Daily Inspiration: Meet Juliana Maxwell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Maxwell

Hi Juliana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up in Loveland, a small town in Colorado, I was raised by parents that valued, appreciated and collected art. My father was an attorney for several sculptors, and he and my mother help start Sculpture In The Park 40 years ago, which is now one of the largest sculpture shows in the US. From growing up working in a foundry in the summer to pursuing a degree in art myself, I’ve always loved the creative process. I love being around fellow artists and I also value the collector/buyer that encourages and supports the artists. I received my BFA from TCU in communication graphics and started J Hammond Design primarily doing album design and creative direction in the music industry in the early 90’s. After my son Wyatt was born, I stopped working to raise my three boys while my husband Joe traveled and started several companies. Wyatt, my oldest, fell in love with glass while at Centre College and shared with me this new medium. In 2022 when my youngest went away for college and Wyatt was launching the Glasshaüs, he asked if I wanted to start a gallery and I decided to go for it. I love working with artists as well as people trying to find the perfect piece of glass art. I also enjoy helping design custom glasswork, installations and lighting alongside Glasshaüs resident artist and head of glass, Paul Nelson.
Maxwell Gallery is dedicated to showcasing and representing the work of glass artists, with a focus on high caliber glass art from emerging to master glass artists. The gallery’s location, directly across from the hot shop inside Glasshaüs, gives us the unique ability to share the process of blowing glass and allows the buyer/collector to watch firsthand this mesmerizing process, and meet directly with some of the resident and visiting artists.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The build out took longer than expected and introducing glass to Nashville is taking time as we are a destination, we do not have walking traffic. However, being inside of an event space has brought many buyers. Everyone who has come in the gallery loves it and as we become more known for being the only glass gallery in Nashville that has internationally renowned museum quality pieces while also helping to facilitate and design amazing custom work, I look forward to meeting more in the local design community. Technology has been a struggle for me. It has taken a lot of time to learn new platforms for the gallery as well as learn how to properly run a gallery. I find it so ironic that being a mom who kept my boys away from social media, I am now forced to use and be on social media constantly which I find exhausting.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I own and curate Maxwell Gallery. I also handle all custom glass for clients in the gallery and the Nashville Glasshaüs. I get to select the artists I want to represent as well as the pieces I want in the gallery, I arrange the art work in the gallery as well as throughout the Glasshaüs. I love working with clients to find the perfect piece of art glass for their space and I love to show people our space because it is so unique and everything is handmade. I try to treat my artists well. I want them paid as soon as I get paid. I love exposing glass to Nashville. My favorite thing is when I am sitting at my desk and someone opens the door and walks in, they always are shocked at how beautiful and versatile glass is.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The bible is my favorite book. If I am not reading it regularly, I am off. Hiking/Walking my 3 labs daily at Percy Warner keeps all of us happy as well. I am always reading something whether it is historical non fiction or a good fiction, a cookbook or how to be a better mom or human. Talking to my 91 year old dad or my husband who are both entrepreneurs are also great resources as I have started. I am blessed with a very close family so I love when my nest is full and we are all hanging around together traveling, playing, or cooking together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maxwellgallery.art
• Instagram: maxwellgallery.art
• Facebook: Maxwell Gallery
• Twitter: @maxwellgallery
• Other: 483 Graighead Street, Nashville TN 37204