Meet Stephanie Tosi | CEO and founder of Carre d’artistes

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Tosi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what is the most important factor behind your success?
« When I decided to launch Carré d’artistes, my main objective was to take the consumer into account. I love art and perfectly know the benefits of art. Art is very special, it gives everyone unique emotional experiences. This is something you can’t easily put into words but art never leaves you indifferent. Art is what makes life so beautiful : it inspires you, it comforts you, it amazes you. When I started my enterprise, the art market was very exclusive. I wanted to convince those who may feel intimidated by entering an art gallery, that art is within everyone’s reach! I created a business model that makes the gallery experience welcoming and more intimate. I wanted everyone to want to enter… to find their favorite artwork and perhaps even gradually begin a collection – this is how our story began. Since 2001, we have come a long way: We’ve opened more than 30 art galleries around the globe, from Moscow and Beijing, not to mention Amsterdam and Paris, with more than 600 exhibited artists with the same desire : offer unique and original artworks. We always put our heart into our work, we do our best to support our artists and gallerists, while listening to feedback from consumers to find out how we can best help them find the perfect piece of artwork for their home. I believe this is what made us successful. Today I am very proud that Carré d’artistes is the largest network of art galleries in the world »
(This is from our founder, Stephanie Tosi. I feel that these were her questions to answer)
Thank you for reaching out to us, As Gallery Director of our Sedona Gallery, Stephanie has given me the best and most fun job I have ever had! Art heals!
Marika Vaaranen

What should our readers know about your business?
Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. «  I begun my career in a totally different industry but I have always been fascinated with art. Art has been a part of me since I was a little girl. Therefore, I dreamed of creating an art gallery, but something different from the usual. Three years down the road, after having mulled over a lot of ideas, Carré d’artistes created the first accessible art gallery in France – with square formats and lower prices. I thank all of the artists and everyone else involved in helping us conceptualize this simple idea which was so innovative at the time.
Today I am very proud of what has become Carré d’artistes :  the largest network of art galleries in the world. It means that our vision was in line with consumers’ needs. We simplified the gallery experience and found that if you just trust your heart, it is easy to connect with contemporary! This is what we try to share with people entering our galleries and it seems to work.
Since the creation of Carré d’artistes, I have been living an extraordinary adventure. Both from a creative viewpoint and from a human viewpoint.
I have met several artists, who are committed to their profession but also to the act of creation. It’s very important for them to convey messages, trigger an emotional response and be recognized. I have met so many amazing people, that I would have loved having more time to share their art with … As the company has developed over the years, the teams have grown, and many collaborators have joined us. Once again, I experience a genuine and human adventure among these teams. They are committed, creative, fun, and definitely professional. I never left the office, even during the first lockdown, because collaboration is essential when it comes to this adventure. I need to be close to them. I take this opportunity to thank everyone once again… but also the franchisees who trust us.
Last but not least, customers are able to discover us, support us and take real pleasure in buying art. As it is also very important to them…They often thank us and speak very highly about our artistic line and selection. They take pleasure in discovering the different galleries, through the insightful selections»
How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Of course, everything seems very easy twenty years later but we met and handled a lot of crisis to be where we are today. I opened the first Carré d’artistes gallery on September 11, 2001. I think a lot about that day, as it was filled with hope for me while others were going through horrors. More recently, as everyone else, we underwent the Covid crisis, we had to close all our galleries and find solutions. What I have learned during all these years is that adaptation is key. Even if it is not easy, you always have to find ways to think in new ways and to find the positive in crisis. For example, we accelerated our digitalization during the Covid crisis. It was very hard work but now we are stronger and have more tools to answer current consumers needs with a high quality multi-channel tool.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
“ I have dedicated my whole life to creating a Carré d’artistes with one vision and mission : to make art part of everyone’s daily life. I strongly believe that art is essential to life. Today, we live in a society which leans to productivity and efficiency. When we talk about well-being at work, we talk about it to explain the productivity that it generates among employees. We all live in a world which is based on analysis and monitoring, through reports that are published every day. The COVID crisis is a concrete example of this, due to the charts that are published on a daily basis. Is this what life is all about?
Certainly, it is important, but it is equally important to let go, to breathe and simply live. To stop consuming life.
Art offers us these moments. Admiring a work of art is like taking a break and this generates emotions. These emotions: are our inner self which includes feelings and dreams. It is the connection between the outer world and our inner world. The more you appreciate the works, the more you are open to the world, and the more you will have empathy on the outside and will be curious to constantly discover. It is a driving force.
“A man without culture is like a zebra without stripes. Without artwork, life would be dull!”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hi-Line Trail 2 hour round trip hike from Yavapai Vista Parking area near Village of Oak Creek to view Cathedral Rock

Page Springs Cellars for a wine tasting and bistro menu lunch and experience of a beautiful working vineyard in Cornville, Arizona

The Vault restaurant Uptown Sedona for dinner on their terrace for amazing red rock views

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Caravana Jewelers, Sedona Arizona, https://farmagogo.com/
Page Springs Cellars, Cornville, Arizona,

Website: www.carredartistes.com

Instagram: carredartistes_usa_sedona and carredartistes