Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Benjamin of Syd Entel Galleries/Susan Benjamin Glass, Etc.
Hi Susan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My mother, Syd Entel, who started the gallery in 1980, instilled a deep love of the arts in me. Art is simply part of our family heritage. Together, we have established a gallery that brings beautiful and meaningful artwork to our community that can be loved and appreciated for generations. Every piece of art I bring into the gallery is something that I love. I hand-pick items based on design, color, and quality. My belief is that one should buy art because it moves you. There is no wrong or right to collecting art, and I want people to feel comfortable and at home when they walk into the gallery.
Syd Entel helped start the Dunedin Fine Art Center. Her first gallery was a showroom on the 11th floor of a Clearwater building. She moved the gallery to Safety Harbor in 1980 and built the current gallery space in 1986. In 2001 I expanded my collection of hand-blown glass and added Susan Benjamin Glass Etc. to the mix. We have been a thriving fine art gallery for 42 years, and are still going strong.
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?
While no road is perfectly smooth, we have been graced with an excellent reputation in the fine art community. We have maintained a strong and steady business for 42 years. Even through the pandemic, we managed to find creative ways to bring art to our clients and community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Syd Entel Galleries/Susan Benjamin Glass Etc.?
Syd Entel Galleries/Susan Benjamin Glass is housed in a pink Art Deco building on Main Street in Safety Harbor. The 5500-square-foot gallery has been in business for 42 years and remains one of the premier galleries in the state. Over the last four decades, we have brought the finest contemporary artistic talent from around the world to the Tampa Bay Area. Some of our past and current artists are Peter Max, Leroy Neiman, Helen Zarin, Thomas Arvid, Erte, Dasha Reich, Leon Applebaum, Hessam , Maya Eventov, Margaret Juul, Lun Tse, Wes Hunting, Susan Gott, Alex Sepkus and so many more.
Our gallery specializes in original paintings, limited edition prints, hand-blown glass, and jewelry. We are proud to be one of the premier art galleries in Florida. Providing gorgeous art that carries a deep meaning and human value, is our distinct pleasure. Come visit and see the beauty we have to offer in person.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I have learned is that art is very personal. Art evokes many different emotions in people and there is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing art. My main goal in the gallery has been to provide quality artwork and to educate and encourage my clients to choose the artwork that they love and want to be surrounded by. In doing that I have developed many happy clients that have been enriched by the artwork they have purchased through the years. I always say that I don’t sell art … art sells itself!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sydentelgalleries.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydentelgalleries/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydentelgalleries/
