About Contessa Gallery

Founded in 1999, Contessa Gallery is a Fine Art Dealers Association Member (FADA) featuring a variety of artists, including blue-chip, established, and emerging artists, and art acquisition counsel to collectors, museums, and institutions. Contessa Gallery is built on three main principles: passion, integrity, and education. With a strong commitment to service and connoisseurship, Contessa Gallery has developed a notable local, national, and international following and a reputation for integrity and excellence.
 
While many galleries focus primarily on artist representation and promotion, Contessa Gallery is collector-oriented. Our mission is to assist clients in developing collections that have deep personal meaning. Contessa Gallery encourages its clients to view their collections as a legacy to be passed down through generations of family or to museums.

Contessa Gallery is dedicated not only to showcasing contemporary art but also to nurturing the careers of its artists. Our founders actively support the artists by mentoring them, placing works with collectors and museums, and providing opportunities to exhibit their works at prestigious art fairs and exhibitions. Through these efforts, we empower artists to grow their careers and reach new heights in the art world.
 
The gallery continues expanding its clientele and reputation through its exhibitions at its locations and participating in prestigious art fairs such as Art Basel-Art Miami, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, and Southampton Fine Art Fair. At the philanthropic level, Contessa Gallery seeks to make a difference in the community by contributing time, expertise, sponsorship, and educational programming for museums and arts organizations.

OWNERS' PROFILE

Contessa Tscherne is the visionary Founder and Co-Owner of Contessa Gallery. Contessa is a dynamic force in the world of modern and contemporary art, renowned for her keen eye and unwavering passion for creativity. Her journey began in the enchanting city of Salzburg, Austria, where she attended a prestigious finishing school that instilled in her a deep appreciation for the arts and refined her cultural sensibilities and global perspective. This formative experience immersed her in the rich heritage of European art and culture, nurturing her aesthetic sensibility and fostering a lifelong dedication to the field.

Following her time in Salzburg, Contessa continued her academic pursuits at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where she cultivated a profound understanding of art history and curation. This dual foundation—rooted in practical education and rich cultural experiences—prepared her for a remarkable career in the art world.

With a background in the prestigious luxury goods industry, Contessa seamlessly blends her expertise in high-end branding with her artistic vision, setting the stage for her entrepreneurial journey. Her passion and determination led her to establish Contessa Gallery, which now boasts locations in Palm Beach, Florida, Cleveland, OH, and the newly opened flagship gallery in Southampton, New York.

Under her leadership, Contessa Gallery has become a beacon for collectors and art enthusiasts, showcasing an impressive roster of modern and contemporary artists. Contessa's commitment to fostering artistic innovation and supporting emerging talent is matched only by her dedication to creating a welcoming space for dialogue and discovery.

Through her work, Contessa Tscherne continues redefining the art landscape, significantly contributing to the cultural fabric of the communities she serves. Her vision and passion elevate the profiles of the artists she represents and inspire a new generation of art lovers and collectors.

Steven Hartman is the Co-Owner of Contessa Gallery, which has permanent locations in Palm Beach, FL, Southampton, NY, and Cleveland, OH. Contessa Gallery continues to build its highly respected profile by curating important exhibitions and participating in prestigious art fairs. 

Mr. Hartman began collecting art at the age of twenty. After a successful career as an investment advisor and Vice President of UBS / PaineWebber, he transitioned to the art world to fulfill his passion for becoming a fine art dealer. Mr. Hartman is the past President of the Board of Directors for the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA), has won several art industry awards, and was on the Editorial Advisory Board of Art World News magazine.

Mr. Hartman has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations and privately held companies. He is a University of Michigan graduate, a recipient of the prestigious “40 under 40” award by Crain’s Cleveland Business, was inducted into the Orange High School Hall of Fame, and is a Wexner Leadership Development Program graduate.

Mr. Hartman is an avid collector fueled by his passion for art. He routinely collaborates with many museums, institutions, and top collectors on acquisitions.

Contessa Gallery strives to serve the community with its philanthropic efforts.

Contessa Tscherne and Steve Hartman of Contessa Gallery served as the presenting sponsors for the monumental outdoor spider sculptures created by artist Louise Bourgeois. This installation took place in 2002 at Star Plaza in Playhouse Square as part of a project undertaken by Cleveland Public Art.

Major support has been given to the following institutions:

Cleveland Public Art:

• Primary donor and presenting sponsor of the public exhibition Spiders by Louise Bourgeois, Cleveland Theater District, Star Plaza, Summer 2002

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA):

• Exclusive Sponsor of POPulence, Fall 2005
• Supporting Sponsor for the collaboration of Cleveland Museum of Art and MOCA: The Persistence of Geometry: Form, Content and Culture in the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Summer 2006
• Platino Level Supporting Sponsor of “La Vida MOCA!”, Annual Benefit Gala, honoring Toby Devan Lewis, 2006
• Exclusive Sponsor for the collaboration of Cleveland Museum of Art and MOCA: Richard Stankiewicz and John Chamberlain, Winter/Spring 2007
• Guilty Love Level Supporting Sponsor of the Annual Benefit Gala, honoring Marjorie Talalay, 2007
• Supporting Sponsor of The Business of Art Educational Panel, 2007
• Campaign LEEDers gift supporting the new building and its environmental sustainability

Akron Art Museum:

• Sponsor of the Public Symposium “Up Close and Personal with Chuck Close’s Friends” hosted by the Akron Art Museum in conjunction with the exhibition “Familiar Faces: Chuck Close in Ohio Collections”, October 11, 2009.
• Exclusive Sponsor of the Lenders and Sponsors Brunch preceding the Public Symposium, October 2009.
• Exclusive Sponsor of the new Akron Art Museum’s Major Donor Reception, July 11, 2007
• A key sponsor of the Akron Art Museum’s Defy Gravity opening gala, July 7, 2007
• Exclusive sponsor of the program booklet for the new Akron Art Museum’s Defy Gravity opening gala, July 7, 2007

The Human Fund:

• Sponsor and curator of The Silent Auction Art Benefit at The pARTy, a benefit to help save art programs that touch kids in the City of Cleveland, 2005
• Sponsor of the Art Auction at L’Art du Vin, a Wine and Art Auction to benefit The Human Fund
• Major donor to the Human Fund

Playhouse Square Foundation:

• Gold Founder Patron Level Donor to the second largest performing arts complex in the United States

Additional Support Given To:

• The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
• The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
• Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, Ohio
• The Cleveland Institute of Art
• Intermuseum Conservation Association
• Sculpture Center, Cleveland, Ohio
• The Cleveland Orchestra
• Verb Ballets, Cleveland, Ohio

LOCATIONS

SOUTHAMPTON | PALM BEACH | CLEVELAND

CLEVELAND GALLERY
24667 CEDAR ROAD
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44124
(216) 382-7800
info@contessagallery.com

HOURS
MONDAY - SATURDAY | 11AM - 7PM
SUNDAYS | 12PM - 6PM

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PALM BEACH GALLERY
216 SUNSET AVENUE
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33480
(216) 382-7800
info@contessagallery.com

HOURS
MONDAY - SATURDAY | 11AM - 7PM
SUNDAYS | BY APPOINTMENT

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SOUTHAMPTON GALLERY
9 MAIN STREET
SOUTHAMPTON, NY 11968
(216) 382-7800
info@contessagallery.com

HOURS
TUESDAY - SATURDAY | 11AM - 7PM
SUNDAYS | 11AM - 7PM