
JH: The in-person gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 – 5 and most Sunday’s from 11 – 4pm. I have gallery coverage from time to time if I need it, but it is pretty much me there all of the time.
 
CH: Where can people find your artwork and purchase online?
 
JH: The represented artwork can be found online on our own website at www.equisart.com, where we are open 24/7. In addition I post actively to Facebook and Instagram where there are Equis Art Gallery feeds.
 
CH: Any advice to other prospective gallery owners about the rewards or work involved in running a gallery? 

JH: Owning an art gallery is incredibly rewarding, but not necessarily financially. Especially in a down economy. People think since I own one, I must be rich. I probably should have been. But it would be like owning a race horse, start with money but don’t expect to end up with any. In this day and age, it is a 24/7 prospect. Unless you are opening it in a high value tourist town known for art galleries, then online is your best resource. And that takes lots of time and skill for marketing. The best advice I can give is to be unique. Make sure what you carry stands out in both your local and online market. Be bold and specialize so your collectors can find you.
 
CH: Would you do it again? 
 
JH: In a heartbeat! I am prouder of the Equis Art Gallery then of anything else that I have done in my career life. Creating the gallery fulfilled a dream of mine and a goal for supporting artists and my community. It has been hard and an honor. Being in the gallery, surrounded by all of the beauty that I have gathered there brings me so much joy.
 
 
All of us here at ‘The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse Magazine’ wish Juliet all the best of success as she navigates the next decade (and hopefully beyond) of gallery ownership. We hope that you, dear reader, will show support for this small business owner. Without the ‘little guys’ we’d have no community to enjoy and supporting cultural avenues like the art world is key to keeping them alive and kicking!