New Gallerie Citi opens its doors in Burlingame

If you were to walk a mile in Elizabeth Barlow’s shoes, eventually you’d end up at Gallerie Citi in Burlingame. The San Francisco-based artist is one of five whose work will be on display during the first series in the newest contemporary art gallery on the Peninsula.

"The ... show is really beautiful,” Andra Norris, the director and founder of Gallerie Citi, said. "And I think anybody who comes through the doors, if they give themselves a chance to sit in front of it, it will speak to them.”

Gallerie Citi shares the building with Today Sotheby’s International Realty, a business long associated with the art auction company. Norris’ building partner, James Meader, feels their shared space and common interests makes them good allies.

"The sophisticated art level [of Gallerie Citi] and our brand we think go together,” Meader said. "I think it’s going to be a very exciting thing. We plan to do several events, bouncing off each other’s client lists and everything.”

Gallerie Citi opened its doors to the public on Saturday, Sept. 1 showing the first set of a three-part series entitled Introduction One. Introduction One will run for two months displaying five artists, Introductions two and three will run back to back each showcasing five new artists.

"There are 15 artists and each show runs two months, after six months, people will have had a chance to see the entire roster,” Norris said. "The work is varied but it works together because each piece is so strong, each artist does such good work that it could stand on its own and it could stand in any group.”

Kim Frohsin is showing a series of work using mixed media paintings and drawings she calls "head studies” in the first Introduction series.

"Andra always loved this part of my work and she knew it was just sitting in flat files in my studio so, when she decided to open a gallery, she said, ‘Kim, I know no one carries this part of your work, and I would like to show the head studies,’” Frohsin said. "So actually, it’s this year — since she has showed interest — (that) I’ve started drawing head studies again at the end of the sessions.”

"I’ve known some of these artists for many years and some of them I’ve met very recently,” Norris said. "And we’ve spoke a lot before we joined forces because it’s a partnership. I have a partnership with the artists and also with the community.”

Barlow’s most recent work of stories, told through people’s shoes, is currently on display in Introduction One. Barlow has been working with this series for about two years and started it when two friends were married when gay marriages were allowed in San Francisco. She created a painting of the shoes in which they got married.

"I’m very honored to be in this great gallery and on the Peninsula because I think it’s going to be really great for Andra to have a gallery of this quality,” Barlow said of her work being on display at Gallerie Citi.

Artist Frédéric Choisel’s work will also be on display during the third Introduction series. Choisel describes his work as being both realistic and abstract.

"I’m very excited about being here,” he said. "Because Andra is a very elegant person, very refined, and I think this gallery reflects that. Every artist represented here seems to be different but of very good quality. "

Along with showing and selling art, Gallerie Citi will focus on art consulting in early 2013.

"We’re hoping to have fundraisers and auctions and really help the city, help Burlingame in some ways,” Norris said. "We’re going to have a lot of fun engaging those people and doing a lot of good things for the community together, because art has that appeal.”

Gallerie Citi is located at 1115 Howard Ave. in Burlingame and is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday. For more information on the gallery and its artists visit www.gallerieciti.com.