Located in Minneapolis’s warehouse district, the Kickernick Gallery has become a destination for artists, collectors and enthusiasts alike. At the helm of this transformed former restaurant space is curator Christy Frank, a seasoned art aficionado and advocate for art accessibility. Ahead of Kickernick Gallery celebrating its one year anniversary next month, we chatted with Frank about her professional background, curation process and what’s on the horizon for the gallery.
Photography provided by Kickernick Gallery
How did you get your start in the art world?
As far back as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the arts. When the time came to pick a college major, I knew it had to be in art history. I went on to intern under Kathleen Daniels at the Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, and later at Rogue Buddha Gallery as well as the Minnesota Historical Society. That all led me to a placement at FAD Barcelona, which was the perfect choice to also obtain my minor in Spanish. After graduation, I had a hard time finding a job that interested me. That difficulty led me to opening a furniture and home goods store, which also served as a custom frame shop and art gallery. During that time, I sold local artwork for 13 years, hosting nearly 75 art openings and working with more than 100 local artists.
What inspires you when curating the gallery?
There are many factors that go into my curation process. First and foremost is how I respond to the art and how it makes me feel. I also think about subject matter and, being that we’re in downtown Minneapolis, I lean toward urban-inspired work. I also think about the seasons. For example, I wouldn’t show a summer pool scene in the winter, nor would I sell a winter scene in the summer. Another factor I keep in mind is price point and accessibility. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should be able to have access to art, so it’s not uncommon for me to place a $10,000 painting next to a $300 original piece of art. I also love mixing seasoned artists with emerging artists — new artists bring such joy and excitement, while seasoned artists often bring value and professionalism. I strive to showcase a variety of mediums, subject matter and price points. Other more obvious factors include quality, skill and marketability.
What does a typical day look like to you?
I wear many hats at the gallery and each day feels a little different. My day can include anything from working on our website to managing our POS system to handling the gallery’s social media. Other days can be spent scouring for new artists to represent, meeting with artists in person or even visiting studios. Every day always includes acting as a sales associate for the gallery. I place a lot of importance on building valuable customer relationships. While I spend many hours thinking about layout and placement on the days I’m installing a show, I’m always considering how all the work relates to each other and where the gallery’s impact points will be. But my favorite part of my job is seeing all of my work come together — sitting back and looking at a well-designed show that feels incredibly diverse yet cohesive all at the same time.
How did your partnership with Kickernick come about?
While I was operating my store/gallery, I rented retail space in one of the owners’ other buildings. She saw the connections and experience I had with the local art scene and, knowing my store had closed, she approached me about the curator position. This was the first week of July in 2024, and we had our grand opening weeks later. It was an absolute whirlwind, but we pulled it off! Now on our third show, we have showcased 30 local artists and we are working with another group of local artists for our upcoming anniversary show.
Can you share some upcoming exhibitions readers should look out for?
I am currently working on September’s One Year Anniversary show, which will open September 18. I can’t believe the gallery is turning one — what a wild ride it has been! We have some very exciting things in store for this exhibit.
Looking ahead, we have a very powerful show planned for spring in 2026. I’m honored to be working with the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota. This is a group of women who, in 1976, opened a gallery right here in the warehouse district of Minneapolis. The WARM Gallery was the largest women’s art gallery in the country at the time. Its mission was rooted in inclusivity and equity for women in the art world, which was greatly underrepresented. The collective will be celebrating 50 years with an exhibition at Kickernick Gallery. This will include work by as many of the members as possible, and I couldn’t be more excited to be involved with this part of women’s art history.
