Christina Bonnier, Owner + COO
What moment has defined your journey the most?
There have been many defining moments in my life that have led me to where I am today. But I have to say, specifically, getting pregnant with my son was an event that set me on the path I’m currently on. My husband and I were living in Boston at the time and decided to move back to Miami (our hometown) to start our family. It made a lot of sense being that we had close relatives here and already owned a condo — and what a blessing it is to live rent free (read: no brainer)!
When we got to Miami I already knew we were going to open an art gallery, I just had to tell my husband. Once the words were spoken it was like a whirlwind! We went from 0 to 100 in the span of 6 months! This was only 6 months postpartum and I had lost my mother in the thick of it, just 4 months before we officially opened. Again, a defining moment. Naturally, the hit knocked me off of my feet. Grief does that. I knew, however, that if I didn’t pick myself up, and do it quickly, my mom would have been displeased. So I did just that, I went full force into everything. I could hear her saying “ok cry, but don’t let it consume you. You have work to do.”
What drives you?
I’m highly driven to succeed so I can share my success with my family and friends. My plan is to give every person I love a platform to showcase their talents any way I can. Whether that be sharing my gallery space for their events, putting them on my payroll, giving them a spot to shine at a really dope party I’m throwing, inviting them to private events I know they’d benefit from through networking. I mean, literally any way I can help, I have and will. Nothing brings me greater joy than sharing what I have with those I love. And if I can put everyone on my spaceship, I will. My success is their success and vice versa.
How are you paving the way for people in your community to succeed? Or opening doors that were once closed?
We offer space for students to exhibit their talents and projects by working closely with universities in an effort to promote visual and literary arts in South Florida. To that end, the gallery’s principal focus remains on providing a public space that fosters meaningful engagements between our exhibits and the cultural community. It’s our way of giving back to the community that shaped us in so many ways.
Most meaningful project to date?
As cliche as it sounds, I am! I’ve grown and shrunk and grown again. I’ve learned so much about myself through this journey.
Advice or a mantra you would like to pass on?
I think it was seven years ago when a much older friend said to me, “look, you can’t be everyones cup of tea. And that’s ok.” Talk about a defining moment! I felt more liberated than ever before. Something clicked in that moment and it completely changed the way I thought about myself and the way I interacted with others. I took back all my power and that was that.
