Ever since she could remember, Buckhead art collector, Gregg Irby, knew she would one day run her own business. As the daughter of an artist, she always held an appreciation of art and found a personal passion in acquiring works by emerging artists. This innate enjoyment of art, in combination with a business degree from The University of South Carolina and MBA from Georgia State University, was the catalyst to owning her own gallery. Gregg Irby Gallery originally opened in 2007 in Buckhead and, as of 2015, now lives in a more expansive space on Huff Road on the Westside.
“Art has long been my passion. When I first moved here [in 1994], I thought that Atlanta really needed a place to find beautiful and livable art by talented artists at an affordable price,” says Irby, who, prior to opening the gallery, held art shows in her Buckhead home and in friends’ homes, and took the shows on the road to other Southeastern cities in collaboration with local art hostesses.
Gregg Irby Gallery is not your typical art gallery. For one thing, it feels laid-back and accessible, qualities that Irby herself exudes. The low-key gallery welcomes guests to casually explore its contemporary artwork by about 35 artists, including Atlanta artists Nancy B. Westfall and Thomasa Seymour, at their own pace. The 3,400-square-foot space features industrial high ceilings, epoxy floors and an overall open and airy feeling, as well as more than 300 paintings and works on paper by both up-and-coming and regionally and nationally acclaimed artists. Acknowledging that owning art doesn’t have to be exclusive, works range in price from $40 to $4,000. For art collectors on a budget, there’s even a section on its website entitled “Under $500.”
“I love championing emerging artists. It’s really rewarding to hear our clients tell us how much they have loved their paintings and how it has transformed their home,” Irby says.
When she’s not working, the South Carolina native enjoys traveling, play time with her family and friends, throwing parties, reading shelter magazines and attempting to get organized (“I rarely succeed,” she admits to the latter). Her favorite Buckhead haunts include Anis Café & Bistro for eats and Hunter Collective for shopping.
Stay tuned for upcoming shows and featured artists on the gallery website’s homepage blog feed and Facebook page.
