Episode 22 - Melanie Baer Schwartz

I met Melanie Baer Schwartz a few months ago during a Fountainhead Arts trip to Detroit. She is the Director of Sales at Library Street Collective, one of the most creative art galleries in the nation. The minute I met her I knew this is what I needed from a gallerist. She was well informed, willing to share her knowledge, very inspirational and super friendly. She made our experience visiting the Library Street Collective and buying Mike Shultis’s Booty and La Bete, euphoric. We came away convinced that Detroit is going to be among the leading cities for art in the future. 

The following is the official explanation of the Library Street Collective. "Since its inception in 2012, Library Street Collective has connected Detroit to the international arts community while supporting the local creative renaissance through exhibitions, collaborations, and public projects. The gallery's influence extends beyond its walls into the city's public, private, and heritage spaces, raising awareness and funding for nonprofits and other worthy causes and has evolved into collaborations and partnerships with major US museums, large-scale public projects, and community-based initiatives. 

“Expanding upon this mission, the gallery has transformed a century-old Romanesque-style church into The Shepherd, a cultural arts center designed by Peterson Rich Office (PRO) with exhibition spaces, the Black Art Library curated by Asmaa Walton, a performing arts theater, and community workshop space. The Shepherd's grounds, designed by Office of Strategy + Design (OSD) feature a boutique bed and breakfast, McArthur Binion’s Modern Ancient Brown Foundation, a public skate park designed by Tony Hawk, and a sculpture park honoring the late Charles McGee. This project reflects Library Street Collective’s commitment to Detroit’s Little Village neighborhood, reinforcing its role in fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts community in Detroit and beyond."

At an early age, Melanie wanted to enter the world of medicine. That all changed when a high school art teacher spotted her talent and passion. She encouraged her to take art classes in college to better understand her future. That sealed the deal. Melanie studied studio art and art history at the University of Michigan before achieving her Masters in Contemporary Art and Art Business at the Sotheby's Institute of Art. During her time in New York, she interned at David Zwirner, Christie's, and Gagosian. She became the Assistant Director of Leila Heller Gallery, followed by her move to Detroit once she met the owners, Anthony and JJ Curis of the Library Street Collective.