Our first interview of the blog features Ugallery’s Gallery Director Alex Farkas on fun times in the art world, insider collecting advice, and most importantly, nudity in art.

Q: You have been working as Gallery Director at Ugallery.com for three years, how do you keep work interesting?
A: There are many fun parts to my job. At the top of the list is working as one of the curators for the gallery. Each day, I spend a few hours reviewing and talking about the new art submissions. We get into some very interesting discussions, and I love being the first to see what we exhibit. Quite dangerous on the pocketbook though! I also really enjoy planning and working at the art fairs we participate in and the events we host. Selecting the art for each particular show is an amazing process. Our team begins with a simple theme and a pile of jpgs, and by opening night, we have brought together the work of artists from across the country. And once the art is on the walls, it’s great fun to talk with artists and collectors. I could talk your ear off about art.

Q: Do you have a favorite piece of art on the site?
A: My favorites so far are all hanging on my walls. One of the first lessons I learned was that if you love a piece of art, buy it while you still can because it might not be there tomorrow.

Q: Here is the age-old question, where is the line between naked and nude in art?
A: I am going to answer your question with a question. Would you feel comfortable having grandma over for dinner with that [nude/naked] painting on the wall? One of my observations is that nudity in art deals with form and beauty while nakedness represents sexuality.

Q: What is your favorite nude painting?
A: One of my favorites, and quite appropriate for our discussion of naked versus nude, is Manet’s Olympia. The painting references a long list of classical nudes, but is decidedly naked. I love controversial art!

Q: Thanks for answering my questions, I just have one more… which Ugallery artist is going to be the next big thing?
A: We are working towards a cultural revolution. It is my goal that the group of artists we represent will become internationally recognized, both individually and as a whole.