Meet DECORAZON Gallery

We caught up with the lovely MK from DECORAZON, who shared a few insights into the pros of running a gallery with your partner, exhibiting around the world and a day-in-the-life of DECORAZON!

So, tell us a little bit about DECORAZON?


Decorazon is an international contemporary art gallery, started in Dallas, Texas in 2004. My husband and partner, Hugo Garcia Urrutia, woke up from a dream and said he just knew the name would be Decorazon, which in Spanish literally means “from the heart”. We’ve always had a presence in New York City, because I lived there for many years, and finally we moved to London in 2010. Since then we’ve been very interested in the global markets and have introduced our talent to Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Mexico City, while continuing to develop our brand in the UK and USA. Hugo and I love working closely with our artists and expanding our circle of clients and colleagues all around the world, and showcasing strong artistic concepts in all mediums.  

What’s the selection procedure for the gallery?

I think it’s paramount for the gallery to resonate with the artwork they are promoting, which makes the selling part come naturally. So while we do get a flood of submissions, and many from extremely talented people, we are always looking for the perfect fit. Both Hugo and I like to agree on selected artworks (not always easy!), but at least one of us is usually completely obsessed with it. I’d say that I’m the romantic element of the duo, whilst Hugo, having studied architecture, is the quality control. You do need both. Ultimately, we choose artists we would fancy collecting ourselves. We like to work with communicative and professional people, who care about the quality of the final product. 

Other than representing artists work to clients, as a gallery, how else do you work with your artists?

When an artist comes to work with us, they really get the whole package. Hugo and I love being very involved, and offer a lot of valuable input to help develop their work and careers. We share our insights in various markets and what presentation methods look/work best. We do most of the framing consultation, and organize shipping their works internationally. We are always available for brainstorming sessions about various career decisions. I feel so proud of the artists we work with. Many times we are the first to hear about their residencies, book deals, museum shows, honors and awards. We write letters of recommendation, submit applications on their behalf – let’s not forget how much is invested in art fairs, online platforms, exhibitions + marketing.  

Why do you think galleries are important?

Galleries serve as a professional platform – for artists as well as the audience. For artists, galleries handle most of the boring and stressful hassles (trust me, there are many!) so an artist can solely focus on their work and not get bogged down in admin and logistics. Our experience, input on the work being produced, plus years of expert networking + contacts we’ve collected, is extremely valuable. Galleries handle payments, negotiations, and help maintain structure on pricing. For clients, galleries are a trusted source and we’ve developed amazing relationships with many of our clients over the years. 

Most exciting thing about working with contemporary artists?

What truly drives me are all the incredible artists we work with and the opportunity to globally market their talent. I get so excited when I see the new work we are getting for a show! My favourite thing ever is being in the studio with them, discussing, and helping select and edit works. Our ultimate goal is to excel their careers and put them in front of a larger and larger audience. 

What does a typical day involve? 

More logistics than one can imagine! A typical morning usually starts with me waking up to at least 10 texts & whatsapps that came in over night – no matter where in the world I am! Before I get too freaked out, I meditate and have a cup of coffee and then begin prioritizing… Never mind the 16 page list that’s sitting on my desk from the day before.

Today we had to organize at lightning speed moving eight palettes of artwork from a NY warehouse to Dallas, and then deal with a FedEx customs delay going to London. Those were two urgent fires that needed putting out. As well as that, I’m responding to sales queries from Hong Kong, prepping for fairs and speaking with our London framer. In the evening, we hit the opening night preview for Irving Penn at the Dallas Museum of Art. We compare art fair experiences over margaritas – both before and after.

Do you collect art yourself?


Yes, Hugo and I love collecting art! We like it even more when our artists gift us works for all our hard work!

Which one of your artists should we look out for?

We are very excited about Yunhee Lee! She is a young emerging porcelain ceramicist from South Korea, and her pieces are so contemporary and exquisite. Patsy McArthur, originally from Scotland, has an amazing series of horses that I love. She depicts these regal animals dynamically and powerfully. Alberto Sanchez’s mixed media photography is sensational. And Apostolos Chantzaras, from Athens, Greece, has some gorgeous new work. It is being framed as we speak!