Today we’d like to introduce you to Ross & Rachel Gray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the spring of 2022, Ross and Rachel, who for the record were never on a break, decided it was time to leave the corporate grind behind and chase their shared love of the arts. Their adventure led them to Clifton, Texas, a charming little town two hours southwest of Dallas, best known for its Texas Impressionist roots.
There, in a newly restored 1911 limestone building, they opened On 5th Gallery. With its mix of exposed stone, century-old shiplap, and rotating exhibitions, the space became a living dialogue between past and present, traditional bones filled with contemporary voices. Before long, it carved out a reputation as a home for emerging artists in Bosque County’s contemporary western scene.
But Ross and Rachel are not the kind of people who sit still for long. As the art market shifted, so did their vision. They packed up their small-town beginnings and reimagined the gallery for a bigger stage, creating ARTFUSS in West Dallas. Its cheeky motto, “What’s the fuss about? It’s art!” captures their belief that art should spark conversation, invite curiosity, and occasionally stir the pot.
What started as a leap of faith in a quiet Texas town has now grown into a platform that mixes community, culture, and just the right amount of mischief.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As you can imagine, running an art gallery in the middle of a recession comes with its fair share of drama. There is a saying in our world: “Operating a gallery is a rich man’s sport”—a nod to the fact that most galleries eventually have to close their doors. Since our grassroots beginning, we have faced plenty of challenges, but we have also learned to see every obstacle as an opening for something new.
Rather than chasing giant one-off sales, we focus on accessibility and storytelling, bringing our artists’ voices to wider audiences. This approach not only keeps the lights on but also keeps our mission consistent: connecting people to art in a way that feels personal and lasting.
The traditional gallery model of big exhibitions and art fairs is quickly fading. Today’s collectors want more than a pretty piece to hang on a wall—they want to know the story behind it. Who is the artist? What do they stand for? Why does this work matter to me? Those are the questions shaping the new art landscape, and we are building ARTFUSS around exactly that.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Both Ross and Rachel have their independent passions and craft.
Ross began his creative journey as a car designer in Detroit, shaping interiors and digital experiences for some of the world’s leading automotive brands. His career carried him across industries and continents, with highlights that include the 2017 Ford GT, the Ford Bronco, wearables for Fossil, and collaborations with Google Design.
Yet throughout all those milestones, there was always a voice in the back of his mind whispering, “The hell with this, I just want to paint.” That pull toward fine art never left, and today he pours the same design sensibility, rigor, and imagination into ARTFUSS.
What sets Ross apart is the fusion of disciplines. He brings the precision and storytelling of product design into the art world, creating a platform where community, accessibility, and dialogue matter as much as the art itself. He is most proud not only of the individual works he has created but of the ecosystem ARTFUSS is building—a place where artists and audiences meet on common ground and discover the power of art together.
Rachel’s creative journey is anything but ordinary. Classically trained in theatre and music, she grew up surrounded by creativity and collaboration with artists of every kind. But her path to becoming a gallerist was not immediate.
In 2017, Rachel traveled to Costa Rica and spent four and a half years there. It was during this chapter that she discovered her passion for entrepreneurship and business ownership. She consulted for a community-driven hotel and retreat center, where she learned the ins and outs of building something from the ground up—how logistics, service, and community in order to create meaningful experiences.
Returning to the United States with a fresh perspective and determination, she turned her focus to art. Through mentorship with notable gallerists in Toronto and Houston, Rachel refined her skills and vision, helping to shape what would later contribute development of ARTFUSS’ mission.
What sets her apart is her deep belief in connection and communication. Rachel looks beyond the canvas to amplify the voices of the artists and foster authentic relationships with collectors. She often says, *“Romance isn’t dead!”*—a reminder that both artists and collectors deserve care, attention, and lasting relationships.
Together with Ross, Rachel brings the balance of heart and structure to ARTFUSS. Where Ross infuses the gallery with design, vision, and storytelling, Rachel grounds it in human connection and community. It is this blend—the artist’s eye and the gallerist’s voice—that makes ARTFUSS more than just a gallery. It is a cultural space built on dialogue, collaboration, and a shared belief that art belongs to everyone.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Ross grew up just outside of Dallas in the countryside, but he is as homegrown as any Dallasite, having witnessed firsthand the evolution of the DFW area. Rachel, on the other hand, grew up in northern New Jersey with New York City at her doorstep. Together, they appreciate Dallas as a city full of contrasts—history, culture, entertainment, innovation, and growth. Within just a short drive, you can find almost anything, which makes Dallas a place with something for everyone, and that is what they love most.
What they like least, however, connects to that same rapid growth. The cultural foundations have struggled to keep pace, and too often community life seems centered on bars and restaurants. It can be difficult to form lasting connections when the memory of a new friend fades as quickly as the margarita hangover from the night before.
But within that challenge lies possibility. Many people Ross and Rachel meet are hungry for more—more culture, more connection, more meaning. Around the world, some of the strongest communities use the arts as a foundation for belonging and shared memory. Dallas has that same potential, and Ross and Rachel believe the arts can be a cornerstone in making that shift. Through ARTFUSS, they are proud to be part of West Dallas’s Tin District and contribute to building that cultural future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.art-fuss.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artfuss_gallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/on5thgallery
Image Credits
Matthew Osborne (19Production House)
Patrick Crowe (PCrowe Photography)
Nathan Diebenow
