When I walk into TAG, Claudia Fiks Gallery, I feel like the world stops. I want to freeze this moment and take everything in. Every single piece. The way this space is set up, the art works on the wall, the hanging installation, the shop full of handmade pieces, every single thing is mesmerizing and magical.

The energy in this space is beautiful. The gallery is a membership based space for artists that are able to display their works of art on a rotational basis. Every month the show changes, its a new theme with different pieces. The diversity of the talent, the scope of the exhibit, the amount of pieces on view created by artists of all ages from all walks of life, is unparallel. There’re paintings by a high school student, and pieces by artists who’ve had a different career and started pursuing art after retirement. There’re well-established artists that exhibit all over the world, teach, write in art publications, have solo shows and emerging artists that are just starting out. Painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry makers, seamstresses, working across all medias in all types of styles come together in this space to create a community that’s supportive, empowering and transformative.

Perhaps the most jarring thing about this space is that it’s affordable and accessible. It’s for everyone. From a person that knows nothing about art to the museum docent, there’re pieces that will captivate, inspire, question and leave a lasting impression. Why did the artist make those choices? How was this made? After years of exploring New York City galleries full of stuffy gallery assistants and overpriced art pieces, this space is refreshing and lovely. I want to explore every work of art. I want to meet every artist. I see the labels next to each piece and it’s all affordable. From a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, nothing requires a billionaire’s budget to be purchased for a personal collection or a commercial space.

August show is called: Inhabiting Space: Presence, Purpose, and Possibility. What a fitting title for a space perfectly positioned to explore the theme from all angles. How the works of art inhabit the space and how we relate to them in this beautiful gallery, bathed with natural light, filled with architectural highlights, metal columns reminiscent of Soho, high beams of dark natural wood, perfectly white walls. Being present in this space allows for an active meditation, exploring the works of art while thinking about our purpose, the art’s purpose and the realms of possibility expand. It’s possible to change our energy, its possible to relate differently to people and objects in this space, it’s possible to expand our ways of thinking in all directions previously unforeseen. It’s possible to be inspired and to create. We’re all artists at heart.