Making an Artful Impression on South Florida for 24 Years

By Elizabeth Dashiell

Edgar Degas famously said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Yet, what would art be then if no one actually sees it? As much as “the world needs more art,” the world also needs more aesthetes like New River Fine Art Gallery CEO, Lisa Burgess.

The successful entrepreneur and arts advocate has just come off the gallery’s Silver Anniversary Season launch of the critically acclaimed, solo exhibition from contemporary wunderkind, Andrew Cotton. Now, turns her attention to the rest of the gallery’s exciting season.

“We are planning a series of events and exhibitions celebrating the full scope of what the Gallery has been about these past 24 years,” explains Burgess. “We will be presenting, along with the most established and collected artists like Alex Katz, artists that are the ones to watch.” Next up is a group exhibition featuring Gabriel Delgado and Rex Hausmann. The “ones to watch” contemporary artists knew each other back in Texas and will come full circle together once more at the gallery. “Their work couldn’t be more different but are both unique and interesting in their own rights,” says Burgess.

Burgess planned the future Alex Katz exhibition to coincide with the Russian American artist’s retrospective, which will be on display simultaneously at the Guggenheim. New River Fine Art’s showcase will also feature educational programming, full-color catalogs, and lectures – all free to the public throughout its run. “You don’t just have to see these works in museums,” says Burgess. “They belong in your homes as well. Great works of art will enhance your life and feed your soul.” 

The caliber of its artists, the quality of the art, and the accessibility to the public are all what has helped make New River Fine Art one of the most prestigious galleries in South Florida. Located in the heartbeat of Fort Lauderdale on Las Olas Boulevard, the bright, welcoming white space has seen some of the world’s most recognizable names adorn its walls and display stands in the past 24 years: Pissarro, Matta, Jansen, Picasso, Miró – and behind it all – Lisa Burgess. 

“Art was always an interest to me,” explains Burgess. “I have a great appreciation for people who are brave enough to do this for a living, and to put their hearts and souls out there to express themselves the way they do.” While she claims she is not an artist herself, her extensive background in sales, along with her communications degree and natural appreciation, have lent themselves beautifully to the business side of the art world.  

“A good day for me is when I spend half my time working with some of the most creative people I know, talking to them about long-term projects, exhibitions, fairs and studio visits,” says Burgess, “and the other half is spent with clients, learning about their stories and helping them to bring culture into their lives.” 

The second half of that day is accomplished through her other company, Burgess Modern + Contemporary, a fine art consulting firm specializing in fine art collections management and expert advice on blue-chip, museum quality art collecting, and specially curated projects from leading modern and contemporary artists. Most recently, Burgess Modern was selected as representative for the estate of David Hayes, a prolific artist who left an incredible legacy of work that has been displayed at the Guggenheim, Detroit Art Institute and Fine Art Huston, to name a few. 

Bringing some of the greatest works of the modern and contemporary art world to South Florida for nearly a quarter of a century is no easy task, especially considering all the changes that have taken place in the past decades (not to mention a global pandemic that closed the doors of businesses for nearly a year) but through it all, Burgess and her gallery have thrived. 

“E-commerce was not happening 24 years ago, but now it’s a part of life,” Burgess explains. “The pandemic fast-forwarded all that. The major auction houses are now broadcasting via the internet and getting even larger bidders. The art world used to be a very closed industry where the information was accessible only to a few, whereas now it’s accessible to almost everyone.” 

That belief in making art accessible to all is not just a sound bite to Burgess. She has put her own time and money into helping the local community find their own outlets within the arts through her volunteer work with Funding Arts Broward. 

“Funding Arts Broward is a membership-based organization that uses private donations to award microgrants to small arts groups,” explains Burgess. “It has awarded over 4.2 million dollars in grants over the years, and recently began funding educational grants. We are looking ahead to expand the program and seek more corporate members, so we can continue to grow the number of organizations we can help support each year.” That unwavering dedication and passion for the arts earned Burgess a reputation that has taken her all the way to the State Capitol. 

Following a recommendation in 2020, Burgess was appointed to the Board of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. There, she has been able to bring her local advocacy experience to the statewide level, including chairing grant panels for not only visual arts, but also for performing arts groups, museums, and science centers. 

“It has been an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience,” says Burgess. “Over 30 years ago, Florida didn’t have the cultural outlets it does now, and to see it grow and prosper and thrive, and to be a part of that is an honor and a privilege.” 

While arts advocacy may seem solely altruistic, for Burgess it makes good business sense as well. Considering her successful 24 years in the business of art, her advice is probably worth heeding. 

“For every dollar invested in the arts, there is a 287% investment return,” says Burgess. “Now that’s a stock I’d buy.”