Fresh paint

Atlanta-based Donna Krueger wanted to bring something fresh to Homewood. The gallery owner behind dk Gallery in Marietta, Georgia, has expanded her business with the opening of a new gallery space across the street from Zoe’s Kitchen on 29th Avenue South in SoHo. 

Dk2 gallery opened its doors at the former Generation Dog location Aug. 18 with its first show, “I’ve Got the Blues,” featuring about 40 pieces from artists nationwide. 

Krueger, a lifelong art enthusiast and collector, began considering opening a gallery when her youngest child left for college. The 53-year-old advertising and marketing professional said she spent a number of years as a stay-at-home mom and was ready for a change. 

“It was that ‘What am I going to do with my life?’ moment,” she said. 

Upon suggestion from a friend and fellow gallery owner, Krueger started looking into opening an art gallery. After receiving overwhelming support from family and friends, she took the plunge and opened dk Gallery in the historic Marietta downtown square in November 2008. 

Eventually, Krueger began thinking about expanding her Marietta gallery. She said the resurgence of the Birmingham art community, coupled with the fact that her daughter Jessica lived there, led her to pursue Birmingham as the No. 1 location for a new gallery. 

In late May 2016, Krueger’s daughter was having lunch at Zoe’s Kitchen in Homewood when she noticed a space across the street was for sale. She told her mother, and less than three months later, dk2 Gallery was open to the public. 

“We always had our eyes open for space, but this was just the dream,” Krueger said. 

Krueger said she chose Homewood rather than downtown Birmingham because of the “casual sophistication” and “approachable elegance” the community has. With about 1,200 square feet and about half the space of the original dk gallery, Krueger said her new Gallery was the perfect place to dip her toes into Birmingham. 

Both galleries represent artists from across the nation in a variety of styles. The dk brand represents more than 30 artists whose pieces, along with those of guest artists, make up Krueger’s monthly collections in both galleries. Though the art in Krueger’s galleries differ in medium, style, inspiration and scope, there is one thing every piece has in common.

“I think the word we talk about is ‘fresh,’” Krueger said. “The subject matter might be traditional, but the work you’ll see in the gallery has a fresh approach to it; it’s work you won’t see every day.”

Krueger said she is selective when choosing art and artists for her gallery shows. She looks for artists who have accomplished bodies of work, but more importantly she waits for a feeling. 

“It’s that ‘aha moment’ when people come in and are stopped dead in their tracks,” she said. “It’s work that emotes a response.”

Three such dk2 artists are Birmingham’s own Gina Hurry, Jayne Morgan and Fonde Taylor. All three painters have joined as featured artists at Krueger’s Homewood gallery. Krueger said though she doesn’t exclusively sell Southern art, her galleries concentrate on the Southern artist because she wants her collectors to get to know the artists behind the work they purchase. Eighty percent of Krueger’s sales come from repeat buyers, and her friends even joke that she creates art addicts. 

“They become vested in the artist’s career, and that’s a really cool thing,” she said. “We become a family.”

New shows at dk2 Gallery will open every third Thursday. September’s show is themed “I’ve Got the Blues,” October is “Inside Out;” November is “Smile,” and December is “Home for the Holidays.” Pieces range from $200 to almost $20,000; dk2 offers delivery, online real-time inventory, layaway and the ability to take work on approval.