Spotlight On Atlas Galleries

Art Business News, July, 2001 by Julie Keller

CHICAGO--Running Atlas Galleries is less of a job and more of a family tradition for company president Susan Petr. In fact, Petr literally grew up with the 34-year-old company founded by her parents, Harriet and Jerry Petr, in 1967. The couple chose the name Atlas to give the gallery an international flair and because they represented artists from all over the world.

Today, while Arias has maintained an international flavor, the company maintains a down-to-earth, family appeal in its three gallery locations and warehouse. The two galleries and the warehouse are located along the Windy City's tony Michigan Avenue and one is located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The company currently publishes the work of English artist Frederick Phillips and sells the paintings of English landscape painter Michael John Hill on the wholesale level. Hill is an English artist whose meditative landscapes can be found in the collections of the British Royal Family, Forbes Inc. and Lord and Lady Sterling, among others.

Both of these artists are represented in the company's galleries, along with a string of contemporary artists. Petr said the gallery features prints, originals and sculptures that range in price from a few hundred dollars to $250,000. Among the artists featured at the gallery are Alvar, Ruth Bloch, Angel Botello, Graciela Rodo Boulanger, Romero Britto, Michael Cheney, Antonio DiViccaro, Jean-Claude Gaugy, Mario Jason, Thomas McKnight, Christian Nesvadba, Sam Park, Viktor Shvaiko, Adam Stewart, Mackenzie Thorpe, Michael Wilkinson and more. The company also has a collection of master prints from the likes of Albrecht Durer, Mortimer Luddington Menpes, Joan Miro, Alphonse Mucha, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Rembrant Van Rijn. "We really have an international flavor with artists from all over the world," explained Susan.

In the publishing realm, Atlas has been busy with sellling and marketing Phillips' distinctive work. Most recently, the company published "Curved Air," the latest graphic from Phillips, who is know for his surrealist, symbolic paintings. The company also recently published Quintessence: The Art of Frederick Phillips, a 132-page hardbound book written by the artist's wife, Patricia, that features the artist's work. The book, which has an introduction by New York art critic Gerrit Henry, explores the life of Phillips and offers collectors insights into his work.

Two of the company's featured artists are also participating in the "Suite Home Chicago" public art project, which features life-sized fiberglass forms of a suite of furniture--sofa, chair, ottoman and television--each decorated by a local artist and sponsored by a business, organization or individual. Thorpe created a whimsical ottoman, Cheney created a colorful chair, and both were introduced at the galleries with unveiling parties. Thorpe's ottoman is currently on view in front of the 535 Michigan Ave. location, and Cheney's chair is on view outside of the Bloomingdale's building until October.

The company is also undergoing some cosmetic changes. The second gallery, located in the Bloomingdale's building at 900 Michigan Ave., recently underwent extensive renovations and expansion which tripled the gallery's window space.

According to Petr, the company's Puerto Rico gallery, which is located in an open-air atrium in Old San Juan, is also thriving. "Working in Puerto Rico has been a terrific experience," said Petr. "The gallery is doing really well."

The same could be said for the family owned, 34-year-old company.

FACTS & FIGURES

* Atlas Galleries was founded in 1967 in Chicago by Harriet and Jerry Petr.

* Today, the company is helmed by their daughter Susan Petr. It has three gallery locations and a warehouse, publishes the work of Frederick Phillips and sells the original paintings of Michael John Hill on the wholesale level.

* The company also represents a string of contemporary artists in the gallery and sells a collection of master prints.