After 20 years on Ballard Ave, Curtis Steiner will be closing his gallery.
Steiner made the announcement on Facebook, saying that after months of being closed, he’s had the opportunity to think about the future.
“This time of quarantine has gifted me the luxury to contemplate whether this work is still rewarding and whether I can even afford it,” Steiner writes. “I’ve realized that I feel like I’ve pretty well expressed everything I’ve wanted to in regards to retail. This combine this with the cost of having a space, the negative impact of changing shopping habits, the real danger of more break-ins and now the months of forced closure and I have to conclude it is time to close this chapter of my life.”
Steiner, an artist and curator, reflected on the day he opened his Ballard Ave gallery, saying his first window display was of a “curly paper banner proclaiming in calligraphic lettering ‘Not Afraid of Beauty!’ I haven’t done this work for the business, but for the beauty.”
As Steiner begins to close up shop, he says he has years of props, displays, and store fixtures that will be for sale. He’ll hold a “farewell sale” soon and will announce the details on social media.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be allowed to share my vision of retail re-imagined and manage to make a living along the way. Very few get to express themselves as loudly or for as long as I’ve been able to,” Steiner writes. “Thank you Ballard for giving me a venue to do this.”