HARMON-MEEK GALLERY
Established in Naples, Florida in 1964
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A Family Business
Harmon-Meek Gallery is a small family business under the direction of Juliana Meek. William Meek was named Director Emeritus in 2015. Barbara Meek and Kristine Meek serve as assistant directors. William Meek has over 50 years of experience as a fine art dealer. He is highly regarded for his knowledge of American art and has endeavored to promote artists and their reputations among museums, artist biographers, and academics. William Meek was the first art dealer awarded the New York Artists' Equity Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Visual Arts, 1999. William Meek has also been named Naples Guide's Fine Arts Award, 1998; Gulfshore Life Men and Women of the Year, 2003; United Arts Council Stars in the Arts, 2006; and Service to the Arts Award, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, 2012. In 2010, William Meek earned a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the Johns Hopkins University. Today his primary focus with our gallery is with art museums, academic institutions, and artist biographers. He has curated nearly 300 museum exhibitions that have been loaned to art museums across the Nation. Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek gained their knowledge of art through exposure to the art world from infancy. As director and assistant director, Juliana and Kristine are continuing Harmon-Meek Gallery's long history of bringing fine art to Naples and of loaning art exhibitions to museums across the country. The importance of engaging children in art remains a key mission of the Gallery. They have hosted several student groups and support art programs for children. From 2013 through 2018, Juliana and Kristine co-chaired the Visionaries of the Visual Arts Award and Benefit Dinner, raising significant funds for children's art programs while honoring individuals for their contributions to the visual arts. In 2020, they re-imagined this event as Art Inspires to continue their effort in raising funds for children's art programs. To date over $150,000 in grants have been awarded through their efforts. Kristine and Juliana co-author the regular column "Ask the Artsperts" in Life in Naples Magazine. These articles can be found under the FAQ section of this website. Both have served as jurors for local art exhibitions. In 2014, Kristine for the Naples Art Association "Words, Signs and Symbols" exhibition. Juliana served as juror for the Naples Art Association "Selfie" exhibition in 2015, the Jade Reidel Scholarship program in 2017, the small works exhibitions in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Juliana also juried the 2017 and 2018 "3rd street on Canvas" art show and charity auction. Juliana and Kristine were co-named "Emerging Art Leader" in 2016 by the Naples Art Association based on a Gulfshore Life Magazine poll. Both have also been recognized as Southwest Florida top 40 under 40 by Gulfshore Business and named Next Generation Philanthropists by Southwest Florida Community Foundation in Gulfshore Life Magazine.  |
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History
Harmon-Meek Gallery has provided Naples residents and visitors with works of art by major American artists since 1964. In 1963, Julius "Junkie" Fleischmann and local watercolor-ist, William Henry, drove three hours up the two-lane Tamiami Trail to convince Foster Harmon (of Frank Oehlschlaeger Galleries in Sarasota) to open a fine art gallery in Naples. Harmon agreed to a test season of three months and signed a year lease for $1,000 in the new Fleischmann Central Building on Third Street South. The Harmon Gallery opened to the public on January 15, 1964. In 1972, William Meek joined Harmon as assistant director, then purchased the gallery in 1978. In 1982, the gallery name changed to Harmon-Meek Gallery. For twenty-five years Harmon-Meek Gallery was located on Third Street South. The gallery then moved to Broad Avenue South in 1987, turning the street into "gallery row". From 1995 to 2003 the newly built Harmon-Meek Gallery was a major part of the rebirth of Fifth Avenue South. Currently, Harmon-Meek Gallery operates from two locations. A private gallery, that is open by appointment only at 599 9th St N Suite 309. Our second location is open for regular hours to the public at 382 12th Ave South. To help distinguish between the two locations, the location in the office building is Harmon-Meek Gallery and the location on 12th is doing business as Harmon-Meek|modern. Though it is the same slate of artists for both locations. We invite you to visit the oldest and most reputable gallery in Naples.  Images from 1964-2000 |
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Philanthropy
Before Naples had any art museum, the gallery provided tours to area schools and art education programs, even sponsoring bus transportation to the Gallery. To this day we continue to open our doors for area students.  Students visiting Harmon-Meek Gallery William Meek gathered the works for the first permanent collections of art for what would become the Naples Museum of Art (1996), now the Baker Museum; the Von Liebig Art Center (1997); and, the Children's Museum of Naples (2010). Major collections of works were also donated to Museums and Universities throughout Missouri in conjunction with Sam Hamra (2014). Working with the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, Willima Meek, arranged a significant collection of works with the figure as a subject in American Art. This included 9 Survey collections that consisted of at least 28 works in each (2017). The gallery has supported a number of organizations in the community through special events, art raffles, special exhibitions, and cash donations. To list a few of the major contributions made by the gallery: $15,000 for Naples Community Hospital (1972); $21,000 to the Collier County Arts Council (1987); $25,000 for the Philharmonic Center for the Arts (1988); $34,000 for the Neighborhood Health Clinic (2003); nearly $300,000 to Von Liebig Art Center (2006-2008); nearly $30,000 for the Boys & Girls Club to supply the art program (2009); $27,500 for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida (2012); $42,000 David Lawrence Center art therapy program (2014-2017), $15,000 Youth Haven art therapy program (2016); $10,000 Seacrest School art program matching grant (2018), $12,000 Child Advocacy Center of Collier County (2020), and $10,000 to Collier County for their Centennial High School Art Competition (2023). lesser contributions also made in the past 10 years include Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Naples Art Association, Grace Place for Children and Families, Trinity by the Cove Youth Art Festival and Collier Child Care Resources all for children's art programs. Harmon-Meek Gallery has a donor-advised fund with Southwest Florida Community Foundation, doing business as The Collaboratory, that awards grants to art programs for children and at-risk Youth. Please contact us to apply for a grant. Other organizations the gallery has supported over the years include: St. Ann School, Temple Shalom, Hospice of Naples, Friends of Art, Naples Cultural Center, Naples Historical Society, Mental Health Foundation, David Lawrence Center, Naples North Rotary, Lake Park Elementary School enrichment program, Collier Medical Alliance, Humane Society, Seacrest School, Sudgen Theater, Naples Botanical Gardens, Naples Preserve, Community Foundation of Collier County, Trinity-by-the-Cove, Naples Art Assoc., Classic Chamber Concert Series, Youth Haven, and the Shelter for Abused Women & Children. In addition to endeavors through the Gallery, Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek are both actively engaged in the community: Kristine's involvement in community charities began in high school through volunteering at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and as a boardwalk naturalist at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Currently, Kristine is on the Children's Museum of Naples board of directors and serves on the Magic Under the Mangroves committee for the Conservancy. In the past Kristine has served on the Naples Zoo board of directors and has served as vice president for development for The League Club. She also helped launch the Next Generation committee for Abused Women and Children. She has served on committees for Grace Place for Children and Families and the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples. She was chair of the Naples Zoo's Cocktails and Cockatoos fundraiser in 2013 that raised $125,000. Juliana's dedication to civic involvement began in her youth as a Girl Scout culminating in earning the Girl Scouts Gold Award. Currently, she serves on the Board of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. In the past she has served on the board of Grace Place for Children and Families and the Board of Trustees for Seacrest Country Day School. She was selected to serve on the Emerging Leadership Council with the Naples Chamber of Commerce 2016-2018. |
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Visionaries of the Visual Arts Award
2014-2018 This event and dinner was entirely underwritten by Harmon-Meek Gallery. 100% of contributions from tickets, table patrons and program advertising benefited at-risk youth and children's art programs in southwest Florida through the Harmon-Meek Gallery Fund at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. The Award Recipients: 2014 - Joan Loos, Ginny Small and Jennie Lee Zipperer 2015 - Ray Staffeldt, Richard Tooke, and Mary Wasmer 2016 - Curtis Finch, Donald Miller, and Dolph von Arx 2017 - Paul Corddry, Sam Hamra, and John Hushon 2018 - Patty Baker, Susan H. Earl, and Anne B. Kerr, Ph. D. Grants for children's art programs were awarded to: David Lawrence Center, Grace Place for Children and Families, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Youth Haven, and Naples Art Association. 
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Art Inspires Event
2020 This dinner and dance was entirely underwritten by Harmon-Meek Gallery. Guests were encouraged to dress inspired by their favorite artist or art movement. 100% of contributions from tickets and table patrons benefited at-risk youth and children's art programs in southwest Florida through the Harmon-Meek Gallery Fund at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. Grants for children's art programs were awarded to: Child Advocacy Center of Collier, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, and Collier Child Care Resources 
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What Others are Saying...
"They have always been good and faithful supporters of worthwhile projects in the area. They are good citizens, indeed. It seems as though, when something good is happening in Naples, the Meeks are always there." Bob "Mr. Rotarian" Moates "Finest sales gallery in Florida", Governor Lawton Chiles, 1994 "Foster Harmon and Bill Meek have set the tone for great art in Naples. It has been my privilege to personally know Bill Meek. I have never known a more dedicated, caring, and involved individual-traveling all over America to bring great art to us here in Naples", local historian Peter Thomas "Everyone who has been to my house is going nuts over the paintings. Our friends in Port Royal bought things from you. they said you are the best gallery in Naples. We have heard that about your gallery from three other people since purchasing from you last week. We are so happy with the advice, knowledge and entree into fine art." K.F.*, 2017 You and your understanding of how to represent an artist at the highest level of dignity, expertise and exposure, increasing their value and visibility over the years, is precisely why we buy from and recommend you and your gallery. We appreciate the important energy you and your family are to our community and the art industry in its entirety. We also LOVE the art in our home each day that you directed us toward and are proud to own and display. In Gratitude, B.&J.J.*, 2016 "I have appreciated your [Kristine Meek] help in finding art for our new condo. I value your father's [William Meek] expertise and have realized how knowledgeable you are." P.W.*, 2012 "I am grateful Joe and I 'strolled' into your gallery in the 70's - I've enjoyed watching you 'grow' and am happy for your success." B.M.L.*, "You have been so instrumental in helping the arts to flourish in Naples as well as in many homes, ours being a wonderful example." D.L.*, 2010 "I wouldn't be the connoisseur of art today without your kindness." M.S.*, 2007 "It was a pleasure to meet an artist lauded by his peers and honored by so many collectors and museums here and abroad." H.M.*, 2002 "William and Barbara continue to keep us all happy and fill our hearts and homes with beautiful objects of art." S.D.*, 2009 *We protect our patrons' privacy |
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Harmon-Meek Gallery - 382 12th Avenue South - Naples, Florida 34102 - Phone (239) 262-2699 - Contact Us |
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Private Gallery and Mailing Address - 599 9th St N - Suite 309 - Naples, Florida 34102 - Phone (239) 261-2637 - Contact Us |