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Going once…Going twice…Sold! an interview with innovator and art dealer Daniel Cooney
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Ryan in the Evening, 2008. © Francesca Romeo.
Courtesy of Daniel Cooney Fine Art.
Daniel Cooney just may be the newest kid on the block.
A mere 40, he owns a 4-year old fine art photography gallery in the same building as other notable veterans in the business including Alan Klotz and Deborah Bell.
Born in Binghamton, NY (population 47,000) in 1968, Daniel has long studied the art of photography. He first studied it during his sophomore year in high school. He explains, “It was an elective and it seemed interesting, so I decided to try it. Eventually it became my way of separating myself from the rest of the world and a reason to get out of the house. While other guys participated in sports, photography became my avocation of choice.”
He went on to study photography at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he received a BFA in 1990. Upon graduating he took a job as a photojournalist at a small local paper, the Tri-State Gazette, where he was the only photographer on staff. He regales, “I did everything while I worked there—town hall meetings, local and community events—I learned a lot. After a while though, I realized I didn’t want to live in Port Jervis the rest of my life.”
That’s when he decided to continue his education and went to the University of Illinois, where he earned a MFA in photography in 1996. Immediately thereafter, he moved to New York City with the intention of being an artist.
Eventually, he realized that his true calling was to be a fine art photography dealer. He began his gallery career at the James Danziger Gallery and continued as associate director of the Julie Saul Gallery. He was also the director of online photographs for a stint at Sothebys.com.
On April 4, I had the opportunity to sit down for a while to discuss his aspirations and unique approach to being an art dealer in Chelsea. Following are some excerpts from our conversation.
In conversations with other gallery owners, I’ve repeatedly heard that the recession has given them time to do the things they didn’t have time for before. How has the economy affected how you do business?
Things have definitely slowed down. Initially, when I first started in this business I was presenting a series of emerging artists and their first shows. Thus, with the economy slowing down I’ve found myself shifting my focus and presenting first shows again.
Moreover, I’ve been using innovative methods of promoting my artists and selling their work. For example, I was one of the first fine art photography dealers to hold auctions online via iGavel.com.
How does iGavel work and how do you choose the artists to represent online?
The artists I first chose for the auction were primarily those I already knew personally. Through them and the gallery I’ve met other artists who I subsequently chose to include in the online auctions.
I do not represent the artists per se via my auctions, but it works in tandem with the gallery, which exhibits the artists I represent. And although they are two seperate entities, ultimately they work in tandem and benefit one another.
Whenever I host an auction, I choose only one piece from each artist, which ultimately is deemed part of a limited edition. Bidding for each piece starts off at $200 each.
Who buys online?
Buyers are actually very serious collectors. The artists I represent are often pleasantly surprised whenever a piece is purchased, because often their work becomes part of a museum-quality collection.
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Daniel Cooney is currently hosting a Spring Online Auction of Photography at www.iGavel.com from April 21 until May 13.
For More Information
Artists & Photographers Mark Kessell | Curators & Dealers Bonni Benrubi Howard Greenberg |
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