In the process of transitioning a rather staid, conservative gallery into a more visible entity with an online presence, Keane was able to automate much of their inventory system and set up social media accounts.
Eventually, she was hired by the Concord gallery owner, but as their vision for the future started to diverge, Keane realized she had to find another path. Surprisingly, COVID presented the ideal opportunity for someone with an extensive background in hi-tech to launch a gallery of their own.
“I can be impulsive, so in April of 2020, in spite of the fact that everything was closing down, I decided to open my own gallery.” With the enthusiastic support of her husband, Keane launched a gallery in the sitting room of her Lexington house.
“People were buying art online, so I started doing business that way right from the beginning. We held virtual receptions… For some gallerists, the pandemic years were very successful. For those of us who made the choice to stay open, they were the most successful years we’d had.”
By June 2020, some restrictions on public interactions had begun to loosen up, and Keane decided it was time to take her business to the next level.