David Lusk Gallery accepted into the ADAA
David Lusk Gallery recently announced its acceptance into the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), a prestigious non-profit organization representing many of the country’s most influential galleries. With all other newly admitted galleries located in New York and California, David Lusk Gallery becomes the first Tennessee gallery and the only gallery in the Southeastern United States to join the organization.
Founded in Memphis in 1995 by David Lusk, the gallery has spent the last 30 years cultivating a distinctly regional yet nationally relevant program. Since expanding to Nashville in 2014, DLG has shown increasing influence in the city’s evolving arts landscape, presenting exhibitions spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and installation while maintaining a strong emphasis on material experimentation and ambitious conceptual work.
For three decades, David Lusk Gallery has built a reputation as one of the Southeast’s most respected contemporary art spaces. David Lusk Gallery’s priority is elevating Southern artists, helping place their work in institutional, public, and private collections, and advocating for wider recognition of regional artistic production. The gallery has uplifted small artists by selling pieces for under $1,000, making art ownership more accessible and introducing lesser-known artists to buyers. DLG aims to collaborate with artists on a long-term basis, with many remaining with the gallery for years, juxtaposing an industry often driven by rapid turnover and trend cycles. Through consistent investment, artist talks, public programming, and publications, DLG has helped create visibility for Southern contemporary art while contributing to a stronger, more interconnected regional arts community.
Now, that work has received one of the art world’s clearest endorsements. The ADAA is widely regarded as one of the highest professional distinctions for commercial galleries in the United States. The non-profit organization was founded in 1962, and currently represents more than 200 fine art galleries across nearly 40 U.S. cities. Membership is granted through a rigorous peer-review process that evaluates expertise, ethical standards, and long-term commitment and contribution to the art community. An existing member must first nominate candidates before they undergo review by committees, the organization’s board, and the full membership.
ADAA Executive Director Kinsey Robb said the incoming class reflects “depth of expertise and a clear commitment to advancing artists and ideas,” adding that the new members bring “a compelling range of perspectives” to the organization.
“Doing this work for 30 years in the provinces has been both tough and rewarding,” Lusk said in the announcement. He described the gallery’s admission as not only an honor for DLG, but also a meaningful moment for the broader Southeastern arts community. “It is because of everyone who has walked through our doors, visited the website, attended an opening, acquired a work, or supported the gallery in any way that DLG is now representing our region within the ADAA,” he noted.
David Lusk Gallery’s Memphis and Nashville locations feature various exhibitions throughout the year. Both galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A
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Nastassja is a Hong Kong native who called Boston home for 7 years. She graduated with a BS in Journalism from Emerson College and is currently located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. When she isn’t writing or reading, you can find her crocheting and spending time with her husband, dog, and two cats.
