When and where does Galería Fran Reus comes about?

In 2003. I studied law but it wasn’t a career I had a passion for. Since I was little, thanks to my dad –he was a humble and passionate collector, and he had close relationships with artists since he was young-, on Saturday mornings we ran around Palma visiting galleries and artists’ studios. When I turned 24 I thought: why not give it a try? At that point I was working at a notary.

In what kind of art are you specially focused?

Last years I was focused on the emergent art in all of it aspects. Let me explain, I don’t discard other artists more veterans in fact we work rally well with them, but is more about where is the ambient where I am moving now, where lot of the artists have similar age as mine. I feel really comfortable with them because we have more things in common than with an artist more experimented. I think is also a generational fact. 

Fran, what criteria did you have in mind when it came time to create your new gallery in Passeig Mallorca de Palma?

I needed change. I looked for were spaces that were big enough to develop all of our exhibits. Secondly, the location needed to be a busy street with lots of people walking by, like Passeig de Mallorca. And lastly, it could not be outside of the artistic circle. We’re close to Es Baluart, Sant Feliu street…

What level of importance does Fran Reus give to balancing and designing the workspace?

Comfort is crucial. One of the reasons we moved here were the surroundings. The amount of natural light we get is wonderful. We’re in a very pleasant location with the promenade close by. We’re interested in finding a kind of décor that is as neutral as possible, without sacrificing quality: we sell art but as good as it might be, if the design or décor of your space aren’t hand in hand, the final product won’t work.

How was it working with Modelmon and how long have you been working with them?

We’ve known them for a few years now and it’s always been a pleasure working with them. When we’re selling an image, everything that isn’t related to art needs to be carefully considered and with Modelmon this is a very easy task. It’s been a lifelong relationship because Modelmon designed furniture when my parents got married. The funny thing is, that family home is now mine after more than 40 years.

For how long is your relationship with the store and what are the most complex aspects of this project?

At decoration of my house. Is an all life relationship because, if I don’y miss, Modelmon designed the furniture of my parents when they got married. The most curious thing is that this familiar house now is mine. After more than fourty years now I can enjoy it again.

In what direction are current tendencies going in the professional gallerist enviroment?

Practically all galleries in Palma have a predisposition to work in fairs outside of Majorca, and we all dedicate ourselves to contemporary art in all its forms. In 2009 I made a decision: to take a step ahead in our professionalization. From 2010 on, we made changes to adapt to current trends and to be 100% professional.

What up and coming young Majorcan artist would you highlight?

There are a lot. Julià Panadès, for example, with whom we’ve been working since 2010, is going strong. Bel Fullana and Albert Piña are also creating ripples. There’s a whole generation of artists from the 80s that are very interesting. We do a program called Noves Presències, sponsored by the Consell de Mallorca, directed at artists that are 35 years old or older that have never had an individual exhibit at a gallery.

What’s one well known artist with wich it’s always a special challenge to work on an exhibit for Fran Reus?

We’ve been working with Luís Maraver from the beginning, an artist from Seville living in Majorca for more than 50 years. With him, the latest projects have involved more than an exhibit at a gallery, but going with him to show his work outside in Cologne or Berlin. When it’s a well known artist, it makes more sense to go to institutional events, outside of Majorca, for international recognition.

What projects are you working on and what will we see in the near future?

We’re preparing a Damià Vives exhibit, an artist of Artà. In periods that separate each exhibit we’re putting together a performance program, in which we already have three confirmed artists under the coordination of the Majorcan Tolo Canyelles. The first one we did was during the month of May with Pepo Salazar, an artist that during the last year was one of the selected artists to be part of the Spanish pavilion at the Biennale di Venezia.