Spoonbill Gallery — Attraction in Greenville

Shocking Lack of Professionalism and Ethical Practices. My partner and I visited Spoonbill Gallery specifically this week to visit Sara, the gallery director, and catch up with her. We met Sara at a previous art event. What we discovered upon arriving at the gallery was deeply unsettling. Not only was Sara no longer working for the establishment, but the circumstances surrounding the owner, Rachel's, recent management decisions are a genuine professional nightmare for any arts worker. We were informed that Rachel had recently gone through the process of re-hiring for the Director position, only to then announce shortly thereafter that the new role does not exist. This is unprofessional behavior—soliciting qualified professionals, making promises of employment, and then pulling the rug out from under them and claiming the core role is nonexistent. This kind of manipulative and misleading conduct is the worst fear of artists and professionals everywhere. Given the current times we live in, when we should be unifying and supporting each other in the artists' community, this gallery owner is sending a clear message of completely unethical and profoundly disrespectful behavior. Regrettably, we decided to reconnect with the more reputable Art & Light down the road. We will certainly be informing our contacts in the Charleston artist community to avoid this gallery entirely. I have only three words for this establishment and the owner, Rachel: Shame,...

I traveled south to Atlanta and stopped over in Greenville, SC, specifically for this Friday's artist showing a Brian Hibberd, having accepted an invitation coordinated by the New Gallery Director. My direct contact and the assumed professional liaison were nowhere to be seen.

The disgrace, I soon learned, was that the owner had executed a swift, last-minute dismissal of this key professional, leaving a major engagement completely unstaffed. This isn't just poor management; it’s an act of extreme professional negligence. The female owner placed a false ad for a Gallery Director and then informed the professional that the role no longer exists after a week. As an established collector and investor, this was the most unprofessional encounter of my career. The owner clearly and disastrously underestimated the value of who you know over what you know, costing their gallery a potentially lucrative purchase.

While the physical presentation of the space was commendable, the reception service and the conduct of the female owner fell below the bare minimum.

Final Word of Caution: When an employee extends a formal invitation to a collector, and that collector shows up only to find that the individual has been summarily let go under a false job posting, you must be acutely aware of the reputational damage you inflict. This gallery gambled its standing and lost. Not recommended at all. Avoid this...

Gorgeous art gallery! The two ladies that were working, walked around with us and explained everything and made sure if we had any questions. They were answered absolutely love it and will be...