Alex "ManOne" Poli

I am an artist, curator and entrepreneur. I believe in the transformational power of art and its ability to save lives and make the world a better place. I’ve seen it, and it is beautiful.

I have been in my dream career since 1994 when I decided to make my living as a freelance artist. I subsequently opened Crewest Gallery in 2002. My gallery and my design firm are run by myself and one partner. We have no full-time employees, but we do hire and subcontract designers, artists and other part-time help on a per job basis. We have one gallery location in downtown Los Angeles, but we represent hundreds of artists worldwide. One of our strengths is the international reach we have, as well as our authenticity within the urban art market.

My life’s work is about putting the power of art in the hands, hearts and minds of people all over the world.

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Growing up, I developed my love for art and my early artistic skills as a graffiti artist on the streets of Los Angeles. I knew I wanted to take this art form to the next level – move it into the mainstream. I honed my talents and increased my knowledge of art history at Loyola Marymount University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.

My art is comprised of my trademark bold, colorful art strokes and has been featured in ten solo shows, countless group exhibitions and many museums including The Getty, Museum of Contemporary Art and The Smithsonian Institute.

The most exciting and unique aspect of my job is that no two days are alike. Every day is a creative, new adventure. I might be painting a mural one day, hanging an exhibit the next or performing on stage with a live band. My job allows me to travel nationally and internationally.

For the most part I get to choose my own hours and projects. The pay is completely up to me, and there is no ceiling on the amount I can charge for my services. It is merely how well I can negotiate my deals.

I’ll share with you the ins and outs of my profession. I have learned a lot during my career as an artist and gallery director. I will elaborate on all aspects of running a gallery, from artist contracts and negotiations to curating exhibits, marketing and selling original art, networking, etc. Having made my living as a working artist since 1994, I can share my thoughts on how to succeed as both a commercial and fine artist. I can give concrete examples on how to deal with promoting your art, documenting your work and utilizing social media. I can discuss pricing and handling commissioned work, as well as how to use your creativity as a tool to access more work and make more money.