Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Biggs.
Hi Brad, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thank you! I’d love to share a little bit about myself. I have always loved art. My mother, father, and grandfather were all collectors. So, I have been immersed in it for a while. I started working as an art promoter when I moved from north-central Texas to Central Florida almost 20 years ago. One of my earliest positions was as an intern at the COMMA art gallery, which used to be on Virginia Drive. I worked there with Jason Lee and Megan Paquette Stepe. My teachers were Karen Carasik and Kim Sumner. I learned a lot about how to market and publicize art events through my work there. I learned about the importance of press releases, accuracy, and gaining the attention of the media. At the same time, Jason Lee and I started installing artwork downtown and in surrounding areas. We placed artwork in bars, a tanning salon, spas, cafes, professional offices, and private residences. Jason Lee and I also started a monthly art stroll in the commercial area of Baldwin Park, working for the merchant association. For a year and a half, we ran a consistent monthly art stroll with good attendance – something others said could not be done. When the merchant association in Baldwin Park disbanded, we moved the art stroll to the Ivanhoe Mainstreet District. Also at that time, Jason Lee and I served as curators at Creative Spirit Art Gallery, on behalf of the Artist’s League of Orange County (ALOC). We staged monthly exhibits at Creative Spirit Art Gallery for about 2 years. During the same time frame, I was the assistant to Jeff Shonkweiler, curator at the Gallery at Avalon Island (now CityArts Factory). I also had the experience of running the visual arts component of the Red Chair Affair for a year. I’m particularly proud of coordinating and helping to select participating artists for Orlando Magazine’s ‘Paint the Town’ exhibit. It’s also been a real pleasure to coordinate the ‘Art for Education’ event at the University Club, downtown Orlando. David Walker, at the University Club of Orlando, has been terrific to work with. My organization, Art for All Spaces, has produced several art exhibitions locally, including “Reviving the Ancients,” “I Believe,” “Eureka,” and “Fabrications: An Exhibit About Truth and Lies,” which opened at the CityArts Factory on November 17, 2022. I currently have a studio at FAVO (Faith Arts Village Organization) in Orlando, #244, where I install a new art exhibit every month. I use that space to sell crystals and other minerals I have found while treasure hunting over the years. As for upcoming events, I am currently planning an exhibit for the Orlando Science Center, which will run September-December, 2023. It will be called “Eureka Squared,” and it will be an encore of my original Eureka exhibition, held at the CityArts Factory in 2016.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A smooth road? What the heck is that (laughs)? I was born with multiple disabilities. In my childhood, I was diagnosed with Autism and later Asperger’s Syndrome. I am unable to read non-verbal cues, including all body language. I can’t read facial expressions and have difficulty understanding voice intonations. I am also unable to drive due to my disabilities. The road has been rough at times. But I refuse to give up. I’ve dealt with many rejections, but I have continued to plow through the difficulties because I am committed to offering opportunities to artists. When you cannot understand the nuances of social communication, you must rely on the words and actions of others in a very literal sense. People are very inconsistent, and this has confused me at times. On the professional side, I’ve experienced challenges learning how to write business contracts and create win-win-win situations among business owners, artists, and myself. I noticed early on that artists were not paid for lending their artwork to businesses. For example, a business might ask me to install 15 paintings without expecting to compensate the artist or me. I don’t allow that anymore. I insist on a contract and compensation for both me and the artist or artists contributing work. I call the compensation an ‘honorarium,’ and I have been able to negotiate honorariums for artists when they otherwise would not have been paid. I had to learn how to fundraise to create the quality art exhibitions I envisioned. Thankfully, I inherited my mother’s gift of the gab and my father’s work ethic. Those personality traits have helped me.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Art For All Spaces, LLC creates opportunities for artists by developing and implementing quality exhibitions, finding appropriate venues for displaying art, identifying and building relationships with patrons, and securing proper media coverage. I am a committed advocate for artists and believe they deserve fair compensation for their time, skills, and creative contributions. I am known for creating exhibitions that include both traditional and contemporary work and have an educational component. I work with a small, hand-picked group of career artists, but I often reach out to others. It has been essential for me to provide opportunities for traditionally underrepresented artists. I am always looking for quality opportunities for artists.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was finding an arrowhead on my own at 7. I was in a plowed peanut field near Stephenville, Texas. This was the first treasure I’d ever found, and I’ve been treasure hunting ever since! I treasure hunt not only gems, minerals, fossils, and artifacts but also quality artists and people; It’s always a thrill to find a treasure.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: artforallspacesllc
- Facebook: art for all spaces llc
Image Credits
Linda Brant credit on head shot (2022)
