They make a way. - Maryland Institute College of Art

Marisa Sage ’02 MA, DIGITAL ARTS
Founder, Like the Spice Gallery /
Galleries Manager, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
“My curatorial sense, my eye, and my love for art and my
understanding of how to make it and why to make it were
partially formulated at MICA. The connections that you make
at MICA are invaluable. It should just be mandatory that
artists understand, at least somewhat, the inner workings of
a gallery and understand the business side of things.”
When Marisa Sage returned to her hometown
of New York City after graduating from MICA
in 2002 with an MA in Digital Arts, she saw a
need for a contemporary art gallery that catered
to emerging artists. To put her vision into action,
she drew up a business plan and took out small
business loans, as well as loans from family and
friends.
In 2006, Sage decided to fill that need herself and
launched Like The Spice, a gallery in Brooklyn that
has worked with nearly 70 artists by hosting more
than 60 solo and group exhibitions and promoting
their work at venues such as the 92Y Tribeca,
the Chelsea Art Museum, and the Scope Art Fair.
Sage has also expanded her reach beyond New York,
promoting her artists nationally and internationally.
SHE BELIEVES THAT MOST OF THE EXCITING,
RELEVANT WORK IN THE ART WORLD IS COMING
FROM YOUNGER ARTISTS, AND SHE HAS BEEN ON
A MISSION TO HELP ARTISTS MAKE A LIVING
OFF THE WORK THAT THEY MAKE.
ENLIGHTENMENT
She found that she had a unique interest in the
sales aspect of art and has given artists of all
kinds, more than half of whom she met through
MICA, exposure through her gallery. Much of the
work Sage does also involves helping artists cultivate
practices that promote success. For example, in
addition to making sales, she has spent countless
hours encouraging artists to stick to their schedules
and critiquing their work.
In 2012, Sage closed the Brooklyn space to return
to Maryland and manage the two art galleries
at Salisbury University. She enjoys the university
setting and would like to develop courses to teach
artists many of the business skills that could help
them to better market their work. As she looks
for a new home for the gallery, she’s running it
virtually at www.likethespice.com. She continues to
promote her artists via shows across the country,
as well as through blogs and monthly newsletters.
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
89