Writer Amanda Christmann
Photography Courtesy of Thomas Barnes
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]omething fateful was in the air in 1980 when former IBM marketing executive Thomas Barnes decided to turn his passion for collecting fine art into a pursuit to discover some of the world’s most talented emerging artists.
That serendipitous decision would lead him to Russia in 2001, where he would open doors for brilliant artists eager to share their work with the rest of the world.
It would also lead him to Lisa Allen a decade and a half later. Lisa, who attended Harvard and Oxford Universities and studied art at The Louvre, The Jeu de Paume in Paris and the British Institute in Florence Italy, was (and remains) a talented fine art appraiser. She would not only lend her expertise to the synergy of their art pursuits, but she would also become his wife two years later.
For 35 years, their company, Thomas Charles Editions, has been at the top of its game in the art business. With 13 galleries in California, Utah, Nevada and Arizona to their credit, Thomas and Lisa decided to lend their more-than 60 years of combined experience to a full-time venture into the wholesale fine art distribution world.
“We were in the retail gallery business for many years, and over a period of time, I began acting as a publisher in distributing original paintings, as well as limited edition giclées on canvas to galleries all over the United States and Western Canada,” Thomas explains.
With a 5,000-square-foot warehouse quietly tucked away near Anthem for nearly 20 years, Thomas Charles Editions has made a nationwide impact in the art world, providing beautiful prints, original art and exhibit-ready framing for galleries in Hawaii, California, New York, Las Vegas, Florida and beyond.
A large number of the works have been procured from Russian artists, who are among the Barneses’ personal favorites because of the extensive training available at the much-heralded academies in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Now, with the doors to retirement beginning to open, Thomas and Lisa are opening the vaults of their extensive collections to the public. Throughout the month of October, anyone interested in obtaining museum-quality work can peruse one or both of their websites and browse through realism-inspired oil paintings and giclées on canvas, then make an appointment to view the work in person.
Pricing is 50 to 75 percent off of gallery pricing, and collections include hundreds of framed original paintings, thousands of limited edition giclées on canvas, bronze sculpture and fine art glass. Custom framing is available.
It’s a rare and unique opportunity, and the art is outstanding. Designers and decorators are welcome, of course, and major credit cards are accepted.
Fall Fine Art Sale
Original paintings, giclées, bronze sculptures and art glass
50–75% off gallery pricing
Call to preview Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thomas Charles Editions
42302 N. Vision Way, Suite 105, Phoenix
623-582-4500
Comments by Admin