Meet Geneva Rose Baldauf | Gallerist, Curator & Exhibition Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Geneva Rose Baldauf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Geneva Rose, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was seeking a community and having trouble finding one. So I figured instead of waiting around for someone else to do it, I should create the space that we need. Seattle used to have more spaces for artists and outcasts to gather but they are dwindling these days. I want to create a gallery for the weirdos that I know still exist here. A gathering space for the lovers of the dark and the curious to feel at home and a place that artists know will take them, and their work, seriously.

What should our readers know about your business?
Gallery Strega has been a passion project from day one. In my opinion, there aren’t enough galleries that represent artists exploring darker and more taboo subjects in a fine art setting. I want to change that. I want to show people that people who make dark art are fine artists, they deserve to be treated as such, and that exploring these topics is beneficial to all of us. It hasn’t been an easy process, but I’m learning to trust my intuition more and ignore what everyone else thinks I should do. My business does not have to fit in a neat and tidy box. In fact, I think giving myself space to experiment and just have fun putting together shows has pushed my business the farthest. People will always recognize when you’re being genuine and more often than not, that’s what makes people interested. That authenticity is very important for an art gallery. Artists want to show their work in places that understand and respect their work. Viewers want to be in an environment that feels accessible and approachable, especially if the work can be challenging. I’ve also learned to not take myself or my business so seriously all the time. I’m one of the lucky ones that gets to do what they love for a living, so I might as well enjoy it when I can.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh it would be a jam packed week of fun. I would definitely take them out to eat at Smith and Momiji. There would be lots of coffee drinking, most likely from Zeitgeist. We would go look at oddities and curiosities at Ballyhoo. Probably take a drive out to Alki and spend the day on the beach or have a picnic in the Japanese Gardens. We could go bar hopping and go to some of my favorites like Nacho Barracho, Corvus, Underbelly and Linda’s. We could catch some music at Barboza or the Crocodile. I would also take them to see the most amazing burlesque troupe, Valtesse. Finally, of course, we would go look at amazing art. We would definitely go to Ghost Gallery and Roq la Rue among many others.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My partner J. has been a huge supporter of mine from the very beginning. I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am without him cheering me on and pushing me to move forward when obstacles get in the way. My siblings, Chris and Brynna, have also been an amazing hype team. They are always willing to listen when I need them and have been so encouraging of me following my dreams. I couldn’t do it without their love and support.

Website: gallerystrega.com

Instagram: @gallerystrega

Image Credits
Ashley Genevieve