Art galleries can be intimidating, esoteric or just down-right bizarre, but Homey owner Michael LaConte—who also owns an award-winning hotel in Bali, Indonesia—is determined not to let any of those adjectives describe his gallery. Discreetly located across the street from a post office distribution center, Homey greets visitors with the chimes of overhanging mobile sculptures, and even the round, child-like font on the gallery's brown awning seems welcoming.
Inside the exposed brick walls and loft-style ceilings of this generously sized space, art covers practically every inch of the gallery. "We began in 2002, and since then have tripled in size," says LaConte. Indeed, visitors will find a stronghold of affordable paintings, animated light boxes, Zen-like fountains and sculptures. Walk in with $40 and you're guaranteed to leave with something neat, whether it's a knick-knack or a small piece of art. The gallery features artists both local (like up-and-comer Roger Bole, who paints colorful cityscapes using gyclee paint) and internationally renowned (like abstract painter Paul Lorenz, who is working on an installation at Rockefeller Center in New York). Despite big names, LaConte says "I'm trying to take the edge off of art galleries. I want this space to feel like you're inside someone's home, like you're comfortable and can look at your leisure."
Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler
