· Are you an artist, yourself?
Let’s just say I am a bit better at the “business side” than the “art side”. While I have my aspirations, I leave most of it to the professionals.

· What do you see as the main difference between a Gallerist/Gallery owner and an Art Dealer?
Semantics and a physical location. Most of the Gallerists I know also are Dealers and vice versa. However, a dealer does not necessarily require a physical space. I find that more people purchase during exhibitions set up by Dealers than a stroll through a brick-and-mortar gallery particularly in this day and age. While there are obviously exceptions to every rule, I feel that if you know how to put on a good exhibit, there is no need for a physical space.

· If you worked in the gallery business previously, what brought you to changing to being an art dealer?
I sort of fell into it. I built a virtual model for my last gallery position that was entirely web-based. When the physical location moved to a new town, it was time to make the change. All of the pieces were in place and I know how to perpetuate the structure. Thus far, it has been absolutely wonderful.

· What made you decide to open in Miami?
Miami is one of the 3 major cities in the US (perhaps the world) that are forerunners in everything related to style. New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The rest of the country and the world look to these cities to determine what the next fashion, music, art and style is going to be. Miami has everything one could want in a city, high style, variant cultures, luxury, relaxation, great weather, fun, the list goes on. This is Home.

· Do you have a specific artistic vision or style?
I lean toward figurative or representational works as a personal and professional preference. I like works that challenge me to “read” them… interpret them. They have a story. As a writer and historian, I like works that inspire me to launch into uncontrollable schpiels of prose, interrelations with works of the past and visions of the future. Obviously, certain people can do this with a blank canvas, but not me. I want something that displays both technical aptitude and original concept.

· Who is your favorite artist ever? Who is your favorite current Miami artist?
Impossible question. I could pick one per genre and era throughout history.
As far as Miami-Based artists presently, I would be hard-pressed to choose only one. However, I really enjoy the work of The Mac, Federico Uribe, Benjamin Forbes, Robert Curran, Phil Stapleton and Karina Chechik.

· Have you seen any effects of the economic downturn this past year?
I don’t think anyone is immune to the economic downturn. However, as my work is primarily based around locating “opportunity” works for collectors, buyers are still buying. Actually, it is a perfect time to buy right now if you have the financial security to do so. Art is a commodity that can statistically maintain it’s intrinsic and monetary value provided that the artist is on a expanding sphere of influence beyond their own region. This goes for Artists of yesterday and tomorrow. If the art is a fad or phase, it will have a statistically diminished capacity to offer returns than something that translates from decade to decade. The tough part is determining which artists and artworks have that type of staying power.

· Do you show at any art fairs, either locally or in other cities? If so, how have those experiences gone for you?
I have shown in New York and throughout Florida in the past and had variable results depending on the crowd we were appealing to. I feel that these experiences will allow me to tailor my exhibitions to bring in both buyers and artists that people will want to see and be around.

· What would you say is the one most important idea for an artist to know when it comes to getting recognized by an art dealer?
Be a professional. This is your job as much as it is your passion. You want to deal with professionals, so your ethics and standards should be as high as the people you wish to deal with. www.robinrile.com