About the Owner {Dr. Valerie bennett gillespie}

 Dr. Valerie Bennett Gillespie

Valerie is an independent curator and gallerist based in Dallas. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of New England in Portland and curatorial practice from New York University. Her undergraduate degree is in Studio Art and Spanish from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. During her years abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Valerie studied art and architecture. While completing her artist in residence program with Università Iuav di Venezia in Venice, Italy, she studied painting and art history under the guidance of Maurizio Pellegrin. Valerie currently is the Director of Fine Arts at the Winston School of Dallas and owner of Pencil on Paper Gallery in the Design District in Dallas. Some of her recent exhibitions include curatorial projects with the 500X Gallery in Dallas, The Other Art Fair, The Beachum Family Collection, The Martin Museum, Southern Methodist University, The Hawn Gallery and the Texas Visual Arts Association. Pencil on Paper Gallery was awarded Best Art Gallery in Dallas/Fort Worth in 2021, awarded Best Art Space in Dallas by D magazine in 2023, Best Art Gallery for Emerging Artists in 2024 by D Magazine, and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, Patron Magazine, Elliman Magazine, D Magazine, the Dallas Observer, and Voyage Dallas. The gallery is entering its 6th season and was proud to present work from represented artists at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair during the Summer of 2024, and looking forward to the Harlem Fine Art Show during the Winter of 2025 and the Dallas Art Fair during the Spring of 2025.

Established in 2019, Pencil on Paper Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in the Dallas Design District that promotes emerging, mid-career, and veteran artists. With an emphasis on community-based engagement through the empowerment of artists, the gallery provides a platform which represents a diverse array of culture and artistry while fostering an appreciation for the arts. The gallery is a proud member of CADD (Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas) and has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, The Dallas Morning News, Patron Magazine, D Magazine, PaperCity, Dallas Weekly, and Douglas Elliman Magazine. In addition, represented artist Desmond Blair was featured on Gail King's CBS Mornings for his exhibitions at Pencil on Paper Gallery. Gallery features have aired on ABC, CBS & NBC local news platforms. Pencil on Paper Gallery has collaborated with the Martin Museum in Waco to feature the art collection of Jessica and Kelvin Beachum in the family's second exhibition of, "Narrative as Reality." Pencil on Paper Gallery first collaborated with the Beachum Family at the Hawn Gallery at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, curating works from the family collection. Pencil on Paper Gallery is entering its 6th season and is excited to announce new programming with its nonprofit, Valerie Gillespie Contemporary. Please visit VGC here!