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Parish Gallery

I met Norman Parish ("Norm") nearly 15 years ago at the behest of my art history professor, Dr. Tritobia Benjamin, Dean of Fine Arts of Howard University. Dr. Benjamin shared with her class that a new gallery opened in Washington, and required her students to attend. Mr. Parish graciously welcomed many Howard University students to the gallery over the years, as we helped to write exhibit narratives, host openings, converse with celebrated artists, quietly hoped that one day we would either be able to curate an exhibit or be honored with a solo exhibition at the Parish Gallery, and all the while, work to the smooth melodies of one of Norman's favorite artists, John Coltrane.

Norm educated art history and visual art history students in the reality of the art market and shared with us his experience as an artist. He also helps to educated many collectors in the region, both novice and seasoned, about the great diversity of fine art. Norm, an artist in his own right, only exhibits work grounded in quality of substance and form. Every exhibition mounted at the Parish Gallery is presented with the utmost care and perfectionism.

A native of New Orleans, Norm Parish is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago. Norm has an impressive body of work held and exhibited in museum, corporate and private collections nationwide. Like many other talented artists who've found it impossible to penetrate the art and museum world, he empathizes with the need for places in which to exhibit art by African and African American artists.

Norm recalls, "Fifteen years ago, I was seeking a solo show of my paintings but was unsuccessful in finding a gallery that would show them. Sadly, many other artists have experienced this first hand. It was suggested that I open my own gallery. With that came the birth of the Parish Gallery. Since then, over 100 artists have been shown here, some well-known and greatly established...but many who would not have had the opportunity to exhibit otherwise. In this we take great pride."

Over the years, Parish has consistently introduced collectors to many genres of art and, importantly, their unique role in establishing the value of art. Parish states that, "Many people are introduced to black art through figurative imagery. They later become attached to particular artists, who then introduce them to many other genres of art."

Parish Gallery has hosted many great artists, including master African American artists Lois Mailou Jones, Wadsworth Jarrell, Samella Lewis, John Scott, E.J. Montgomery, Ed Clark, Richard Mayhew and Herbert Gentry. International contemporary artists have included Ethiopian artist, Wosene Kosrof, South African Ndebele artist, Ester Malangu, and Santo Domingan artist, Antonio Carreno. Through many years of exhibiting historically renown and contemporary artists, Parish has created and sustained for artists and collectors a welcome and familiar home that nurtures, inspires, and enlightens. One of Norm's favorite Coltrane songs, poignantly expresses the effect of the Parish Gallery on so many - it puts us in A Sentimental Mood. Thank you, Norm, for all that you do for the Washington arts community.

Sandy Bellamy

Sandy Bellamy
Executive Director, Reginald F. Lewis Museum

FIFTEEN YEARS

"Norm has shown a variety of artists from the Diaspora. He's introduced the museum to artists we haven't heard of. It's very convenient to work with him. He is the only gallery in Washington that works with such art. He's provided an important service to the art community. He's established as a reputable art dealer and we're happy to do business with him. Galleries like Parish's bring attention to artists we may not have visited ourselves. We're really appreciative to Norm for being such a viable art dealer."

-Dr. Roslyn Walker, Former Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art 

PARISH GALLERY / 1991 to 2005 

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