Fischer Galleries is moving from South State Street in Jackson to downtown Ridgeland this month after owner Marci Fischer found a space to continue to grow her business with the support of other small, independent business owners.
Fischer grew up in Jackson and raised her family here. Always having a passion for art, she began working with local photographer the late James Patterson when her two sons were young about 25 years ago. Not an artist herself but one with an appreciation of art and her own creative side, her passion evolved under his mentorship and working in his co-op gallery.
“I loved working with all of the artists that I met and already knew a lot of them because of my passion for arts in Mississippi,” Fischer said. “Working with James really grew my passion to work with Mississippi artists, getting to know them and their work. I love what I do, and I feel very fortunate to do what I get to do and to work with the caliber of artists that we do within the gallery.”
Fischer Galleries opened in 2008 after Patterson began to focus more on photography.
“It was no longer a gallery but more of an artist’s studio, and it left a void for a lot of artists not having a place to go and not having representation,” Fischer said.
Fischer said she was able to open her own gallery thanks to the art supporters in the community.
“Jackson has such an amazing community of art supporters,” Fischer said. “The support of the community is just enormous, and it’s fantastic.”
The clients and artists in Mississippi are some of Fischer’s favorite parts of her work.
“Without the artists and the clients who also have a passion for collecting and filling their homes with that great art, this wouldn’t be possible,” Fischer said. “That’s what makes the gallery so special to me.”
Most of the artists that fill Fischer Galleries are local to the state.
“All of the artists in Mississippi — writers, musicians, visual artists — are just phenomenal,” Fischer said. “It’s just been a real privilege to get to work with these really talented artists. Some artists live in New Orleans, Dallas, or New York, but most everyone has a tie to Mississippi.”
Fischer said walking into her gallery filled with these talented artists’ art feeds her soul.
“My favorite thing is the exuberance of walking into a space that just feeds your soul. I love that feeling of the color, the interesting work, the variety of art, and the variety of work.”
To continue to expand this space of “eye candy,” it became time for Fischer to find a new home. She began inquiring about space in Ridgeland. A place previously occupied a yoga studio on West Jackson Street in downtown Ridgeland became available.
“It has been a wonderful experience in Jackson with a beautiful venue, but I just needed a larger, more accessible space and this is the spot,” Fischer said.
Fischer was also interested in finding a place with more of a community of small, independent business owners. This wish came true with the community of businesses on West Jackson Street.
“It just worked out perfectly,” Fischer said. “There is just overall a community of independent, small businesses, and I’m very excited about that. There’s just amazing energy. I’m also excited about the potential of reaching more clients in the Ridgeland area.”
Fischer Galleries is hoping to open in its new location at 118 W. Jackson Street in Ridgeland on November 1 with an opening exhibit of new work from Jackson-local Richard Kelso.
“We’re just grateful for the support of the community,” Fischer said. “The gallery is not in any way about me. The gallery is about the Mississippi and regional artists and the community. I’m just very grateful to be a part of the community and very excited to be a part of the Ridgeland community. I just couldn’t be more thrilled that it worked out.”
