We moved our gallery to Atlanta in 1987 so we are one of the older fine arts galleries here. In fact, if you counted our beginnings in New Orleans, we would be the oldest gallery here. We have seen many changes in the art scene in Atlanta over the past eighteen years. It is gratifying that contemporary art is much better appreciated now than when we arrived.

Art has been my whole life. Our roots go back to 1930 in the French Quarter of New Orleans when my parents opened the Reinike Academy of Art. Over the years it evolved into a contemporary gallery. I grew up in an art environment with both parents working full time as artists, teachers and gallery owners. It gives me a somewhat unique perspective of the art experience and art collecting. It is not too unusual to be a gallery owner and an artist—there are several galleries in Atlanta that have that combination. It isn’t even unusual for a husband and wife to work together in a gallery as we do. It is unusual to have been dedicated to this pursuit for two generations spanning more than seventy years. We chose to become a part of the Atlanta art community and are glad that we made that move.

Our mission involves educating collectors to appreciate all forms of art, but particularly contemporary art. We promote the careers of a small group of artists since we prefer to show the depth and range of each individual artist. We do not aspire to be the largest gallery in Atlanta since it is part of our mission to encourage the dialogue between the artists we show and the people who view their works. We want to make art accessible to all who are interested. We regularly host groups from the High Museum guilds, Oglethorpe, Emory, the Spruill Art Center and other arts organizations. When they visit the gallery, we discuss and exchange ideas on various aspects of contemporary fine art. We also encourage them to visit the back to see a working studio and the process that is involved with turning an idea into an artwork. When other artists visit the gallery we encourage them to talk with us about their work and the work they’re seeing in our gallery. It is our personal approach to art that keeps our gallery stimulating and makes it uniquely ours.

We feel that over the nearly eighteen years we have been in Atlanta, we have done our part to add to the health and diversity of the Atlanta arts community.

Charles H. Reinike III

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