Beyond the Traditional Gallery Space: Curating for Real Lives
What sets Bernay Fine Art apart from many other galleries is its willingness to step outside the traditional model. Most galleries showcase and represent artists, but many expect their clients to select works on their own. Bernay Fine Art uniquely offers a bespoke service, helping homeowners with the curation of an artistic vision. They will bring pieces to a client’ s home and even install the artwork in living spaces. Their hands-on, deeply personal approach is rare in the industry and has become the gallery’ s signature offering. Lou traces the inspiration for this service back to his finance days, where understanding the needs of clients was key to standing out in a commoditized market.“ Everybody could pretty much execute at the same level, but you have to make yourself special,” he explains. As a gallerist, that means demystifying the art-buying process, making it accessible and enjoyable, and helping clients find pieces that truly resonate in their homes.
Some clients know exactly what they want; others need time to live with a piece before committing. Bernay Fine Art accommodates both, offering painting loans and ongoing artistic advice. The result is a gallery that is a creative partner in what is a very personal and long-lasting decision. Paula echoes this ethos:“ A lot of people who come into the gallery really like what they see. But many people haven’ t had much exposure to art, so making decisions can feel challenging.”
She and Lou delight in helping clients discover what moves them, whether that means bringing a van full of paintings to a home for a“ try-on” session, or sending a quick snapshot of a new work to a collector who might love it. Their approach is flexible, personal, and always focused on the client’ s comfort and satisfaction.
“ Why should you feel intimidated to
Bernay Fine Art in Great Barrington specializes in helping clients curate art for their homes, like the ones seen in these pages. Previous spread, art by Michael Zelehoski in a New Marlborough home. Noah Post’ s artwork can be found in a bedroom of the home, opposite, and in the entryway, above. This beautiful living room, top of page, is made complete by the Karin Schaefer artwork.( Nat Rea and Pavlides Studio)
July 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 35