Gallery owner Albert Sanford at Galerie Maximillian with his dogs.
In 1997, Albert Sanford saw the potential for his taste in the Aspen art scene and opened shop at Galerie Maximillian downtown. Now, 25 years later, the gallery continues to add valuable pieces to the area, specializing in museum-quality works on paper. Galerie Maximillian—named after Sanford’s Yorkshire terrier— reached its third-year goals in the matter of a year. The gallery, which is a proud member of the exclusive International Fine Print Dealers Association, is defined by Sanford’s own genuine taste and love of art. “I would never show art that I wouldn’t collect myself,” he says. “I am first and foremost a collector of art. I am secondly a dealer of art.”
The gallery owns the inventory it sells, not subscribing to the traditional consignment model. “Our willingness to buy it is validation to our clients that we want to invest in this art,” Sanford says. “I pick every frame; I buy every piece. The gallery is my 40-plus years of collecting.”
The work he collects ranges from British to European to American, both modern and contemporary. “I lovingly refer to the gallery as Galerie Mishmash,” he says.
Over Galerie Maximillian’s 25 years in Aspen, it has shown approximately 10,550 works of art, has collected an art patron and collectors database of over 2,000 and a gallery database of over 5,000. There are always two dogs in residence, with a total of six furry friends in its tenure.
Sanford.
Sanford has been collecting art since age 16 when he bought a 19th century print by Jules Cheret, inspiring him to start collecting 19th century art posters. At only 19, he became a private art dealer and was featured in People magazine’s “Guide to the Up and Coming.” After 14 years of working at a prominent chain of galleries acquired by the Pritzer family, he decided it was time to go out on his own. His then-art client (now wife) Dorothy Wildman had a townhouse in Aspen and they started spending seasons there. As Sanford walked through town, he noticed the large number of galleries already thriving there, but he knew he could find a place alongside them and complement them with his own fine art collection.
Over the many decades in the valley, Sanford has seen the changes in the town. “There has always been a fragile balance between a destination resort and a vibrant local community,” he says. The two have had to coexist, understanding that each needs the other. But in the last few years, the needs of the resort community have increased, causing shorter off-seasons. This means less time to travel, listen and learn, but most importantly buy, according to Sanford. Even so, “The natural attractions remain the same—you can’t move the mountains,” he says.
As the dynamics of the city change, Galerie Maximillian is growing ever more. Over the past three years, new people are increasingly moving in, building new houses and performing renovations, adding art to their private collections.
Sanford has been through the changes of Aspen, seeing it elevate into the art hub that it is today. It can be a difficult town to do business in, and he’s amazed the gallery has been open for 25 years. “I hope to be here for more years to come—as long as I am relevant and still enjoying what I do,” he says. “We are constantly buying new material and trying to stay ‘with it’ in the art world.’’ 602 E. Cooper Ave., galeriemax.com
Photography by: PHOTOGRAPHED BY STONEHOUSE PICTURES
