About Raandesk® > Founder/Director Jessica L. Porter
Fine and visual art has always been a dominant force in Jessica’s life. While studying Art History and French Language & Literature at the University of Delaware with the intent of becoming an international corporate curator, she harbored a dream to open an art gallery of her own one day. Her academic and free time were dedicated to furthering her goal, and upon graduation in 1996 and with the slowing pace of the corporate art market, Jessica realized that her dream to become a corporate curator was not so viable. So, she spent the next two years consulting for an international fine arts shipper to remain connected to the field and to explore her options.
Ultimately, art shipping broadened her abilities and connections, but was limiting, so the path led her to study law at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2001. Her desire for the arts trumped her legal ambitions, so in May 2005 she developed the idea for the RAANDESK Gallery.
With RAANDESK Jessica conceived of a gallery environment that was less threatening, that offered a variety of contemporary works in many mediums, and that provided a more efficient and pleasant buying experience for the blogging generation of her peers. Many potential art buyers (including her friends) felt excluded by the traditional gallery process, and wanted to know the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of art buying without the hassle or insecurity. The internet was the answer – a virtual gallery – and with it the ability to take her art anywhere, and in May 2006 raandeskgallery.com was officially launched with an on-site exhibition in Chelsea. Jessica currently resides nearby, where she provides legal services, sometimes even in French, in her spare time.
