Episode 21 - Robert Fontaine

Thanks to Robert Fontaine, Lincoln Road is once again a meaningful and exciting destination for serious art collectors. He recently moved his blue chip art gallery, The Robert Fontaine Gallery, to the legendary outdoor mall, because of the ever-increasing foot traffic. It’s also steps away from the world-famous Art Basel and all of the art fairs that pop up annually.

Robert Fontaine is going to add a certain new pizzazz to the area that he hopes will attract both new and experienced buyers who want blue chip art. Robert and his staff are more than willing to spend time with people who never bought art before and want to be educated.

Just listen to this podcast. Robert explains the art market in ways that will give you a greater appreciation and desire to get involved. He makes it simple and direct. He also discusses topics, like investing, that many gallerists don’t want to talk about. It’s great to have a resource like Robert because he has experienced all of the stages in contemporary art.

His early years were spent in St. Petersburg, Sanibel and Captiva Islands. When he was 18, he lived on a sailboat and worked on the barrier Islands of North Captiva Island, Cabbage Key, and the historic Useppa Island.

Robert entered the art market in 1998 when he interned at the Jill Spanbauer Gallery, Naples FL. In 1998, he received the Robert Rauschenberg Scholarship Award Grant via B.I.G Arts Sanibel. He also studied at the Florida Gulf Coast University for four years.  He worked as a studio assistant to Multimedia Artist Nancy Gifford, Naples & Miami Beach FL.  Robert also received an Academic Scholarship from the Captiva Civic Association, Captiva Island.

In 2003 he finally moved to Miami Beach for a position as Director of Ashmore Gallery, a 17th-19th century European and American Art Gallery, located near the Bass Museum in what is now the W Hotel. He spent a year as an assistant to Barbara Gillman, Barbara Gillman Gallery, Wynwood and worked as Director of Space 39 Gallery Southwest Florida.

Robert saw the world in 2007 to 2010 when he was named Director of Exhibitions for Performer and Painter Marilyn Manson, staging solo Exhibitions in Zurich, Athens, Moscow, São Paulo, and Cologne.

He finally made it to Miami in 2011 when he opened the Robert Fontaine Gallery which was in operation for 10 years in Wynwood, before moving into pop ups spaces, in various locations in South Florida: Miami Beach, and Palm Beach. He loves his life in art and plans to continue to surprise his audiences.