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Renovation & Design

Art and soul

Home-based gallery a labour of love

photos by Todd Lewys / Winnipeg Free Press

Soul Gallery’s owner, Julie Walsh, believes each person’s soul resonates with a certain piece of art.

Soul Gallery’s living room shows how fine art can be utilized to bring depth and vibrance to a space.

Todd Lewys / Winnipeg Free Press

The Soul Gallery, located at 163 Clare Ave. in Riverview.

It’s an idea that’s simple, yet powerful: an art gallery in a home. The seed for the concept was planted some 18 years ago, said Julie Walsh, owner of Soul Gallery at 163 Clare Ave. in Riverview.

"I started working in the interior design world in 1998, and was exposed to original art," she recalled. "I immediately fell in love with it. From then on, I took it upon myself to meet established artists here in the city, because I just loved their work. I then started to incorporate their work into my design projects."

However, it took an event a decade later to push her toward taking her love of art to a new level. "I travelled to Milan, Italy in 2008, and was exposed to bronze sculptures. I loved the work, and started selling it," said Walsh. "I then went to Turkey in 2010 to study art there, and had an epiphany about opening my own gallery. It opened in April 2011. We spent a brief time in an architectural/design building in the Exchange District, then we moved to our current residential location in 2012."

It’s a move that turned out to be a stroke of genius. Located on a quiet street in the serene enclave of Riverview with plenty of parking out front, the immersive experience starts the moment you step out of your car. With no traffic to dodge or parking spots to find, the focus is where it should be: on art. Then, the moment you enter the tidy, rather unassuming residence, you’re surrounded by an intoxicating collection of fine art. Paintings adorn the wall, sculptures and art pieces are tastefully featured on coffee tables, end tables — even the kitchen and dining tables. Creativity, in its various forms, is everywhere.

"My goal is to show how art can be displayed in well-designed spaces," she explained. "Overall, our mission at Soul Gallery is to foster a greater appreciation of beauty in the world by showcasing original fine art from Canadian and international artists. Their paintings, printmaking, photography, sculpture and unique, soulful collectibles can really enrich a home when displayed properly."

Once a customer chooses a piece of art, Walsh then offers a consultation service designed to help them figure out how to maximize the impact of that art piece in their home. "When considering purchasing art, people want to know if it will work in a certain room," said Walsh, adding three-quarters of the artists featured at Soul Gallery are from Manitoba. "I’ll actually go to their home, look at the space and make recommendations on how they can showcase a work of art well."

Those consultations always pay off, she added. "I had a client who had a beautiful Brigitte Dion piece. She had a room in mind, but wondered if it was too stark. I recommended picking a new wall colour and offsetting the piece away from the TV. She saw it would work and bought the piece. The new wall colour and its positioning showcase it perfectly, and piece adds just the right touch to the room."

Perhaps the best thing about showcasing fine art in a home is that you can see it — and appreciate it — in a real-life setting. Not only that, but the art is on display both upstairs and downstairs, providing a broad, deep — and rich — selection for art aficionados to choose from.

Walsh said she wouldn’t have it any other way. "I call the gallery Soul Gallery because I believe each person’s soul resonates with a certain piece of art. Being able to display fine art and create and fill beautiful spaces with it is heaven; spreading beauty has been quite a rewarding experience," she said. "People from all over the city, province and the world are liking Soul Gallery (visit soulgallery.ca). I’m humbled by how it’s been received, and feel privileged to have the calibre of artists I have on display here."

tlewys@mymts.net

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