Building Community and Creativity at the Portland Art Gallery

In this special episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa Belisle sits down with her husband, Kevin Thomas—owner of the Portland Art Gallery—for a candid conversation about his unlikely path from a farming family in northern Maine, to foodservice distribution CEO, to gallery owner in Portland Maine’s Old Port. Kevin shares how his lifelong appreciation for creativity began with high school sketches and Friday night gallery visits in Northampton, Massachusetts—long before he could afford original art. He reflects on lessons in business and branding learned on the job, the leap from an early online art venture to a physical gallery, and why creating a welcoming, approachable space matters to both artists and collectors. Together, Kevin and Lisa explore the Portland Art Gallery’s monthly First Thursday openings, the importance of community, the joy of connecting collectors with meaningful work, and the ways art inspires families across generations—including their own children and grandchildren. This conversation highlights the intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, and family—revealing why art is more than something you hang on a wall. It’s a way of life.