Written By Elizabeth Exline
Everyone loves a birthday, and Bonner David Galleries, which celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary in Old Town this year, is no exception. The past two decades have brought plenty of change for owners Christi Bonner Manuelito and Clark David Olson. For starters, they opened a sister gallery in New York in early 2020. And their repertoire of represented artists has grown to include upwards of 30 global creators who specialize in genres ranging from figurative to realistic art. Yet other things have stayed the same, like the gallery’s resolute egalitarianism: Bonner David is known for warmly welcoming new and seasoned collectors alike. Here, Manuelito and Olson share their perspective on what 20 years in the art world has brought.
Describe how your place in the art scene has evolved.
After just five years, we found the need to double in size, which allowed us to be truer to our original theme of having traditional and contemporary art side by side. We understand that tastes are varied, and we want people to understand that they don’t have to love only one style of art.
How are you celebrating your 20th anniversary?
Twenty years is a long time, and we’re fortunate to have thousands of collectors who’ve purchased work from Bonner David. Instead of having just a single event, we’re hosting a series of four celebrations in September, October, November and December to focus on the different types of art we represent. For example, one will be a sculpture show, one for landscapes, one for figurative artists and one for abstract art.
What’s next for Bonner David?
We’re always evolving. We just celebrated two years at our second location, half a block from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Our goal there is to elevate our artists by giving them a much broader presence. And we have
a few secrets in our pocket that we’re not quite ready to reveal.