INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Art dealer Sarah Birtles seated with her four daughters amongst the colourful contemporary artwork she sells.
Photo Credit: Jordan Wheatley
As a mother to four daughters and one of four girls herself Sydney art dealer Sarah Birtles often thinks of her eldest's reaction to her twin sisters’ arrival, ‘Wow, we got plenty ladies here!’ Sarah started Sarah Birtles Art + Advice in 2020 to fulfil her dream of selling original artwork by Australian artists from her home in the Blue Mountains so she can see her girls every day.
From Sarah….
2019 was a tough market for job-seekers and vacant positions in the niche Sydney commercial galleries were particularly scarce. I was looking for the next step up from my position as a part-time Gallery Manager but each time the interviewer realised I lived 1.5 hours from the city or had four children in primary school the doors would quietly close.
And then, in 2020, the pandemic hit. I lost my part-time position and then a second casual gig as galleries across Sydney closed and down-sized. It felt like I was out of options.
But it turned out to be the short circuit I needed. I started to listen to the people who kept telling me to open my own business. I thought to myself ‘If not now then when?’ I really didn't want to get to eighty years old and say I had been too scared to give it a go.
So, Sarah Birtles Art + Advice was born, a uniquely personalised service to help individuals and businesses to find, purchase and install original artworks by Australian artists.
The heart of my business is connecting people with art. Sometimes people ring for a chat about an artwork, I sort out a custom solution and they purchase one artwork. Others really love the benefits of the inner circle that come with repeat purchases; reading the newsletters, seeing artwork before it hits the website, inside information, meeting the artists, personal deliveries and so on.
Running a business is hard and sometimes it feels like a series of mistakes is the only way to discover what will work. But I have an amazing team of artists to work with and most days I have to pinch myself because I’m doing what I thought was impossible 3 years ago. I am selling artwork by notable Australian artists and I feel incredibly lucky that I’m home to eat dinner with my four girls most nights.
And my girls? They love the business too. They adore seeing the many new artworks come through our house, meeting the artists, sharing the social media posts and holding robust conversations about their favourite paintings. They love to see me energised and making grand plans for the next exhibition or art fair. But I think what they love more than anything is being beside me to share each step.