It’s the contemporary art gallery we all know and love, but with a brand new team running the show.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, Brendan de Montigny is taking over as the new director and owner of Studio Sixty Six. Formerly known as the brains behind PDA Projects, de Montigny is replacing gallery founder Carrie Colton.
Sam Loewen remains as the gallery’s creative director, and Ginny Stovel will be the new director of operations.
Brendan de Montigny (centre) takes over as the new director and owner of Studio Sixty Six. Sam Loewen (right) remains as the gallery’s creative director, and Ginny Stovel (left) will be the new director of operations. Photo courtesy of Studio Sixty Six
Apt613 sat down with de Montigny to ask him about his new role, what it means to him, and what it means for the future of the gallery.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Apt613: How did this opportunity come about for you?
de Montigny: [Colton] and I have known each other for over a decade and we struck up a very close friendship where we would often talk about the importance of contemporary art in Ottawa, but also within Ontario, and most importantly in Canada.
Through these long conversations, we developed a rapport and an alignment on mainly three areas: How can the gallery be better to build the careers of artists? How can we, as art dealers, develop new relationships with collectors and inspire people that love arts and culture to a point where they can also purchase or work affordably? And how can we scale this model and create a longer term vision that solidifies the commercial arts scene in Ottawa as relevant and part of critical conversations happening across artistic and cultural disciplines?
What are you seeing in the broader arts community right now?
I think the Ottawa community right now is thriving, which is a unique condition that is slightly atypical from other communities across Canada.
In Ottawa, despite rising inflation, there are spaces for artists to congregate and collaborate and be creative together. There’s the Ottawa Art Spaces; there’s the Arts Court at SAW; and specifically what comes to mind is the excellent work that Rachel Weldon is doing with Pique. The programming that the Ottawa Art Gallery is doing also is extremely important to the community.
[But] there’s always room for improvement. From a publicly-funded lens, I truly believe that there needs to be more investment in emerging artists with less barriers and more ways to create accessibility for supporting artists.
Where does Studio Sixty Six fit into this current scene and how does it plan to contribute in the future?
I think that there are many different scenes; it’s plural. There are many different ways to be part of the cultural fabric that makes up the Ottawa community. There’s not one scene that’s better than the other; they’re all different.
As a director of Studio Sixty Six, I’m interested in talent and creating inclusive opportunities for all artists that have the grit, the game and the ambition. That includes emerging, mid-career and established artists working in multidisciplinary ways of making. If you’re an artist that we recognize that has that unique spark, we’re going to give it our everything to make sure that you thrive.
We’re going to continue building the legacy that Carrie Colton started 10 years ago. The work that she did is paramount to the success of the commercial market right now in Ottawa, [and] we wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for her hard work and passion for the arts.
With this new ownership, it’s also a new generation; and each generation comes with certain attributes and attitudes. But I find that the intergenerational comparison is of little importance to my own interests as a director. No matter what age, if you collect art, you’re going to get excellent expertise, advice and guidance in building a collection with an amazing team.
We are going to scale the gallery and hopefully be a new generation that makes Ottawa proud.
How does it feel to step into Colton’s shoes?
[It’s] a huge privilege. Dizzying. Wonderful. It’s butterflies, but in the most beautiful way.
How do you expect this new role to compare to your previous projects?
Essentially, it won’t. Studio Sixty Six and everything we are planning on doing is on a whole other level. It’s a totally different system and it has its own unique strategies.
The team at Studio Sixty Six has been there for years and that spirit of collaboration will continue. But other than that, this isn’t a sequel or a prequel. This is a standalone. This is going to be something remarkable.
Is there anything you’re most excited about?
I’m excited to work with artists to build their careers; to help build their legacy; to work with collectors, so that they’re making smart decisions that drive their own love for art first and investments thereafter.
I’m most excited about taking Studio Sixty Six beyond the borders of Ottawa into fairs nationally and internationally, and I’m excited to work with the team. I’ve known [Stovel] for a long time, I’ve known [Loewen] even longer […] and they are as much part of this new vision as I am.
On a personal note, this is sort of a return-to-form. I’ve been working in art galleries since 2009 off and on, [and] I’m always most excited when I’m working with artists in the context of a commercial gallery.
I’m honoured to be part of the history of this role, but for me, it’s not just a vocation—it’s a passion. It’s my first love, and it makes me thrilled that I’ve been honoured to continue the good work that needs to be done.
Why is it important to promote the visual arts in Canada?
It is important…because these are captured moments that express many identities, politics, critiques and discourses that will shape what our country will be as a society 10 years from now, 25 years from now, 50 years from now, 75, and so on.
Studio Sixty Six is a contemporary art gallery on Bank Street. For more information about exhibits, visit their website.
