The Goss-Michael Foundation

UPDATE

Kenny Goss, the owner, and George Michael, his pop-music-star partner, have created the Goss-Michael Foundation to encourage Americans to learn about contemporary British art. The former Goss Gallery has also been rechristened the Goss-Michael Collection.

Published in The Dallas Morning News: 06.28.07
Also Online
- Goss changing its name, mission

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By JANETKUTNER / The Dallas Morning News

Flashing LED lights at the corner of Cedar Springs and Fairmount herald the opening of Goss Gallery, a venue with international cachet.

Owner Kenny Goss, a Dallas native, is musician George Michael's partner. They have homes in London and the British countryside as well as here. Lots of walls to fill, which they've done by haunting leading galleries in London, Paris and New York.

Hamiltons, the tony London gallery owned by British playboy Tim Jeffries, is one of them, and he's signed on as Goss Gallery consultant. Hamiltons director Filippo Tattoni-Marcozzi, a native of Rome, will take on the additional job of Goss Gallery director-curator. He's also advising Queen Rania, wife of King Abdullah of Jordan, on art for their new palace.

But it takes more than celebrity status to sell art, and these guys have business savvy. Mr. Goss ran the western division of a big sports events-products company until his recent retirement.

Their candor is refreshing. Mr. Goss makes no pretense of being an art expert. He started by collecting Santa Fe art - "not the good stuff," he says. "But George and I are lucky enough to get to travel, and I believe it's possible to improve your taste with exposure to the right things."

He got the idea of starting a Dallas gallery while visiting Hamiltons in November and targeted the space that was formerly Florence Art Gallery.

"We're tapping into a new market of buyers willing to spend between $50,000 and $100,000," Mr. Jeffries says.

There should be plenty of customers around, based on prices being paid for new Uptown condos and apartments.
Published in The Dallas Morning News: 03.13.05