BEHIND Meet

In the increasingly competitive world of art dealers, pert, petite, and dynamic, Ruth-Ann Thorn has emerged as this generation’s Mary Boone. Without the support of a Leo Castelli, Ruth-Ann worked her way up from the ground floor, opening her first gallery in 1995.

Today, she successfully owns and operates Exclusive Collections Galleries (located in Beverly Hills, San Diego, Historic Gaslamp, Laguna Beach, and The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas) as well as Crown Thorn Publishing, known for discovering, developing and representing talented and collectible young artists. And if these were not enough, she has also expanded into the world of international art fairs with her latest venture, Empress Contemporary, which showcases outstanding, mid-career, fine art from around the globe.

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Ruth-Ann credits her success in the art industry to both of her parents. “I was raised in an artistic family, but my sister and I were also raised in a very strong work-ethic environment,” Thorn says. “As a woman, the main thing that’s influenced me to be successful is that my mother and father never treated us gender specifically. My dad stressed that we needed to learn how to be self sufficient because he didn’t want us growing up dependent on anyone.”

EXCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS GALLERIES

Her passion is to promote her artists and offer their work to the public through her galleries and art fair stands. “I am not afraid to look for talent in places others would not. Many artists are self-taught with no formal training and some are yet to be discovered in other countries. Either way, my purpose on the planet is to bring their art to those who need to see it!”

uth-Ann Thorn

THE CUR T AIN

Photo Credit: Nicholas Shetterly, NASFILMS

Although she has no formal background in art, Ruth- Ann Thorn was surrounded by creative influences as a child. Thorn grew up in an artistic community in Portland, Oregon, and her mother was an artist and her father a physician by day and musician by night. These influences exposed her to art of all types and gave her the foundation to be so successful.

“When you learn self-esteem as a child — that you can do something and accomplish it — you are not as fearful when you get older to try something different,” Thorn says. “Art teaches us to try something new, to create and to take risks.”

“I am not afraid to look for talent in places others would not. Many artists are self-taught with no formal training and some are yet to be discovered in other countries.”

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