PDNedu asked gallery owner Daniel Cooney a few questions about the fine art market and his new series of Emerging Photographers Auctions.


PDN    You’ve been in business since 2003, and you teach at FIT, do you have any basic advice for young art photographers with hopes of getting their foot in the door with fine art community?

DC    Actually I stopped teaching at FIT last year but I did for two semesters and it was a good experience. I am hoping to co-teach a class with Carrie Levy at SVA next semester but it’s not for sure yet. The best advice I have to offer is to become part of a community of artists that is supportive and honest. I just loaned out my space after hours to a group of artists who lost their critique space. I was encouraged by a group of people that are interested enough in each other's work to spend an evening sharing ideas and thoughts. Sometimes it feels that most people are really just concerned with themselves— which is debilitating to me. I am constantly approached by artists of all ages that seem to want something from me—most often a show. That is without doing any research on my gallery, what I show or knowing anything about who I am. I always think to myself that I want to meet the artists that are more committed to their art than to promoting it. I want to meet the artists that are in their studios not walking around Chelsea trying to get someone to look at their portfolios. Make good work and the rest will happen organically.


PDN    Could you tell us about the right and wrong ways to try and get in touch with galleries, or just your gallery in particular?

DC    Maybe I just did? I will always meet with someone who is referred to me and I don’t look at unsolicited emails, packages etc.


PDN    Your iGavel three-times per year online auctions are interesting, could you tell us more about these events? Is it possible for young photographers to get involved, or is it invitation only?

DC    The auctions I have done for the past five years have traditionally been secondary market material. So, artwork that someone owns and wants to sell for some reason. I have increased those sales to four times a year and now added a new series of Emerging Photographers Auctions. The first of which is on iGavel right now. Those are invitation only and curated by me. Most everyone involved in the auction are people I have met over the past few years through referrals, portfolio reviews etc.


PDN    Have you noticed any trends lately? Maybe not just in fine art, but perhaps in photo students or in publishing, anything to note?

DC    I have noticed that is hard to find something unusual and unique. That sounds kind of bitchy but there are a lot of trends out there and it’s hard to stay away from them as a gallerist because I might not know about them. I don’t ever want to show trendy work. Right now I notice a lot of young women creating kind of very soft interior naturally lit portraiture. A couple of years or so ago there was a lot of work that was miniature but looked regular scale. And of course there is tons of digital work being made now. Some good, some really bad. I really don’t care how something is made I just want to look at it and think 'Wow I haven’t seen anything like this before', and the skill level is extremely high. At the moment I am digging straight forward non-manipulated work that shows skill as a photographer and as a thinker.


PDN    Could you explain a little more about how galleries work, for example, do most clients purchase prints for collections, or are people buying framed art for the walls?

DC    Both. People looking for work to match the textile on their pillows are a total bore and most difficult. Luckily, I think that most of my clients are either serious collectors or just learning about collecting which is great! I love people that are smart enough to know they are learning about something and have a passion for collecting and bringing meaningful objects into their homes. I especially like collectors that are interested in emerging artists because not only are they buying something they love they are supporting living artists to go on and make work that is important today and is involved in the contemporary dialogue of what people in the present are thinking about.


PDN    Stuart O’Sullivan is one of my favorite photographers, could you explain to our audience what his work is about? How long have you represented him?

DC    I have represented Stuart since I opened my gallery space in 2004. Stuart’s work is about a lot of things but most importantly it is about himself and the story of his life. I think the first body of work was about his past in South Africa and the loss of his life there and revisiting his family members and community. His second body of work which will be published by Nazraeli next year is more focused on his wife’s family and his current life here in the US. It will be interesting to see what happens now that they have just had a baby.


Daniel Cooney Fine Art Emerging Photographers Auction, presented by iGavel New York will be online November 14 to December 10. Visit www.igavel.com
All photographs available for viewing at Daniel Cooney Fine Art, danielcooneyfineart.com