As a gallery owner, Ella Walton Richardson is a conduit for both new and established art lovers to find pieces that captivate their imaginations, move their souls and will become important additions to their collections. More than a business, owning a gallery is a calling for Richardson, whose life was profoundly impacted by art from a young age.
“Even as a child, I enjoyed gazing at sculpture and paintings,” says Richardson, who recalls going every summer with her mother and aunt to Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and gazing with wonder at its many outdoor sculptures. “It was so magical to me. Then when I was 19, I visited the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles. The museum was designed to have the feel of a Roman seaside villa, and the experience was one that left my soul feeling captivated by the beauty of the setting and many pieces of the collection. Before I left that summer’s day, I purchased a poster by Spanish impressionist Joaquín Sorolla of The Wounded Foot. It depicts a beach scene of two young girls in the foreground playing in the surf, and his use of color and light moved me. I still have it as it is a reminder of what a difference a day can make. It was the day art changed me on the inside.”
The emotional connection she felt became a guiding force—though its true impact didn’t fully emerge until she met John C. Doyle, who went on to become a pivotal figure in Charleston’s gallery scene. Although they first crossed paths as young adults, their relationship deepened 25 years later when they reconnected through a mutual friend. “I’d moved back to Charleston, and my friend Lisa introduced us, thinking we had a lot in common,” Richardson says. “Despite the large age gap between us, she was right. On our first date, John said to me, ‘If I had an art gallery, I would definitely want you to run it. You have such passion for art and that can’t be bottled!’ A few years later, we opened his gallery.”
What Doyle sensed in her was, indeed, passion—and that passionate love for art has been one that saw her through to becoming first an art dealer and later a gallery owner herself. “I love what I do and feel grateful that I have the privilege to represent talented professionals from around the globe, which makes working with me an authentic experience for my collectors,” Richardson notes. “When I started as an art dealer in 1997, I did not own a computer. One day at a time, I learned the business and marketing sides of running an art gallery. Sometimes it has been one step forward and two steps back, but that is life. I’ve had some exceptional encouragers along the way.”
Richardson opened her eponymous gallery in 2001, focusing on offering a mixture of regional, national and international artists at a time when most Charleston galleries were predominantly representing local artists. Her artists helped differentiate the gallery then, and she continues to represent work that gives the gallery an edge. Currently, she represents 30 artists and also features a small, curated selection of artworks on consignment.
“I carry an eclectic mix of both subject matter and styles by national and international award-winning artists,” says Richardson. “I have found these remarkable talents through travels, seeing their work in magazines and by meeting them in person. What makes my job so difficult is that I must be incredibly selective. I may love someone’s work, but I have to feel that they are the right fit for the gallery and our clientele. When we do sign an artist, we give 100% of our time and efforts to promote and sell their work, and we provide unparalleled attention to detail throughout the sales process.”
As discerning as she must be in vetting artists, the atmosphere Richardson has created in the gallery is incredibly inviting. “Our goal is for visitors to feel relaxed and at home when they come in to look at the art,” she says. “We also help with curating collections, installations, lighting and framing, as well as design services. We ascertain if our clients have specific needs and help them to find pieces that not only work in their space but, above all, will be art they love. Great art will continue to pay you a dividend every day—and that is my ultimate goal here. I want to connect artists with people who will love and appreciate their work. I believe that the ability to create art is a God-given gift. When the creative spark ignites a person’s imagination and their artistic conclusion makes the viewer feel the intended emotion, that is pure magic. I have gotten goosebumps and been brought to tears by the creativity I’ve seen. Our world needs art to feel fully alive—I truly believe that it is the oxygen that fuels the soul!”
The gallery recently began representing Brooke Major, who discovered her passion for painting at the age of 3 and was inspired to pursue art as a career after meeting a plein air painter during a childhood trip to Mexico. Her artistic journey has been influenced by impressionism, postimpressionism, the Renaissance masters and the Dadaist movement. In all of her work, Major’s inspiration is deeply personal, drawing from her life experiences and her close bond with her horses, which she calls her “living sculptures.” Her work strives to capture their essence through thick, sculptural oil paint applied with palette knives, creating textures that shift with light and shadow.
Major’s artistic style reflects her individuality and dedication to her unique vision. Her “white world,” characterized by titanium white and beige tones, symbolizes peace, harmony and purity. Her work stands out for its originality, earning her notable recognition.
Major is a member of the Taylor Foundation for Visual Artists and has an international background in fine arts and international relations. She studied at the College of Charleston before completing her education in Paris. Her admiration for Charleston’s European-influenced architecture and rich history has remained strong.
Today, Major divides her time between the North Georgia mountains and the beaches of Normandy, France, where she raises her son and the horses that so inspire her.
Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as a freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on X at @laswrites or download her novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of Us and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
