Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie DAlessandris.
Hi Marie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I worked as a fashion and beauty executive for twenty years. During my career, I had the opportunity to work with many talented fashion photographers on set. Many people don’t realize how much creativity goes into shooting fashion and beauty campaigns. To create one image, the best makeup artists, hairdressers, stylists, models, and photographers come together and align on a creative vision… some photographers, like the legendary late Chris von Wangenheim, brought live, viscous Dobermans into the studio, set cars on fire, and created other film-worthy sets for one image.
Fashion photographers have a special appreciation for beauty and art, and they create images which are technically precise and very powerful. They also are in the pulse of societal spirit. They have an acute sense of the underlying drivers of society, and nothing excites me more than participating in decoding their messages. Their photographs are truly works of art.
In that context, I began to realize what a waste it was that such stunning photographs were being produced only to be featured in one issue of a magazine and then archived. This is especially true as the world becomes more fast-paced and digital. At the same time, many photographers are concerned only with practicing their craft in the present and do not always manage their archives well. As time goes on, we are going to miss these fashion photographs.
I started the gallery in 2018 with the hope of preserving the archives of the most talented fashion photographers. The gallery’s mission is twofold – to make fashion photographer available to collectors, and to educate on fashion photography.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Leaving the corporate world to start a gallery was a huge leap of faith. As with any start-up, there are ups and downs. But it has been incredibly rewarding to watch the gallery grow. When I started the gallery, it was just a dream to come as far as we have now. So, any of the struggles have really been outweighed by the experience of growing with this amazing project.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a gallery, but we also are custodians of our photographers’ archives. This gives us access to the entire ouvres of our artists and allows us to offer customizations to our clients that are really unique. We can source never-before-seen photographs, print in truly exceptional grand-scale formats, and really make each photograph a collector’s dream piece. I think that sets us apart from other galleries.
We are also completely digital, though we regularly have pop-up exhibitions. This allows us to really reach a wider audience and collaborate with some amazing brands. We just opened an exhibition in collaboration with luxury haircare brand Davines and have previously done work with YSL and Maison Margiela. Being able to share our brand’s identity and perspective, but also create experiences which speak to the values of our collaborators, is a really exciting aspect of The Selects.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I grew up in Paris, and in Europe photography and fashion photography are widely celebrated. Acclaim for the medium in the United States has come much slower. I have always felt that fashion photography would become big in the United States, however, it is always a risk trying to predict exactly when a trend will happen. I left the corporate world to start this gallery not knowing if fashion photography would take off tomorrow or in ten years, but truly believing in my mission and knowing that there are people out there who are looking for a gallery like ours, who share our values.
For The Selects, the risk paid off. Fashion photography is skyrocketing in popularity. It is showing up in celebrity homes, museum collections, and in almost every major photography auction. However, even if this was not the case, I would be happy to have the gallery and still believe in our mission. When you truly believe in something, I think you have to take risks, and it will be worth it regardless of the result.
Contact Info:
- Website: theselectsgallery.com
- Instagram: the selects gallery
- Facebook: the selects gallery
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC85rhozsCsXymq7hNmir7xQ
