A NEW KIND OF ART GALLERY

There is a movement growing in Highland Park fueled by passionate women and the magnetic appeal that always accompanies innovation. Long considered by many as the creative hub of the North Shore, Highland Park is now home to Laughlin Gallery, a space causing a stir with an approach to selling art that relies more on matchmaking than retail transactions.

The gallery opened its doors in January 2022. Its founding partner, Lauren Laughlin, a North Shore resident and longtime arts advocate, collector, and advisor was inspired to open a gallery space to fill what she believed was a need in the local art scene.

“During the pandemic, I noticed art collectors moving from Chicago to the North Shore, joining art enthusiasts in the area who had extensive art experience,” says Laughlin. “I wanted to provide a more urban art experience for that mix of new residents and art aficionados.”

Enter Ellen Ozmun, Laughlin’s partner at the gallery and, subsequently, the founder of Ozmun Home, located next door. Laughlin and Ozmun agreed to several ideals that would position them outside the mainstream of art buying, and they were willing to gamble that people were ready for something new. Among those ideals was to create a nonintimidating, low-pressure space for looking at art.

“Sales are the priority at many galleries,” says Ozmun. “We take a more collaborative approach because we want our clients to get excited about their art, to really love it.”

The approach is the same whether the gallery team assists experienced art collectors or curious newcomers. Laughlin, Ozmun, and their art consultant Caryn Constantinides begin with the basics—size, budget, genre, and medium. Next, they want to hear stories. Why is a client seeking art? How did they come to love art? These stories help the Laughlin team suggest art that aligns with the client’s interests and needs. What truly excites the Laughlin team is when the client finds an artwork they love among the suggested choices. Building trust and relationships takes precedence over sales.

Another difference is the community that continues to grow far beyond its founders’ immediate circles. Those who have supported the gallery since the beginning use the word “energy” to describe how the gallery attracts supporters, artists, and clients.

Photographer Jeanné Sapienza has been with the gallery since its inception as a represented artist and a member of what many describe as “the tribe”—women who offer hands-on support and counsel to the gallery. These women see the gallery as a space where art is celebrated and everyone feels welcome and respected. Sapienza was drawn to that concept and to building something bigger than herself.

“There is a sense of fearlessness that emanates from Lauren, Ellen, and all the people involved,” says Sapienza. “We do not hesitate to share our different talents and empower each other, so strong women feel welcome and find camaraderie here.”

Anna Berman is a Highland Park entrepreneur who has studied art. She was thrilled to learn about Laughlin’s vision. Berman helped Laughlin find her gallery space and continues contributing, from referring clients to lending a hand and advice when needed. What she loves about the gallery is that everyone is there to work toward its success.

She explains, “When we show up, we are 100 percent attentive to the business. Our passion is for the artists and creating something new and exciting in Highland Park.”

The Laughlin Gallery community grows through connections, and to illustrate those connections would require a matrix of a hundred stars colliding and connecting at just the right time. From Laughlin meeting a Chicago art academic at Art Basel Miami, who connected her to an undiscovered artist, to meeting interior designers who connect the gallery to homeowners, the draw is always strong and always benefits the clients and artists.

When choosing artists, stars also need to align. Seventy percent of the artists at the gallery are women, and most have not had gallery representation. “Under the radar” applies here, and the joy of discovery serves the clients well. Visitors to the gallery can expect to find a fresh variety of work, from abstract expressionism to photography. Beyond talent, Laughlin and Ozmun must also feel a connection with each artist.

“We support every artist we represent, and that effort must be met with mutual trust that they will do good by our clients and us, and we do good by them,” says Laughlin.

After celebrating its first anniversary recently, the gallery is poised for the bright future foretold at its first exhibition opening in March 2022, which welcomed more than 250 guests. Its community of fans and supporters, clients and artists, continues to grow organically, as one would expect from a gallery founded on connecting and matchmaking and a bit of stardust.

For more information, visit laughlingallery.com.