Major New England Art Brand Changes Hands -- a New Brand Emerges

WELLESLEY, MA - After 35 years in business (33 in Wellesley, MA), J. Todd Galleries founders and owners announced that the stalwart legacy business has been acquired. Having owned and operated four different Massachusetts galleries (two related galleries in Wellesley, MA, one in Lexington, MA and one in Chatham, MA on Cape Cod), Robert and Phyllis Totaro explained their noteworthy decision: "Having both entered our late sixties, about a year ago we privately informed a small number of our most influential, long-term, loyal clients that we would consider a change in ownership if the right opportunity arose. Within a short time, we were inundated with inquiries from interested prospects and we began a long and thorough screening process."

The business is multi-faceted, having a strong foothold in the areas of art sales, restoration, corporate art consulting, art appraisal, museum quality custom picture framing and art investment.

The new owner, Mona Kumar of Boston, brings her strong ties with the Museum of Fine Arts (in Boston, MA), the DeCordova Museum (in Lincoln, MA) and the Peabody Essex Museum (in Salem, MA), and she plans to leverage that experience and those relationships to grow the Wellesley business and brand.

The Totaros have retained ownership of their Chatham Gallery on Cape Cod, which has been renamed "Chatham Fine Art," as well as a very substantial inventory of original oil paintings. Their new website "www.ChathamArt.com" is now under development and will employ the latest e-commerce and social networking capabilities. Robert Totaro said, "We intend to build a second strong New England art brand." Chatham Fine Art is now in its third year on Cape Cod.

Owners of both major regional galleries plan to maintain a reciprocal relationship to help develop art collections for their respective clients.