Hello Ridglea Residents! What a thrill it is to be featured in this month’s Stroll Magazine! William Campbell Gallery (WCG) has been a part of the Fort Worth community for almost 50 years, with our flagship location just down the street on Byers Avenue. Founded in 1974 by Bill and Pam Campbell, WCG is a beloved Fort Worth institution that nurtures awareness and appreciation for the diversity of contemporary art.  

In December 2020, after nearly half a century of ownership by the Campbells, the Gallery was acquired by Fort Worth Contemporary Art Partners (FWCAP) which includes Tim and Misty Locke, Jadz Pate, Clayton Snodgrass, and J.W. and Andrea Wilson. (Fun Ridglea fact: J.W. is the great-grandson of the Father of Ridglea, A.C. Luther, and older brother to last month’s Stroll cover feature Kristi Wilson). In March 2022, a second Gallery location was opened on Foch Street. Then, in February 2023, the Gallery was pleased to appoint Anne Kelly Lewis as its new director.   

As WCG embarks on its 50th anniversary, Director Anne Kelly Lewis sat down to reflect on the Gallery’s legacy and share the vision she has for its future as a pivotal player in the region’s contemporary art scene.

My interest in the art world started, as it did for many in the industry, at a young age. As a child growing up in Fort Worth and throughout my formative years, visiting art museums was a regular part of my life. Art History has always been my passion, but even more so, how visual arts positively impact people and communities. 

My undergraduate degree was in Arts Management. After graduation, I started my career at David Dike Fine Art, a retail gallery in Dallas. Being DFW gallery neighbors, I often worked with Bill and Pam Campbell. Under the mentorship of Pam I pursued a profession as a fine art appraiser and moved back to Fort Worth in 2006. I saw firsthand the powerful and beautiful art collections Fort Worth has to offer. In fact, some of my favorite personal collections are in the homes of Ridglea area collectors! 

In December of 2022, the Partners of William Campbell Gallery reached out and we began a conversation about becoming the Gallery’s new Director. I had long been an admirer of the esteemed Gallery, so the opportunity to be a part of this team felt like a dream come true. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to connect to the art community here, across the state, and beyond. William Campbell Gallery is immensely respected, and I am honored to lead it into its next chapter.

How would you describe the unique vision and mission of William Campbell Gallery? What sets it apart from others?
William Campbell Gallery has a long-standing and established emphasis on contemporary artwork that is focused on abstraction, geometric abstraction, and artists who have a unique and modern approach. Over the decades, the Gallery has curated an unparalleled stable of artists, not only exceptional Texas talent, but artists from across the country and globe. WCG remains a hub for contemporary art. We are proud to focus on artist and collector relationships built on trust and support, while collectively celebrating the unique creativity each artist brings into our community. 

With the new ownership and my new role here, we feel a great sense of responsibility to carry on the legacy of the Gallery. We aspire to continue the program that Bill and Pam started all those years ago. We also want to bring new fresh art to Fort Worth by curating a stable of up-and-coming talent as well as established contemporary fine artists not as familiar to our community (yet). And finally, we want to ensure we celebrate our artists’ creativity through in-person exhibitions, receptions, and artist talks. This allows our patrons to meet our artists face-to-face while socializing with other Fort Worthians who share a passion for the arts. 

I’m excited about our fall program of exhibitions that begin in September and run until 2024. As we have for so many years, we participate in FWADA (Fort Worth Art Dealers Association)’s Gallery Nights in September and March. We recently held opening receptions for Fall Gallery Night at both the Byers Avenue and Foch Street locations, where artists Gigi Mills, Patty Sutherland, Maxine Helfman, Julie Lazarus, Stephen Daly and Cecil Touchon were exhibited. These current shows are on display until October 21, and more information on the artists and future exhibitions can be found on our website, williamcampbellgallery.com. 

In 2024, William Campbell Gallery will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Gallery plans to host special exhibitions and events, not only to honor and commemorate the founders, Bill and Pam Campbell, but also the artists we have represented over the years. We look forward to the next fifty years of the Gallery’s life and continuing to bring world class contemporary art to our community.