Featured Member: Kim Weinberger + a Playlist
Words by: Maggie Laubscher | Music by: Abby Yemm
Image credit: Kim Weinberger
Nellie Kim Weinberger has lived a LIFE. She is a doer and a giver and a survivor. The last one literally, as she is a survivor of stage four breast cancer. She has also successfully raised her beautiful sons, been married for over 30 years, and started a new career in the midst of the 2008 recession. Currently, she is weathering life as a small business owner during a global pandemic. And through it all, Kim lives. It’s what she named as her proudest accomplishment: her life.
A Kansas City native, Kim is a self-taught art advisor and curator. Kim fosters her artists and collectors; she is the loyal, wise link between the two. She owns a thriving gallery in Weinberger Fine Art, which she initially stocked with part of her own art collection. Before she hit 20 years old, she was discovering and buying art - sometimes forgoing an on-time rent payment or two to make it happen. And still today, she continues to discover new artists and work through Weinberger Fine Art, which represents about 50 artists globally.
We had the chance to chat with her a few weeks ago about her career, her thoughts on the pandemic, and the lasting beauty of art. We are so proud to have Kim as a Nellie! Read on below...
‘Thirty years later, I’m still married to the love of my life.’ -Kim W.
Image credit: Kim Weinberger
How did you start out in your career?
Well, it wasn’t planned. I was in a different industry - real estate development, actually. I was part of the original real estate company that handled One Park Place. I also had shares in Café Provence, the former Café Paris, and Hannah Bistro. And I decided to get out of all of it.
I was having breakfast with Christine Kemper and she asked what I wanted to do next. I said I wasn’t sure. I handed her my letter of recommendation from the CEO of One Park Place and said, ‘Okay, now what?’ She laughed and then her husband Sandy Kemper came in. Before I knew it, I was working for Sandy Kemper on a fine art fund. It was an incredible learning experience.
And then the financial crash happened. My husband was practically retired. I was in my mid- to late-40s. I did some soul-searching on where I wanted to see myself. I knew I wanted to be in something I love and that I’m passionate about. And I decided to go into the arts, on my own this time.
What is it like to run a gallery?
Before the pandemic, we’d have two artist show receptions every month because we had two galleries. We would have artist talks, receptions, open houses. It’s a lot. We fully represent our artists. We don’t just have a show and then send back what doesn’t sell. We store our artists’ work and work with them long-term.
We have an incredible show up right now. Actually, all of our shows this year have been just outrageously beautiful. I’m so proud of them. But people aren’t seeing them. We get two or three people in a week, maybe. Outside of the pandemic, we’d get 10-15 people on weekdays and maybe 40-50 people on weekends.
How have you been weathering the pandemic?
It’s totally changed the dynamic of the business. It’s been really frustrating, the whole year. I haven’t been able to really work from the gallery much. We’ve been fortunate that I was able to cut costs immediately by closing one of my two galleries. So that cut down on my expenses. But I’m still trying to catch up on everything, like so many businesses right now.
‘All of our shows this year have been just outrageously beautiful.’ -Kim W.
Image credit: Kim Weinberger
Would you say you’re living in the moment or thinking ahead more right now?
I’m living in the moment right now. I’m watching how things go. I don’t think I’ll reopen a second gallery again, if I can help it. It’s a lot to run two different galleries. It takes more peoplepower and it’s expensive, especially in the Crossroads. And I have no desire to open one anywhere else in the city. If I ever open another gallery, it would be in another city or country.
How do you find artists?
Most often, they find me. They submit their work online and if it’s something we’d like to look at closer, then we set up a visit. Every once in a while, I’ll find somebody on Instagram or elsewhere. I’m really particular about who I bring on. I want them to be super strong. The gallery’s grown over the last 10 years. We bring on really high quality, seasoned artists.
Do you remember the first piece of art you bought?
I don’t remember one particular piece. I would buy pieces from emerging artists, some from the art institute. Then they would go on and get bigger and better at their work. So I would buy something for $400 and 10 years later, sell it for $4500.
‘Kansas City is in the middle of the universe, as far as we were concerned.’ -Kim W.
Image credit: Kim Weinberger
Would you say art is safer than the stock market?
Yes, definitely.
Did you go to a traditional university for school?
No, I went to The American University of Rome from about ages 17 to 20. And I traveled a lot. My parents both worked for airlines. We didn’t have any real money, but it was free to fly. And in that business, they knew people all over the world. They would send me everywhere -- Egypt, Italy, France, England, all over. I had access to all the incredible museums and galleries around the world. So, I had a different type of education. I was very fortunate.
What makes Kansas City home for you?
Well, by growing up here, my family was always here. And then my husband, who I met in New York City, fell in love with Kansas City. We lived in New York City for nine years, but we would come back and forth quite a bit, seeing family and stuff. And he fell in love with Kansas City. I never thought I’d come back to Kansas City, but here I am.
And it works great for us. We have three sons in New York, with seven grandkids, and two sons in California. So we have the best of both coasts, and we just bought a small beach house in Costa Rica as a family. Kansas City is in the middle of the universe, as far as we were concerned.
That’s beautiful. Tell me about living in New York in your 20s.
‘I knew I wanted to be in something I love and that I’m passionate about.’ -Kim W.
Image credit: Kim Weinberger
I loved it. And I had the coolest jobs! When you’re in your 20’s in New York City and you have the means to move around and you have a job, that’s it. You know? I worked for Yves Saint Laurent, that’s the first place I worked. I worked in the Madison Avenue store, right when it opened. So I got to meet Yves and Pierre Bergé. And then I ended up working as a photo stylist for Food & Wine Magazine and Bon Appétit Magazine and Architectural Digest. I styled the rooms for the photographs.
What elements of The Nelle are you most excited about?
What elements am I not excited about! When Lauren told me about this, I got tingles. I thought, finally, a place for me where I can belong. It makes sense for me. It’s about like-minded women from different walks of life, coming together and lifting each other up. It’s something we’ve needed for a long time, and I’m so thankful she had the idea.
Who is a woman who inspires you?
In times like right now, I would say Michelle Obama. There’s something about her that’s very real. I remember I was in Miami for Art Basel. And I heard someone say terrible things about her, someone I’ve known for a very long time. And I was just like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ It broke my heart. And it made me want to stand up for her more than ever. Michelle is doing such good work, while also being so real.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
‘My proudest achievement is being able to overcome very different paths and live my life.’ -Kim W.
Image credit: Kim Weinberger
Hm, I have a lot (laughs). I feel that my proudest achievement is being able to overcome very different paths and live my life. I feel like I’m a survivor in many ways. I’m a stage four breast cancer survivor. I’ve raised my children. Thirty years later, I’m still married to the love of my life. And I have a viable business where I support my whole family.
A Fresh Abby Yemm playlist for you…
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